Graduation Gifts

I realize that you don't want to get a gift card, but to a girl going away to college a gift card to Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond is priceless. Remember, they are basically having to get an entire set of bedding, linens, room decor, and on and on.

Ideas for easy 'theme' gifts include:

School Supply Pack - paper, pencils, pens, scissors, stapler, tape, push pins, markers, construction paper, index cards, envelopes and stamps, paper clips, rubber bands, anything you can think of to stock a 'home office'. Place everything into a cute tote bag.

Laundry Pack - Load a canvas laundry tote or laundry basket with a jug of laundry detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener and ball, any spray stain fighter, pack of plastic hangers, and especially do not forget the roll of quarters!

Good luck to you!

A.,
I always give College students a "love bucket" filled with cleaning supplies, paper towels, toliet tissue,fabreeze etc. They always call from college and thank me because those are items they need, but no one thinks to supply for them but thier parents...and believe me thier parents have soooo much to pay for. You could also substitute cleaning items for personal hygiene items, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cotton balls, q-tips, deodorant, etc. That stuff can get expensive and they run out so quickly.
Hope this idea helps.

J. N (a grandmother!)

I've heard of people doing A laundry basket with soap, fabric softener, stain guide, roll of quarters etc...

A., I know what you think about gift cards, but they are the best gift ever for seniors and kids appreciate it more than anything else. My first graduating son received up to $1500 in gift certs. and money, and it really helped him get all his stuff for going to school, instead of receiving stuff he would not need.. The best ones are from Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Best Buys. We also received several checks for 20.07 (his grad. year - this year it would be 20.08, get it?) which is a relatively average amount for a graduation for a friend's child. For a relative closer to $30 is nicer, but not necessary.
Now if you really don't want to get gift cards or money, some of the best things he got were: first aid kit, umbrella, crocs, sportswear, fleeces and sweatshirts for the school she/he would be attending.

Really the college freshmen soon realize that they need to live with the bare minimum, so stick to only the necessary and don't think that you have to like it....my best advise!

I've had great success with a "laundry" gift consisting of a laundry bag, small container of laundry detergent, and a roll of quarters (or plastic 35 mm film container filled with quarters.) It's practical or they can just blow the quarters on something they want.

My son just had his graduation party and one person got him one of those new collapsable laundry baskets with detergent, a big bath towel and something else that I can't remember. My son thought that was really cool since that is a few less things we will have to buy when he leaves in August. Good Luck!

Get them hte Doctor Suess Book "Oh the places you will go"" and then write a personal inscription on the front cover, describing to each of them what they mean to you and your family and how proud you are of them and how you can;;t wait to see "the pLaces they go"

Wind Chimes- write in teh the card may the winds of changebe forever harmonious in your life... go make beautiful music with your life blah blah...

AM I too corney?????

I am giving Gas gift cards! I also have a daughter that is graduating this year so we have many parties to go to and who has that much money to give these days. I think it is practical and when we reach 4.00/gal. they will very much appreciate it. Have fun at your party.

I gave a basket with a 4 roll pack of tp, furniture polish, dish towels, wash cloths, all kinds of things you need to set up on your own. You can find a lot of stuff at a dollar store that helps but is inexpensive. Another time I gave a set of twin sheets and a couple of towels, wash cloths and hand towels.

Why not treat them to some great Spa products! I could put a nice gift together for you for under $30 with products from BeautiControl! Let me know if interested. I live in the North Canton area and have products in stock.

Jennifer Friedl
____@____.com
www.beautipage.com/jenniferfriedl

maybe you could find something fun for the dorm room. Or get in with a group for a more costly gift such as a tv for the dorm.

i think that you should get them baskets full of soap, lotion,spray ect. you can get it from bath and body. it is about $20. think what smell they would like. alot of people like cherry blossom so i would suggest that or sweet pea.

How about a cooler set? We have given these to graduates for years, and they all have appreciated and used them. They were the only ones they got too. They usually run $20-30.

When our neighbor graduated last year I found out where his college was (in Georgia) and bought $5 gift certificates to a bunch of different fun student-type restaurants down there so he could try them out on us. He REALLY enjoyed them.

Of course one of your parties is this weekend, so I'll include that some were Starbucks, Panera, etc.

Have them over for a Spa Escape! I do spa's in the home where I pamper you from head to toe! This would be a great going away gift from you! The pampering is free but you could take a look at my online catalog and I could make up some small gifts from you for them if you like.

