tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post8822646846312290201..comments2024-02-02T07:13:37.313-06:00Comments on Like Merchant Ships: Inexpensive Graduation Gift IdeasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-87490815522302663542010-01-11T10:12:33.825-06:002010-01-11T10:12:33.825-06:00I need lots of graduation gifts this spring. For c...I need lots of graduation gifts this spring. For close friends, I plan to spend more and get nice monogrammed gifts. But there are many, many neighbors or school friends who my daughter will be invited to grad parties or open-house celebrations for, & I just can't spend even $25 each on those casual acquaintances b/c there are so many of them. So I am making laundry bags w/cute preppy coordinating fabrics. These are $20 to $35 in the boutiques, plus an extra $10 to $12 if you opt to get them monogrammed. (Mine won't be monogrammed). These will cost $8 or $10 each for the cute fabric, cording for drawstring & some cute ribbon embellishments. I don't think I could buy anything in that price range that would look as nice or be as useful!Elizabeth Kraichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424339487065071239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-23386316617879321832009-06-27T19:38:40.592-05:002009-06-27T19:38:40.592-05:00For family or close friends going away to school w...For family or close friends going away to school we purchase 30 small items (can repeat some) and individually wrap each one with tissue paper or newspaper. We then place all thirty items in a gift bag with a note telling the new college student to open one each day for their first month away from home. We give this to the grad right before they leave for school. Everyone has really appreciated this. <br /><br />Ideas of what to buy: toothpaste, Post-Its, paper clips, mini stapler, gum, Ramen cup of noodles, granola bars, highlighter, pen, lead pencil, deoderant, etc. For multiple grads, simply buy multi packs and divide them evenly.<br /><br />My little brother actually called us his 2nd week at school and asked if deoderant was one of the gifts, since the one he took had run out. Thankfully, it was :)Tim, Allyson, and kidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783456001791140306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-68861866921809883442009-06-10T12:37:20.577-05:002009-06-10T12:37:20.577-05:00I've given my music students (girls) those bul...I've given my music students (girls) those bulletin boards that have criss cross ribbons. I personalize them with pictures,photographs, poems, recipes, and a note of advice.<br /><br />I've also given books like the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, or a Greek lexicon to students headed to Bible college, or any students that engage in serious Bible study. <br /><br />My youngest brother graduated this year and since he's headed to a community college and still living at home, I'm thinkin of sending a copy of Do Hard Things to encourage him.<br /><br />For my sister that graduated from college and plans to begin teaching, I'm debating on some school supplies or book on teaching - waiting to see what grade she gets :^) Maybe a few prepackaged bulleting boards.Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05694521143609595819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-50834892963755070122009-05-24T10:07:43.992-05:002009-05-24T10:07:43.992-05:00How about a nice pen?How about a nice pen?Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07398765438599269210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-74516994507799722162009-05-24T04:57:34.498-05:002009-05-24T04:57:34.498-05:00You guys forgot the universal fixer, duct tape!
=...You guys forgot the universal fixer, duct tape!<br /><br />=) I got some when I graduated glow in the dark, aqua, and hot pink!<br /><br />Needless to say, that and the tool kit saved my butt many times. :)Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04608125273475289517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-38492341472458002942009-05-23T15:23:03.727-05:002009-05-23T15:23:03.727-05:00I didn't see this mentioned yet, but a college coo...I didn't see this mentioned yet, but a college cookbook really saved my life! Either a microwave cookbook, or if the dorms have kitchens one with quick and easy student and budget friendly meals. You could even make on yourself with your own recipes that you know to be frugal and easy.faerieevahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197826244480048381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-18694187029520880512009-05-23T13:30:35.374-05:002009-05-23T13:30:35.374-05:00A dear family friend's daughter graduates from UVA...A dear family friend's daughter graduates from UVA this year, and she is headed to NYU for graduate work. My plan is to get in touch with a friend who lives in Brooklyn, have her buy a loaded Metro card for the subway and mail it to me, and give it to our graduate along with an insider's guide to NYC.MaryAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15275318954318681011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-88619528795378884362009-05-22T14:36:16.852-05:002009-05-22T14:36:16.852-05:00The best gift I received (years ago) was a laundry...The best gift I received (years ago) was a laundry basket filled with office supplies. <br /><br />My mom always gives a sweatshirt from their college. Very popular with the graduates. <br /><br />I like to give personalized stationery. I know grads are tech savvy, but I like the USPS.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10198477292452749031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-43150200171170639102009-05-22T13:50:43.530-05:002009-05-22T13:50:43.530-05:00er a grade below gradution from high school, I mea...er a grade below gradution from high school, I meant to say of course.SchrefflerFamilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16250571296052594274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-64808484134354317162009-05-22T13:50:18.940-05:002009-05-22T13:50:18.940-05:00I would not give anything for a graduation for a g...I would not give anything for a graduation for a grade below graduation except, PERHAPS, for my own child.SchrefflerFamilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16250571296052594274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-68006552895793786732009-05-22T06:50:32.980-05:002009-05-22T06:50:32.980-05:00Because I teach at the college level and am tired ...Because I teach at the college level and am tired of receiving multi-page assignments that are taped together, paper clipped together, have the corners folded, or have a cutout in the side and then folded in some crazy way.......I give HS graduates office supplies featuring a stapler or two and one of those mini-staplers for their backpacks.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15864788405095288705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-90904182603740152722009-05-21T16:11:10.799-05:002009-05-21T16:11:10.799-05:00I like the book ideas. Dave Ramsey's books for su...I like the book ideas. Dave Ramsey's books for sure, plus giving something about creative storage, repurposing, and doing junk make~overs are great. Remember what we had in college: everyone's cast-offs. If I had known how to repaint everything, my space would have looked much nicer, and you know THAT makes a girl happy! ;-)GoodPlanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691817287827509084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-18187571884454430912009-05-21T11:48:58.328-05:002009-05-21T11:48:58.328-05:00Hmm. Some of the things I used in college that I w...Hmm. Some of the things I used in college that I would never have thought of:<br /><br />—Silverware. Because not everybody has a complete meal plan.