My son and his girlfriend are graduating from college soon and I am stumped on a gift for her. They have been dating since high school so I have known her for years. She is an only child and the only grandchild on both sides so probably doesn’t “need” anything. No job yet and very stressed about that so don’t want to get anything career-related. I think she will be in my life for years to come so I really want something thoughtful. I was thinking in the $3-500 range. She is not much into jewelry. Their apartment is smaller than our first apartment. Any ideas?
What do they like to do for recreation or entertainment?
What about a gadget? A Kindle/eReader, tablet, cell phone? Or, for something more fun - a drone (I am not sure they come in that price range). I am not into clothing/purse, etc. brands, which sounds similar to this girl, but I absolutely love gadgets. Last Christmas, a friend gave me a Kindle Voyage. I didn’t need one, because I already had a perfectly functioning Paperwhite, but that’s what made the gift so great for me - the opportunity to try out new technology I would not buy for myself (because it’s not a ‘need’). One of the best gifts ever!
If she is at all into the outdoors, Garden and Gun has a great list of gift ideas on their mercantile website.
So many fun events/concerts/etc. in the summer. Buy her tickets for your son and her to attend a night out that they may not be able to afford themselves. Someplace unique. If you want a tangible object to give, buy a pretty antique box (if she would like that) to put the tickets in.
A gift certificate to a spa, a bed and breakfast, a very nice restaurant or tickets to a show.
Tickets to a show and a gift card to a restaurant for a nice evening out
I think some of the “event” gifts mentioned above (concert tix etc.) sound great, but I’d at least consider a keepsake type of gift – esp if you think she’ll be in your/your son’s life for years. $300-500 is a good amount. How about a nice watch? Or a simple necklace or bracelet. I know at that age I wasn’t much into jewelry either – but frankly it was bc I didn’t have many pieces; then when I got to the work place, I realized women accessorize and I ended up buying some simple pieces that could be worn with anything from business casual to a business suit.
She may not be “into” jewelry but the occasion begs for it. If she wears a necklace at all get her some sort of charm that speaks of graduation or the future. It doesn’t need to be big. Just thoughtful.
What about an Hermes bracelet?
http://usa.hermes.com/jewelry/enamel-jewelry/printed-bracelets/black/configurable-product-f-enamel-grand-apparat.html?wristband_model=LARGE&metal_color=OR&nuance=2&color_hermes=NOIR&back_product_position=s-1-p-3
My girls love to wear them. You can dress it up or down, wear it by itself or in multiple. I started getting it for them for various special occasions, and now our relatives also started to get it for them.
If she’s not into jewelry, I wouldn’t get her jewelry. She might not wear jewelry for reasons other than she doesn’t have an occasion to. (For example, I don’t wear jewelry because I have super sensitive skin that reacts to pretty much everything.)
I’m going to go with a spa day or maybe even a weekend away with your S. Could be a very nice break from the career-searching stress.
If she likes to read, a kindle or something similar would also be a nice touch.
Oldfort, I was going to suggest a scarf. 
they are gorgeous, artist-designed, and fun! But I realize not all love scarves as much as I do.
I was at a crafts show, and found a hand carved jewelry box. I got that as a gift. It was not the graduation girt, though.
Oldfort, I love the Hermes bracelets. I’d take one.
Sorry, I missed the part that she doesn’t like jewelry. I think Hermes scarf would be lovely too. I used to get an Hermes or Gucci scarf every xmas. They are all still in perfect condition, some are older than D1. They really are timeless.
We bought D a nice over the shoulder bag that she can use pretty much all the time, including evenings. It’s very small and lightweight, which is just her style. We had previously given her wristlets that she likes, but this is her favorite so far.
If she doesn’t have one, iPad mini is a great item to have, but tablets are rather personal, so hard to KNOW if a young person really wants one if they don’t already have it.
I’d probably think about giving something like that as well as dinner and a show for the couple to celebrate.
I know kids post pics on FB and Instagram, but my kids and their friends loved the photo albums I made for them. Actual, physical pictures in one place in chronological order detailing, in this case, their senior years. Were a big hit!
I would try to zero in on her interests/hobbies. For my own daughter, for example, some original art to hang in the new apartment, year long memberships to all the great museums/artsy attractions in her new city, a gopro camera, a new high end backpack or tent, tickets for her and her boyfriend to the Bonnaroo music festival, a kitchen aid mixer for her new kitchen would be gifts she would appreciate as she loves art/camping/music/cooking. My artistic, unconventional daughter wouldn’t be caught dead in a Hermes scarf or bracelet, for example. Nothing wrong with them just totally not her style. So, try to gauge her tastes which you probably know as she’s been part of your family for awhile.
I like the photo album idea a lot. If you are friends with either on Facebook, you can pull photos of them together from there (super creepy that you can do that, but you can). Add to that, a personal note about how glad you are that she’s is a part of your son’s life and you have one of the most touching gifts a girl can get from her boyfriend s mom, something money can’t buy.
For D1’s graduation, her BF’s parents got her a green tea set for her new apartment. It wasn’t very expensive, but she loved the present because she loved green and she liked tea. She was touched by their thoughtfulness.
Both of my girls are very artistic and creative, they wear Hermes bracelet with trendier jewelry to create their own look.
A bit off topic - but it is interesting when people say they wouldn’t be caught dead in something. I think people can be versatile on how they dress/look. Different occasions calls for different looks, sometimes one can be trendy and sometimes one needs to be more formal. It is also fine to mix and match with high end and street fashion.
I have to admit that the kids were amazed at the photos I got my hands on. I surreptitiously logged onto my son’s Fb account, and then I had access to all their stuff! lol But I tried not to be too creepy. And they all know that I love to take pictures so I had ones they’d never seen, like from their graduation ceremony and a big lakehouse party.