Let me know....

www.beautipage.com/michelewells

There is an author by the name of Grieve, I think, who has several books out. One of them is called THE MEANING OF LIFE. VERY cute, lots of animal photos w/ captions about things that happen in life.

I gave this to my niece who loves animals anyway.....SHE LOVED IT and STILL has it years later. She'll keep and share it with others, too. It's a keeper.

something that I rec'd that I really used was a nice suitcase. You can find some pretty good ones that are not too expensive at places like KMart & Walmart.
Good luck and have fun at the parties.

I like to get personalized stationary to encourage the lost art of hand writing a note. I know you do not have time to get it personalized but there are beautiful stationary sets or perhaps with just their initial (maybe the first initial of their first name) readily available and include some Breast Cancer Awareness stamps. It is a great way to give back as well. Each stamp is valid for postage at the current First-Class rate (they cost a little more but the net proceeds from the extra money you pay over the First-Class postage rate go directly to fund Breast Cancer reserarch). They are available at the post office. It is also a caring reminder to them to do their monthly self exams.

The best graduation gift I got (and we have since given) was a small rubbermaid container filled with office supplies for college like: stapler, stapler puller, post its, pencils, pens, eraser, thumb tacks, etc. I used mine all through college and actually still have it sitting in my desk drawer from 12 years ago!

hi A.,

I have given the "school Supply "pack mentioned here and it was well-received. I included fun stuff like sticky notes, colored fine-point markers, address book, stamps, stationery, etc.

I have also given a food related gift, including 2 pretty mugs (one for her, one for a friend), tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, fake creamer, bouillon cubes, cup-of-soup, packs of cheese-n-crackers, oreos, gum, candy or granola bars...I'm sure you could think of other idesa. You could also put in a note that you will send a box of cookies after she goes to school.

For your shower tote, you said you don't have too many things to put in. You could just add more of whatever you do have, such as a couple different kinds of soap or shampoo, instead of just one kind. Other possible items: flip flops (helps avoid athlete's foot in shared showers), loofah, sponge, moisturizer/hand cream, shower cap, wash cloth, hair gel or mousse, deodorant, body spray/cologne, toothpaste, toothbrush, plastic drinking glass, soap holder, nail file/clipper..walk through a dollar store and you may get some more ideas.

Also, do you have a teenage niece, neighbor, etc? you could ask her opinion.

Good luck and have fun!

K. Z.
K. Z.

One gift that I received whet I wend away for college was a laundry basket filled with: a roll of quarters, detergent, dryer sheets, paper towels, wash cloths, towels, hand towel, mirror, ziploc bags, TYLENOL!, cleaning supplies, sheets, etc. It was things I would need and some things I didn't even know I would need, but did. It came in handy, and it's kinda unique. At least shows some thought.

The shower tote is also a good idea, I used mine all 4 years. Ideas for filling it, aside from the usual (shampoo, soap, conditioner) - body lotion, body spray, perfume, shave gel and razors or nair hair remover, toothpaste and toothbrush, bath scrubbie, hairbrush, scrunchies or hair tiee, hair barretts, hair gel, and I don't know if they will have tubs, but bubble bath would be fun.

Hope that helps.

I know you've already been to the party, but something that might help them out is to create a directory of useful places near their respective campus (fast food, hair salons, grocery stores, etc).

A.,

You can get her a tote with shower gels, lotion etc to take to college with her.................Bath and Body sometimes has sales on shower gels and lotions.

One of the gifts my niece received that was neat was one of those flatish plastic storage things with the hinged lid she could put under her bed on campus. Inside were a few simple things like kleenex, pencils, etc.
Most campuses don't allow them to have toaster ovens in their rooms but if either girl drinks hot beverages a small coffee pot to take is a good idea because the can have them on campus in their rooms and heat water for tea, coffee, cocoa etc.
The basics are always good, wash rag, hand towel, bath towel set.
Good luck.
I generally make afagans for the kids to take to college in the school colors where they are going, but you don't have time to look into that idea.
P.

A.,
You've probably been to your party, but here are a few suggestions.
Stationary,stamps,pens(to write home),Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer,gift cards for MCD's,nice towel and washcloth. Have fun and make sure what tote you give can double for something else(trash can,laundry,etc.)

R.