Graduation Gift Ideas

So, you received a graduation announcement in the mail. You usually just send money but this time you would like to send something more personal. Since the graduate will be going away to college and comes from a big extended family, he or she will receive many gifts and you would like to give her something unique, maybe something custom made.

College is a new life altering experience with deadlines is demanding so a watch is a great idea for a student entering college. Keeping an eye on the time is crucial for students who have demanding schedules. An academic planner is also a great gift idea.

It is helpful for keeping track of assignments, projects, notes, phone numbers and email addresses. A Dry erase board is a necessity in college because students often like to leave messages back and forth in the dorm.

This is their first experience alone in the real world. Purchasing a simple basket and filling it with things like calling cards, a prepaid cell phone, stamps and envelopes, stationary, and a cool pen will help the student be able to communicate back and forth with friends and family without stressing over communication issues. A map of the area is also a great tool if the student is out of state.

Another unique gift would be a laundry kit. How about putting together a laundry basket filled with laundry detergent, fabric softener, a stain stick, a jar filled with quarters, and you could even throw in some engraved towels and washcloths.

College Students need to eat too! Furnishings like a set of dishes, pots and pans, silver wear, potholders, can openers, plastic containers, can be very useful. Simple gift certificates to McDonalds, Starbucks, Wal-Mart or any other major retailer of food and drink are great too! Of course, if they are going out of state to college, you might want to call the college first and see what retailers are in the area. You could also give simple boxed or canned foods that won’t spoil.

Getting sick and having no one to take care of you like mom use to can really put a damper on things when in college. How about giving a basket filled with Tylenol, Cough Drops, Flu medicines, cold capsules, some chicken noodle soup and a nice comfy warm blanket. They will definitely thank you for it later.

A tool kit, spare light bulbs, tape measure, extension cords, flash lights, batteries a small fan and a cordless phone are the things that most students will take for granted and not even think about needing. They may seem like a strange gift at first, but I guarantee that those things will become lifesavers when they least expect it and will make dorm living a little more bearable.

A gift certificate to the university bookstore, to help with the shock of the first textbook shopping trip is a great idea. If the recipient already has the textbooks under control, supplies can be bought at the bookstore along with sweatshirts and among other things.

Computers, microwaves, small refrigerators, PDA’s and furniture can be quite expensive so it is a good idea if a few people get together to purchase those costly items.

Most of the gifts mentioned are inexpensive and unique. They can be grouped together and placed in baskets or any other unique container with your special touches added to them. Going to college can be a really exciting, yet a stressful time in a young person’s life. Giving these kinds of gifts will help alleviate some of the demands of student life.