<p>My son already told me he wanted a nice watch. Now it’s shopping time!</p>
<p>Does he show an interest in fishing? Western NC has some great trout streams, and $1k would get a custom fly rod with enough money left for the rest of what he needs. His name, graduation date, and school colors can all be added. Flyfishing is a gentleman’s sport, and a good fly rod can last a lifetime.</p>
<p>Wow… more great ideas!</p>
<p>I also appreciate the advice about the golf clubs as I would definitely need professional advice.</p>
<p>I’d love to get him an engraved watch (just like my idea of a signet ring). My Mom has given him several over the years but he’s never worn any, saying he doesn’t need one. With this generation’s ‘physically attached’ cellphones to give them the time, too few kids appreciate the value of a quality timepiece. Unlike us, I feel naked leaving the house watch-less.</p>
<p>A quality fly or surf rod is a great idea! Several of his friends would greatly appreciate such a gift as they fish with me when I take the boat out (freshwater). I intend to pass this advice to his friend’s parents, so thanks!</p>
<p>My son and I enjoy being on the water. His Dad taught him to swim before he could walk and now he’s a certified lifeguard. Some of my best memories are cat and crappie fishing with my late husband but my son just doesn’t have the patience (ADD). If we didn’t already have all the usual toys (skis, knee boards, etc.), I would consider those options. However, a jet ski, his own boat or a new dirt bike would make him drool… but my bank account would cry! He got the Geek from me but his ‘need for speed’ came directly from his Dad. No tickets yet but how I’d love a governor on his V-6!</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! You’re not only helping me with your ideas but other senior parents as well!</p>
<p>Oh yea, we did have our son upgrade to a DroidX before he left for college. With monthly internet access fees, that’s the gift that keeps on giving ;)</p>
<p>Does anyone have any idea the cost of the chairs? It does not say on the website and they are closed right now or I would call…and did I mention I was not patient…lol.</p>
<p>For S1’s h.s. grad. we gave him $$ for airfare that enabled him to take a trip with a friend and his family to Mexico. He had never really traveled anywhere before so it was a great/memorable gift.</p>
<p>S2 wanted a really nice stereo for his truck that was going to college with him. It’s a four hour drive from home. Though not terribly sentimental, he’s gotten a lot of use/enjoyment out of that stereo. </p>
<p>When S1 graduated from college, we got him a watch with the college initials and date engraved on the back. It’s a titanium Citizen Eco-Drive watch…very light weight, never needs a battery. S1 had never been a “watch wearer” because of the cell ph. but loved the watch and now wears it all the time</p>
<p>PackMom,That’s funny. We got my older son a Citizen Eco-Drive for his college graduation too. He wears it all the time. It was a classic one with a leather band. He’s somewhat preppy!
About the chairs, not sure how much the ones mathmom talked about are but many college bookstore sites will have them as well. The couple sites I looked at had chairs that were 450-699 dollars.
I mentioned Dalvey of Scotland compasses earlier from Dalvey Depot. I really like an example they give for engraving- Michael,Follow your dreams, and may you always find your way home.Love always, Mom. I am partial to classic , long lasting things for graduations. They also have really nice travel alarm clocks that can be engraved. I’m sure there are many companies out there that have similar products and can do engraving. So many good ideas that people have given. I may need one when my younger son graduates from college in a couple of years!</p>
<p>A compass is at the top of my list. I have thought about engraving it with a Dr Suess quote form “Oh the places you’ll go” and also giving him a copy of the book. I also like to give gifts that they can keep. Gave my daughter a pearl necklace, guess that will not work for my son.</p>
<p>hawkbird, The Dr. Suess idea sounds great. I don’t think pearls would have worked either for my sons !</p>
<p>MerryW-</p>
<p>Your son sounds like a nice young man who is reasonably well equipped with gear.</p>
<p>Gear is always tricky to buy - especially for new or potential hobbies; I’ve spent plenty of my own money on things that didn’t get used (e.g., electric guitar, fishing kayak, sailboat). A safer choice than golf clubs might be gear for an established hobby.</p>
<p>If your son doesn’t have specific expectations for a graduation gift, why not go for something small now and splurge later when a gift really jumps out at you.</p>
<p>My own sons are found of photo mugs showing the family dog.</p>
<p>(If cost were no object, I would send a young male geek to [Skip</a> Barber Racing School](<a href=“http://www.skipbarber.com/]Skip”>http://www.skipbarber.com/) or [Frontsight</a> Firearms Training.](<a href=“http://www.frontsight.com/]Frontsight”>http://www.frontsight.com/))</p>
<p>“Question:if my son’s last year income is $4,000, he can contribute up to $4,000 in Roth IRA? I know the limit is $5,000, but one can contribute to the maximum amount but not more than “earned income” for that year?”</p>
<p>I’m not an accountant, but I’m pretty sure that is correct. He should definitely do all he can (and is willing to).</p>
<p>When my oldest was graduating, we were trying to figure out a present. I was feeling inadequate because my hairdresser was talking about getting a car for her son’s graduation, other people were having big parties and giving expensive gifts and exotic trips.</p>
<p>I thought about it, and asked him, “How about 220K for college tuition as a graduation present? Isn’t that good enough??” But later on, we did get him a halfway decent bike, (which was stolen within 3 days). I’d say, get him the golf clubs, he’ll appreciate them and have them forever.</p>
<p>My parents got me a Mont Blanc pen. I’ve used it quite a bit and appreciate it.</p>
<p>My in-laws gave our oldest son a very nice suitcase for HS graduation and it’s gotten quite a bit of use.</p>
