Low Cost Gifts for the Graduate

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Cheap Graduation Gifts: Ideas Needed

Help! I am invited to three graduations this spring. I need some frugal ideas for nice gifts for the soon-to-be high school graduates.
Darcie

Cheap Graduation Gifts: How About a Book?

I like the idea of giving a book that will help as the new grad gets started in living, such as Tightwad Gazette, The Millionaire Next Door, or Suze Orman's 9 Steps to Personal Freedom. It may not be the coolest present in the lot, but it sure could be the most valuable, and one that the parents would appreciate having their child receive.
Karen

Cheap Graduation Gifts: A Self-Help Guide

Buy them each a copy of the book What Color is Your Parachute? This book is the best self-help guide to job hunting, resume preparation, etc. Although it's probably not cheap, the rate of return they should get from applying it will probably rate among the highest possible: better jobs, more satisfaction, increased self-confidence, a better future, higher wages, etc.
Charles A.

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Bucket of Stuff

When I graduated from high school I got this as a gift and it was great!

You need a bucket or a bin. Fill it with everyday needs. These things should be easy to find at your local close-out store. You can buy off brands, sample sizes, or since you have several, you could buy in bulk/packages and save more money! Here are some ideas:

a sponge
toothpaste
shampoo/conditioner
pens/pencils
paperclips
a little mirror
hi-liters
bubbles (great for dorm life!)
plastic cups
stickers
stamps
washclothes
ramen noodles :)
box of mac and cheese
envelopes
AA batteries

You get the idea! Have fun with it. Decorate the container. I know your grad will love it!
Tina

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Towels

For inexpensive graduation gifts, I have found towel and wash cloths a good thing. These are especially useful for the college bound or for those starting up their own place.

I don't usually purchase the expensive thick kind for this occassion. I can get more for less and this age group (especially males) doesn't take the care of laundry that warrants expensive towels.
K. M.

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Kitchen Starter Set

We used to work with high school youth and one year had 15 graduate open houses in one spring. I made up two gifts (depending upon student) and each gift was between $5 and $10.

Buy an oven mitt and then fill it with cooking utensils from a dollar store, such as wooden spoons, spatula, rubber scrapers, etc. Wrap it by simply putting a piece of tissue paper in the oven mitt and then the utensils in the tissue paper and wrap with a big bow. These were a big hit and very useful for the student.

The other idea is to buy a large bowl and 2 or 4 plastic glasses from a dollar store and fill bowl with the glasses, several bags of microwave popcorn (or even regular popcorn) and then a deck of cards or an inexpensive video. Wal-Mart has many of the old classic videos under $5. Cover with large piece of cellophane or tissue paper and top with big bow.
Terri

Cheap Graduation Gifts: A Reason to Write

Stamps, along with stationary, make a nice gift for those kids going away to college.
Robin

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Photo Albums

Photo albums are pretty generic and inexpensive. Everyone has graduation pictures, etc. that need to be stored.
Shelley

Cheap Graduation Gifts: A Personal History

If you have access to pictures of the graduate, give a progressive photo album with stories you remember about them growing up for each photo or set of photos. This is surely a great hit and a keepsake.

If you have not known the graduate long enough to have pictures, you can get an inexpensive photo album, decorate it, and let them collect pictures from their next life stage (whether that be college or career).

Another idea is to make a book of quotes for the graduate to use through the next stage of their life.

If they are graduating and going to college, prepaid phone cards are WONDERFUL, and you can attach a personal note card to the gift.
Stacy

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Inexpensive Jewelry

I do some volunteer work at a women's college, so every May I know several young women who are graduating. I have made it a tradition to give them a pair of cultured pearl earrings. The girls adore them.

I get them for $15 a pair by going to the jewelry wholesalers. A friend of mine has his own business and takes me there for my annual visit. Because he has a business license, he is able to purchase wholesale. I bring enough green cash to cover the purchases. On our annual visit, I get 2 to 5 pairs of 5mm to 6mm (no larger) cultured pearls mounted on 14K gold posts with butterfly clasps. In another booth, we purchase black velvet boxes for $2 each. If you have saved velvet boxes from earrings you have received as gifts, you can save the price of the boxes.

Pearl stud earrings make an elegant and grown-up gift for a young woman graduating from high school or college.
Laura

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Meaningful Coins

I was told by a co-worker some years ago that she gave graduates coins (quarters, half dollars, dollars) from the year of the recipient's birth. The number of coins given would depend on the amount one wished to give. Perhaps you could stick them to a card or fake diploma or etc. with double-faced tape.
DN

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Emergency Kit

I have two ideas for graduation gifts. One is to decorate a back pocket from a pair of old blue jeans and put things in it (like a sample size trio of shampoo, lotion and bath oil for girls). The other is to make a "college emergency kit." I've done this for a girl. You can use something like a used decorative candy canister (like fruit cakes come in) and put in sample sizes of shampoo, a few bandaids and Q-tips wrapped in ziplock bags, pen, pencil etc. I've done this for a guy using a large plastic basket (cheap at Wal-Mart) and put in a package of notebook paper, pen, pencil, etc. Look for coupons where you can get free sample sizes and take advantage of back-to-school sale merchandise. I've gotten a lot of great ideas from this site. I hope my ideas can help.
Susan F.

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Gift Package

A high school graduation gift that was a hit for my cousins last year was a coupon that I made up for a midterm or finals gift package (they were all headed to college). I made cookies and kept it cheap they were all happy and I saved some money!
Laura

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Personalized Stationary

It's easy, fun, and inexpensive to make great-looking personalized stationary with your computer! Using the Internet, I was able to download images with a right click of a button. In this way, I made a stationary packet for my younger brother with the emblem from his fraternity, the logo from his favorite band, and his new after-college address. I topped it off by making a sheet of Return Labels.

He really liked it, and I already had all the "ingredients" right here in my desk!
C.S.

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Help to Communicate

Gradutes could use some pens, stationary, and stamps for writing home from college or you could give them a nice set of thank you cards for their other graduation gifts. A pre-paid phone card would help them at college to make phone calls. If money is really tight and depending on how close you are to the student, you could make a photo album of the times you've spent together.
Cathy

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Day or Night

For the college-bound graduate, I have found that a planner, such as Day Planner, is a much appreciated gift and not expensive.

If it is a relative (girl) or someone you know very well, they might enjoy a pillow made with pictures of them , especially when they are growing up. You can easily put them on transfer paper and iron them to a nice material and "make" or cover a pillow with the fabric.
Carol M.

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Let Them Choose

Give your grads a gift certificate. Bookstores, movie theatres, coffee shops, water parks, etc. all offer gift certificates. While this is not a penny-pinching tip, it can be inexpensive and it is one that is more likely to be used and appreciated than many graduation gifts. In addition, you can be certain that the gift is appropriate, which you can never do with gifts of money.
Terry F.

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Traditional Gift

A gift I have given to grads (and received) is a nice jotter pen. The Parker Pen Co. of Janesville, WI puts out pens with the school colors & insigna for the schools of Janesville. The price is only about 5 or 6 dollars.
Steve

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Thank You Notes

I have found that Thank You notes are often appreciated. Also, if the person will be leaving home, postage stamps are quite helpful! I have found these to be very economical and yet extremely practical.
Tammy T

Cheap Graduation Gifts: Looking Sharp

Give a small ironing board, pillows, small things they could use at college, or picture frames.
Abby

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