A successful and affordable graduation gift idea!

Parent Cafe
1

I’ve been looking for something 1) actually useful and 2) actually affordable to give to D’s friends who are graduating from various schools. So far, she’s given 3 of these to friends and they are a huge hit!

You can search for them at amazon or wherever under the name 'Brita Slim Water Filter Pitcher, 5 Cup". The idea behind this is a simple water filtration system that can be filled from a dorm sink, then placed into a dorm-sized refrigerator (make sure to buy the “slim” version) so a kid can have fresh, cold water without having to buy (expensive/wasteful) bottled water. What I’ve been doing is then filling the container with colorful tea bags before wrapping but there are likely other items you could place in there too.

$18.

you can’t beat that. :slight_smile:

2

Good idea. I’m going to pick one up for my daughter. I’ve been crocheting chunky cowls in college colors for my daughter to give as gifts to her friends. We noticed when we were touring schools in the fall that so many of the college girls were wearing chunky infinity scarves or cowls with their college sweatshirts. We got online and looked for a pattern that my daughter liked, and I started crocheting. I finished the last one this weekend and am now working on one for my daughter. It costs a few bucks to make one and I know they sell for at least $20. My favorite one was in University of Iowa colors - I did black with a soft yellow - really looked cool when it was done.

3

now @Fourthmom that is so cool! Let me ask you…do you take custom orders? I can think of several of her classmates who would LOVE these.

4

Lots of kids make the cowls by following YouTube videos on arm knitting!

5

Dare I say that at WalMart, the price is just under $11! That is quite affordable and something we many need to pick up for D, since she won’t drink tap water because she doesn’t like the taste.

6

^^^
I was just going to suggest Wal-Mart. I have bought the slim Britas there a few times…very inexpensive…under $11!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brita-Slim-Water-Pitcher/8470932

free store pick up…or…
spend $50 and shipping is free.

7

Please do this for your children.

Signed a student whose college city’s tap water has a distinct smell and taste that after two years is not accustomed to in the slightest.

8

Do the student a favor…buy them a three or four pack of refill filters. While the pitcher is only $11, the refills are about $5 each.

Sort of like computer printer cartridges…the printer is cheap but they get you on the ink.

Brita gets you on the filter refills.

9

Buy a pack of filters at Costco and then drop a few into the pitchers instead of tea bags. :slight_smile: Keep some filters for yourself!!

10

Each filter is good for about 2 months, so $2.50 a month is about the price of one bottle of Aquafina from a soda machine.

11

BB, totally agree, it’s cheaper than buying bottled water…by a lot. But the $11 for the pitcher itself is only part of the cost. I would give a four pack of filters…so this would last all school year.

12

This is the pattern I’ve been using. It would be a great beginner project because it just uses three very basic crochet stitches. You don’t need to use fancy yarn for them either, so they are pretty economical to make. http://katiescrochetgoodies.com/2014/09/free-easy-double-crochet-cowl-pattern.html

13

Costco is currently having a sale on Brita water filters $34 for 10 filters. The 5 cup slim pitcher is also available at Bed bath & beyond for $11.99, plus you can use your discount coupon.

14

Hi guys, I saw them at Lowes for $10 too. But be sure to open the box before you buy! All of the ones at Lowes were cracked down the side where the spout is. Check them out!!! Also, one filter lasts 3 months, so they only need 3 for a school year. It comes with one.