I have about 10 graduates this year. From granddaughter to church teens to college grads! Help, I am looking at about $300.00 in gifts. And I can't do it! What can I give to not look like a cheap Aunt?
Many people are not expecting gifts, and some don't even want them.
When I graduated high school, I sent out many graduation announcements because I wanted people to know about the occasion, not because I wanted gifts. To my surprise I got a whole lot from people I didn't know very well, and didn't know me very well.
Just give gifts to those that would actually want to get a gift from (i)you(/i), not just because they want gifts. (05/14/2004)
By June
You shouldn't feel obligated to do everyone, but there are plenty of inexpensive gift ideas out there. The people closest to you, like your granddaughter, you may find something more special for their graduation like a desk set, or a gift certificate, or a nice pen with their name on it. Your church teens you could probably get by with just a card or a small gift.
You could even write up your story of going through school and graduating and get copies of your graduation or high school photo and include those with a card.
Wal-mart has quite a few (matching) nice stationery, journal, desk calendars, etc. for less than $7.00 each. They also have graduation picture frames and the sort for around the same price.
One of the best gifts I received at graduation was a holiday/event book that had a pocket for each month and you could write on the front of each pocket holidays or events like peoples anniversaries or birthdays, etc. and you could buy greeting cards ahead of time and place in the folder. Some of them are labeled by event. One pocket for Thank You cards, one for birthdays, etc. You could make your own inexpensively and decorat the cover of a notebook to personalize it for each person. That may mean more to them than something store-bought. There are also larger recipe type boxes that serve the same purpose. Walmart has carried both of these seasonally, but they are simple to create yourself.
I just bought one of the pocket folder sets for a friends daughter for her graduation and bought a few dollars worth of those 2/1.00 greeting cards that Walmart now has.
I also saw a crochet pattern recently for making a doily-like graduation cap and tassle that could hang on their car mirror. It was VERY CUTE! If you crochet, something like that with a card would be special.
There are also a few books out that are perfect for someone that is just graduating and possibly moving on to college or moving out on their own or just plain "adult knowledge". But books tend to get spendy if you are having to buy for ten or so.
(05/14/2004)
By Tawnda
I also had 7 graduating this year and am on a tight budget. My family gave each $10 and feel that it is the thought that counts not how much was given. The people you are giving the gift to hopefully are mature enough to understand that any gift would be better than nothing. I have recieved some thank you's, but gave to them to be a blessing. Hope this helps. (05/16/2004)
By Darlene
When I went to college, my good friend gave me a cute pair of flip flops from WalMart. Those are less than 5 dollars and you can give them as "shower shoes."
If you want to spend a bit more, you can give them a cute towel or shampoo and conditioner or something like that. The toiletries are always appreciated because they are necessities and it will save the graduate from having to buy them themselves! (04/18/2005)
By Joy
When my neice was graduating from college I wanted to get her something noone else would think of, but it would also be needed.
I filled up a cute clothes hamper with detergent and a few towels, clothes hangers, other little thing, and some rolled up quarters for the machine. (04/30/2005)
By Amber
A nice, cheap gift idea for students going far from home is to buy a set of cards (pack of ten at target or a similar store), and fill out the envelopes with the home address of the graduate, their return address at school, and a stamp. This way, they have a way to send letters home without taking time out of their schedule to hunt around campus for stamps. (06/09/2006)
By Ani
I have given a Boo Boo Tackle Box to a couple of my nephews for their graduations gifts. I purchased a tackle box and filled it with Tylenol, band-aid, antibiotic lotion, cough syrup, Tums, cold and hot packs, etc. Everything that their Mom's medicine cabinet might contain.
For a couple other nephews, I purchased several gift certificates from pizza restaurants from the town they were going to attend college. (04/05/2007)
By Rosemary
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