Whatsnext?

I am a mother of 2 girls. One just graduated college. The other is graduating high school. Has anyone thought of a good idea for a grad present for either occasion? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Faline2

I just gave someone special to our family a digital photo frame for graduation. Also have given a watch a couple of times....

are you asking for small gifts for your daughters' many friends? Starbucks cards used to be popular for college kids and many colleges also sell gift cards to the college book store. Note paper, stationary variations..gift cards to Bed Bath and Beyond.

corranged

I think you should try to find gifts that are both fun and useful. My sister and I got laptops for high school graduation from our parents. If that's within your desired price range, it's a great gift. Computers are expensive but necessary for college. If your daughter doesn't have one already, she'll need one soon. For college graduation you could put money towards furnishing a new apartment or you could think about gifting a used car to your daughter instead of trading it in, if she'll need a car where she's going. If she's very practically-minded, money towards grad school or an apartment (first and last month's rent, security deposit) may be appreciated. A nice piece of jewelry is always great if those types of practical gifts are all taken care of. Perhaps you could buy her a class ring. As for smaller gifts, what about buying your daughter a recipie book and filling it with her favorite meals from home? Or getting a few photos of the family framed for her?

jym626

Lots and lots of previous discussions on this topic. Time to add this to the "revolving topics" thread
Graduation Gifts - help
Graduation presents for friends
Graduation Gifts Wishlist
HELP! Any Creative H.S. Graduation Present Ideas?
Graduation Presents
Graduation Gifts - help
Inexpensive Graduation Gifts
Great graduation gift

kathiep

From parents I think money or computers are the best gifts. Our daughter got a computer for HS and college graduation. They need them and they are too expensive for students to purchase themselves.

Consolation

My parents gave me a trip to London. Since I stayed with relatives, and had made my own spending money, it basically involved airfare. Great gift.

laxmom

I asked my son what he really would like...so he's getting riding shoes and toe clips for his touring bicycle...Plus $$

He got a new laptop last summer when he went to London for 9 weeks.

bdmrad

Our son, now a college senior, prefers "Cash, straight cash."

jym626

My cousin just sent this The Amazing Money Machine to my boys, with $5 bills taped end to end. They loved it!!!

worrywart

Gave both sons a computer for high school graduation and have just bought the eldest a car for his college graduation.

missypie

I sewed all my own clothes in high school. My parents got me a high end sewing machine that I use to this day (32 years later!)

I'm not saying you need to buy a sewing machine, but if you can think of something that will last for decades, that would be great. Of course, if they really need things, for a new apartment or whatever, you'll need to be practical. But if not....does anyone buy pearls anymore? Last year when one daughter was leaving elem. school and the other was leaving middle school, I got them real gem stone earings. They weren't terribly expensive (from the Zales outlet) but the girls were very proud to have real jewelry. A nice watch perhaps?

standrews

I'm giving my son a notebook that meets his school's guidelines, which are pretty flexible. (There's no actual requirement to have a PC.)

For family members that ask what they can give him, I tell them just a token gift and cash.

HisGraceFillsMe

I just got my gift from my older sister.

She gave me a laundry basket FILLED with a whole bunch of dorm supplies! Filled with:

-June 2008-July 2009 planner
-A TON of pens and mechanical pencils (I hate regular pencils but we both go through them rather quickly, so she understands it XD)
-Dry erase board for my dorm room/door if they'll let me hang it
-Dry erase markers, eraser & board cleaner
-A 5-ft beach towel (it has that new towel fuzziness ^_^)
-A Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow folder (inside joke between the two of us)
-Post-it notes (We're both Post-it addicts)
-Hangers
-Febreeze
-Razors & shaving cream
-Deodorant
-Basic First-aid kit
-Hair ties (we both go through them like mad, can never have too many if your D has long hair and doesn't like to spend a lot of time styling it ^_^)
-2-packs of Motrin to keep in my purse
-4 x 6 index cards
-A TON of filler paper
-Highlighters
-Chapstick
Basically everything but the kitchen sink...you get the idea.

It was PERFECT...way less stuff I have to buy. Go older sister.

I would, however, only recommend this if it's a daughter/sister/son/brother/etc. you're shopping for, because you know what brands of everything they like. My sister, for example, was able to buy my favorite pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.

erhswimming

I would have gotten a laptop, but I was already getting one from my scholarship, so my parents got me a nice digital camera. It was very useful and much better than an old one I had from when they first came out.

For our summer vacation, instead of a usual beach trip to a cheap condo, we went on a cruise to Mexico, so that kind of made up for the fact that the camera was much cheaper than the computer they would have gotten.

Other than that, money for furnishing a dorm or apartment would be the way to go.

kwu

iPod, laptop, digital camera are all great suggestions.
Video game consoles, perhaps? Just not a book, for goodness sake.