7 Great Gifts for Grads – ‘Tis the season for high school and college graduations: for kids busting out of the nest and going off on their own. Though any grad will appreciate an envelope that includes cash or a check, it can be fun to go a step beyond and get them something they might not purchase themselves. For those grads who are moving to a new town or city, having something physical can also be a nice way to feel like they have a slice of home with them in their new environment.
Although the gift ideas below were written with a recent grad in mind, each one could also be purchased for a number of scenarios: birthday, wedding, new job, etc.
1. Nice towels. If a new grad has a few extra dollars, I doubt their first instinct would be to spend it on towels. Yet, it’s one of those simple daily luxuries that can really make them feel like they have their life together. Consider finding a vendor that offers monogramming with the order (or go to your local embroidery shop) to get their initials printed on the end of the fabric. Bonus for the high school grad headed to college: they won’t have to worry about someone else swiping their towel from the shared bathroom in their residence hall!
2. Personalized thank you notes. Maybe it’s the Midwesterner in me, but I love physical thank-you notes. As your grad starts acknowledging gratitude for things like letters of recommendation, dinner parties they attend, or even other graduation gifts, having stationery with their name on it can really help them feel like a proper adult. There are so many services online for creating simple thank-you notes, so don’t worry if you’re not a design whiz.
3. Tech. You’d be hard-pressed to find a new grad who wouldn’t be excited about a new piece of tech. This doesn’t naturally mean you need to drop a lot of money: while a new laptop or television is one end of the spectrum, consider items like an e-reader or even tech accessories (such as a nice computer case, tablet pencil, or ergonomic mouse) that will help those long days studying or working feel a bit more luxurious.
4. Luggage. Moving closer to adulthood means that your grad will likely be doing more traveling. There’s spring break, job interviews, weekend trips, business meetings… the list goes on. With a gift of nice luggage, they’ll say a silent “thank you” to you every time they have to pack their bags. Consider a high-quality carry-on or sleek weekender to keep things versatile.
5. Noise canceling headphones. Related to the need for luggage, increased travel means noisy planes and busy airports. You can help your grad navigate those headache-inducing scenarios with a nice pair of headphones that block out screaming babies and mechanical white noise. Noise-canceling headphones are also essential for maximum focus while studying in a library, taking a business call in a café during work-from-home days, or drowning out a neighbor who insists on blasting music late at night.
6. Books about the next stage of life. Whether the grad in your life is headed to college, starting their first job, embarking on a travel experience, or anything in between, there’s a book out there about what they’re going through. Moving into a different phase of life can be a confusing time, and reading advice from someone who has been through it can be very reassuring.
7. Tickets to a show (or a restaurant gift card) in their new city. If your grad is moving to a new place, do a bit of research about the entertainment options that exist and purchase something that can be considered more of an experience. Not only will this help them get to know their new neighborhood better, but it also helps them associate the place they visit with you in the future, effectively bringing a piece of home to their new setting.
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