<br /><br />—a sharp kitchen knife for the same reason. Plus cheap plastic cutting board. And instructions on how to do a bleach rinse of same.<br /><br />—Cooking instructions. Now that I'm older, I wish I'd had Alton Brown when I went off to college. His books are sensible and teach you <I>why</I> things work a certain way— which is more useful than a bunch of recipes that might call for things not on hand.<br /><br />—Laundry instructions & tips. For example, we've found that vinegar in the center post instead of fabric softener makes a fabulous rinse, and is cheap besides.<br /><br />—Bed risers. These can also be cinderblocks.B. Durbinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559705448147986730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-3253205779498074332009-05-21T09:05:56.743-05:002009-05-21T09:05:56.743-05:00It's not the thriftiest of gifts, but I like to gi...It's not the thriftiest of gifts, but I like to give a small tool kit with a multi-head screwdriver, a small hammer, some pliers and a few other little things. There are always times when a few tools come in handy.Jordanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08597512952805238754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-21959724892907389442009-05-21T05:58:54.359-05:002009-05-21T05:58:54.359-05:00How about a gift certificate to the movies or for ...How about a gift certificate to the movies or for movie rentals? Always a hit!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10183421175434834004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-72197763335764009262009-05-21T05:29:51.863-05:002009-05-21T05:29:51.863-05:00A roll of quarters for doing laundry when off at s...A roll of quarters for doing laundry when off at school!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708133861366487999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-47387665732476788232009-05-21T00:15:41.638-05:002009-05-21T00:15:41.638-05:00One gift that I like to give to those who are gett...One gift that I like to give to those who are getting married or starting out on their own after college is Amy Decyczyn's "Tightwad Gazette" book. I like giving this as a gift because it teaches the young person how to live on what they make and still have a wonderful and satisfying life! I feel sorry for the many young people who are graduating from college and trying to find jobs in this economy. It's got to be very frustrating and demoralizing, and I think that just reading Amy's book opens up an entirely new way of looking at finances that most young adults desperately need. An awful lot of them grew up getting just about anything they ever wanted; their own adult lives may be very different (for at least a while), so I think that the book, along with a gift certificate to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, might be a great start to their adult lives!<br /> SusanSusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03794795142708229053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-72372967568629301642009-05-20T22:54:45.184-05:002009-05-20T22:54:45.184-05:00If they are graduating from college, then the gift...If they are graduating from college, then the gift is easy! Still to this day, the one gift I still remember I got at my high school graduation party is a laundry basket full of dorm items: can opener, plates, ramen, laundry detergent, silverware, batteries, etc. My mother's best friend gave it to me 10 years ago, and it's still my favorite graduation gift that I've gotten. I still have the laundry basket!Amiyrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01791445635682913190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-23334114339962663012009-05-20T19:54:25.158-05:002009-05-20T19:54:25.158-05:00I gave first aid kits this year.I gave first aid kits this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-58927369966867520222009-05-20T19:27:11.918-05:002009-05-20T19:27:11.918-05:00I ended up with tons of laundry supplies when I gr...I ended up with tons of laundry supplies when I graduated, so I tend to shy away from giving those myself.<br /><br />For girls I usually go with a really nice journal or a cute tool set. For guys, we usually do a snack basket.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273307757381135560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-74770776892180622792009-05-20T17:57:27.000-05:002009-05-20T17:57:27.000-05:00For High School Grads a gift card to the campus bo...For High School Grads a gift card to the campus book store would be very appreciated . a lot of the college bookstores are Barnes and Noble . <br />Pizza Hut , Poppa John's gift cards are also helpful .<br />A gas card is good if they will have their car or our going to community college .<br />The gift my son ended up using the most was a plastic divided folder . He now purchase one for each class and keeps each semesters work in them.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12583367840049774793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-28254674296070353022009-05-20T17:26:20.322-05:002009-05-20T17:26:20.322-05:00Too many comments, and I'm too lazy to read them a...Too many comments, and I'm too lazy to read them all...<br /><br />I keep my eye out for really, really good deals on used laptop bags or shoulder briefcases. VV or Goodwill usually has lots of these...just make sure it's very clean and doesn't smell funky ;) .Kylie's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713103747521473866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-14010456653628730192009-05-20T16:54:04.901-05:002009-05-20T16:54:04.901-05:00Hmmm...I was thinking of 8th grade graduations, no...Hmmm...I was thinking of 8th grade graduations, not high school grads. If they were going off to college I would do a college survival kit with flip flops for the shower (old navy is having their $1 sale soon), quarters, pizza money for study sessions, coffee gift card for all nighters, ramen noodles, etc.Niki Jolenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433264163042853577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-6761843021263770112009-05-20T16:49:04.311-05:002009-05-20T16:49:04.311-05:00Oh man. You are reading my mine! My first invitati...Oh man. You are reading my mine! My first invitation rolled in the other day already and I do have one gift put away that I found NIB at a yard sale last year (a picture frame, gulp).<br /><br />:)Niki Jolenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433264163042853577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-51218535822009917042009-05-20T16:33:23.108-05:002009-05-20T16:33:23.108-05:00How about if they are not going away to college or...How about if they are not going away to college or if you don't even really know them well but they've sent you an invite to the graduation "open house"?<br /><br />We had a deal like that and the kid is real nice but not a close friend - know family from church - so I just opted for a cash gift...Edihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01881967873653190545noreply@blogger.com