Inexpensive Graduation Gifts

hiker · 04-19-2006, 01:49 PM

Anyone else having a hard time wth the idea of buying an expensive high school graduation gifts when we're about to face college tuition bills? Let's share ideas. I've been putting a lot of thought into presents that come from the heart rather than the wallet. I'll offer my two ideas and hope you'll offer one or two also.

1. Words to Live By: A Journal of Wisdom for Someone You Love (Emily and Kate Marshall, Broadway Books, $14). It's a family wisdom journal that you write in your tips, advise, stories and lessons about leading a happy, healthy life. Great questions in it make it easy. Parents, grandparents, anyone can write in it. The student takes the family wisdom with them to college and beyond. Very cool. I found it at Barnes and Noble.

2. Two stylin' photo albums, one you label "Past" and the other "Future." ($0 if recycled) Make copies of favorite family/friend photos from birth to graduation and put them in the Past album. Leave the Future album empty, with a note that says "Can't wait to see how you fill this." Especially good if grandma will splurge for the new camera! Target has great albums for teens.

nngmm · 04-19-2006, 02:43 PM

Our graduation gift was a laptop (or a desktop computer of their choice) for college.

It is expensive, but it's something your kids will really need, so you'll end up buying it anyway sooner or later.

hardknox1149 · 04-19-2006, 03:02 PM

"Just take this pen and write me..."--Diane
"She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart... she gave me a pen" -- Lloyd Dobler

ejr1 · 04-19-2006, 03:35 PM

D's friend put together a CD of pictures of all of them through the years. Then she burned copies for each girl. Even added music to it. D took it with her to college. Another friend gave everyone a silver charm with their initials engraved on one side, and the initials of the group of friends on the other.

jlauer95 · 04-19-2006, 03:42 PM

How about a "hoodie" or sweatshirt from their future college? I give them to my friends' kids when they go to college along with some money.

We told our s that he'll get a laptop and accessories (printer, etc) but he informed us that he's expecting a car! LOL Maybe we'll put a pic of a car on the screen saver!

hiker · 04-19-2006, 03:47 PM

nngmm-
Yes, we gave our eldest a laptop. But we did it as a Christmas gift senior year so there was time to get used to it/work out the bugs/ before leaving. Not particularly sentimental but definitely appreciated and needed.

hiker · 04-19-2006, 03:53 PM

I hear Mr.Roger's has a grad-type book-- "Life's Journeys According to Mr. Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way." Not sure how much today's 17 year olds remember Mr Rogers though. Maria Shriver has one too. But I really like the idea of writing your own sentiments in the "Words to Live By" journal book. More personal--a family keepsake.

jlauer95 · 04-19-2006, 03:54 PM

How about a weekend trip somewhere special? This could be for the kid and a friend.... Or.... if he/she likes being with family, a trip with parents as a "last hurrah" with family before going off to college. It could be a fab memory.

I forgot to add to post #5 that we are taking son to Italy the summer after graduation.

hiker · 04-19-2006, 04:11 PM

Fun! Un viaje maravilloso! (sorry, Spanish is as close as I get to Italian

Chocolateisgood · 04-19-2006, 04:28 PM

The whole albums for teens thing is a bad idea. They're going off to college where they're supposed to become adults.. more mature, older, wiser.. those teen albums (if we're thinking about the same ones) are so .. no no no. (coming from a teen.) The first idea is nice.

lovetocamp · 04-19-2006, 04:54 PM

We have purchased a laptop. Have not given it to him yet. Dell has some awesome deals. Found one for 400.00 off the normal price.

hiker · 04-19-2006, 04:55 PM

I looove your handle. I'm a big fan of the chocolate!
So, you're saying NO to the photo album, YES to the Words to Live By?

sarah_mc · 04-19-2006, 05:19 PM

I am a senior and I love the idea of a scrapbook/photo album. I have been making mine all year long with my mom, and it has been great. I am definantly planning on taking it to college with me.

For graduation I am getting a laptp from my dad, and some sort of jewelry from my mom. The jewelry is a family tradition, usually it is a ring.

If you are looking for a good deal on a laptop check out the refurbished. That is what I got and it works well. It is normally a much more expensive laptop to.

PRiSM92289 · 04-19-2006, 05:49 PM

IF all goes well I expect my parents to give me a nice watch, and a Mac Book Pro its a pretty expensive laptop ($2300) but it will last through all 4 years of college

Usually watches make great presents

PackMom · 04-19-2006, 05:50 PM

I made a birth thru grad. photo album for S. He enjoyed looking thru it but did not take it to college. Didn't expect or want him to. It's much safer at home in the top of his closet.

The real grad. gift was paying for half the airfare for him to take a trip to Mexico with a friend (and friend's family). The friend's family paid half for him because they really wanted him to go along with their son. It was the experience of a lifetime (one we never could have given him) and something he will never forget.

So I 'd have to say helping to fund (within reason) a special trip with friends is much appreciated.