<p>@My$0.02 ~ I totally agree with you. We have all invested $ into ‘stuff’ that got little use but I learned that lesson early after an expensive baseball bat in elementary school. He’s never enjoyed any team sports as he’s usually the bench warmer. (Tall, lanky and gawky)</p>
<p>He has all the needed gear for his established hobbies (all non-traditional: dirt biking, water sports and paintball). And he has purchased IT gear out the wazoo already. The desire to play golf is the first honest endeavor he’s shown in many years, especially since he sees that it may help his IT career as he moves into management. Plus, this is a sport he can play at college, unlike his other sports. But like you inferred, I may give him lessons first to see if he has the talent and desire to proceed.</p>
<p>However, I like the idea too of firearms training as odd as that may seem. I’m a Southern Bell who can out-shoot most men, including my late husband (to his ire), and he was an avid deer hunter (though S is too tenderhearted to kill anything real). I need to get my conceal-carry permit and if the law allows, maybe he could go too. I certainly already have all the needed ‘equipment’. If he likes paintball, maybe he’d like to learn the real thing. Cool idea, thanks! There’s a professional facility nearby that teaches budding race car drivers (which his Dad would have heartily endorsed) but as a mom, I’m not sure I want to fuel that fire!</p>
<p>I agree with the others; I love anything ‘personalized’! I spend a boatload every year at ‘Ornaments with Love’ and ‘Santa’s Ornament Shop’ and not just at Christmas (such as friend who just opened a business and a memorial gift for friends who’s 2 yo just died plus a tree to be planted). From order to delivery, it’s always less than a week, even at Christmas, and if there’s a problem, the gladly fix and overnight it back. Great service!</p>
<p>I’ve bought my son a personalized Christmas ornament every year since birth. But I also buy for many others every Christmas such as my late husband’s sister’s family. The ornaments ($10 - $15) also make great memorial, baby and wedding gifts but for a college or HS graduate, you can buy a stand the ornament can be displayed year-round (such as their HS or college they will be attending with their personalized name). I have bought so many personalized ornaments, year after year, that my family and friends say they can’t wait to get theirs every Christmas. Oh, what a monster I’ve created!</p>
<p>I also shop online at Personal Creations for other personalized gifts (and they have a section just for graduates). If you’re on their mailing list, you get notifications of great sales/discounts. I have a relative who LOVES the Washington Redskins. He adored the framed print I purchased that has a photo of their home stadium and they inserted the his name into the jumbotron (very realistic). (Many teams available). I also bought what looks like a rectangular street sign and they’ll insert any text you like. (A friend has a home ‘workshop’ but it’s more of a mancave. So, I had them insert “Joe’s Beer and Pout House”.) All guys seem to love street signs so this would be a great gift if you can think of the appropriate text.</p>
<p>Past gifts for other graduates or my son:
(Usually cash if I don’t know the graduate well but if I do…)
*Monogrammed XL twin sheets or blanket (for dorm rooms) (JCPenney’s/Lands End)
*Monogrammed towel set (so they don’t get lost among other students) (I still have my set from college!)
*Savings Bond
*Monogrammed Photo Frame
*College Flags (to display in dorm room)
*Posters/Mugs/T-shirts (CafePress.com)
*Ergonomic/Comfortable desk chair from office supply store (purchased for son last Christmas)
*IT Gear: 16GB Flash Drive, Portable Hard Drive
*Electric Shaver (bought several year back; he’s yet to use a real razor)
*Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker (doesn’t wake roommate) (Amazon; Sonic Boom which I plan to purchase; waking him is like waking the dead)
*Car GPS
*Skullcandy Speaker Dock for iPod/iPhone (see Amazon; Share your music with friends or at parties; compact & great reviews; my son never travels overnight without his)
*Floor Lamp or integrated nightstand/floor lamp (limited dorm space but check housing restrictions first; some types they don’t allow)
*Gift Card for on-campus establishment (Starbucks, Subway, etc.)
*Small (bedroom sized) flat screen TV with internet connectivity for Netflix</p>
<p>If my son loved photography as much as me, I’d buy him a nice still or video camera but at his current age that’s more of a ‘girl thing’.</p>
<p>Ya’ll are GREAT… so many ideas!</p>
<p>Merry Widow, I like college ornaments . We bought them for both sons .
I also like Personal Creations. They have really nice laundry bags that you can get in the college colors and have the kid’s initials put on.</p>
<p>My DS is graduating from college this year and he going to get $ to help him set up an apartment and anything he will need until he starts getting a paycheck. Sadly this is going to be costly and what we can afford but we have paid for his education so I think that is a pretty good gift.</p>
<p>Anyways, he is not a kid who wants or needs very much. He likes to play golf and I think that golf clubs are a great idea. One year we got our S a R-9 driver. It was such a splurge and he loved it.</p>
<p>This year for xmas he wanted and we gave him a kindle. He said that many of his professors will send them pdf’s that they need to read and it is tiresome to read on his computer and expensive to print off. So maybe a kindle DX which is the big one and would be great to read computer downloads with out all the eye strain. My FIL has the DX and it is great to download manuals, much better to read tables and diagrams.</p>
<p>A Kindle sounds like a good device to have. I’ve also considered a cheap netbook to use in class as his laptop is so heavy to carry. </p>
<p>He attends a college prep HS and I’ve had to buy college textbooks for years (though always used). Plus, I remember all those thick college books and how heavy they were especially when trying to read in bed.</p>
<p>Now that textbooks can be rented, I wonder if you can rent and download to a Kindle? I’m always looking for the cheapest way out in regards to overpriced textbooks!</p>
<p>Thanks for the idea… I’ll investigate more!</p>
We are doing a laptop…but what about a nice watch?
Money is always memorable!!!