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It’s that season again…graduation parties galore! What is the hot grad gift these days? You can never go wrong with cash. But sometimes it’s nice to get more creative. Here are some gifts grads might like.
Gift cards are always popular. If you feel “uncreative” giving one, jazz it up with an item from that store, flowers, or a sweet treat. Here is a list of gift card ideas:
- Amazon
- art class
- book store
- clothing store
- coffee house (Here are some in Lake County.)
- college bookstore
- cooking class
- ebook app
- Etsy
- fancy restaurant (See our favorite Italian and Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants)
- fast-food restaurant
- gas station
- grocery store
- ice cream/fro-yo
- movies
- music (iTunes, Spotify)
- office supply store
- public transportation
- Target/Walmart
- TV/movie streaming service (Netflix, Hulu)
- yoga studio
Other gift ideas:
- bike
- Bluetooth headphones
- Bluetooth speakers
- commemorative jewelry—earrings, bracelet
- concert tickets
- e-reader
- escape room tickets
- family heirloom
- gift basket of favorite things (movie ticket, popcorn, candy)
- gym membership
- laptop
- magazine subscription
- pay cell phone bill
- play tickets
- pool membership
- quality make-up (fun eye shadow palette, etc.)
- sporting event tickets
- tablet
- water bottle
There are a lot of great books for grads: some are inspirational; some are informational, and some are just for fun.
- Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown (Grand Central Publishing)
- The Complete Do-It Yourself Manual by the Editor of Family Handyman (Reader’s Digest)
- Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone by Becky Blades (Sourcebooks)
- The Five-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond by Pamela Ellgen (Rockridge Press)
- Goodnight Dorm Room: All the Advice I Wish I Got Before Going to College by Samuel Kaplan (Ulysses Press)
- How to Boil Water by Food Network Kitchens (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- How to Cook Everything: The Basics by Mark Bittman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- No Dream Is Too High: Life Lesson From a Man Who Walked on the Moon by Buzz Aldrin (National Geographic)
- Oh the Places You Will Go! by Dr. Seuss (Random House)
- Post Grad: Five Women and Their First Year Out of College by Caroline Kitchener (Ecco)
- What Do I Do If…? by Eric Grzymkowski (Adams Media)
If heading to the college dorm in the fall
- adult coloring book and colored pencils/fine-line markers
- blanket/throw
- book light
- college paraphernalia—a sweatshirt or t-shirt to the college he or she will be attending
- cozy socks or slippers
- earplugs
- electric tea kettle
- a framed picture with best buddies
- fun pens
- a gift card to college-town establishments: spa, hair cutters, pizza place
- journal
- laundry bag
- luggage
- mobile charger
- mug painted by a little sibling/little cousin/child he or she used to babysit
- noise-canceling headphones
- other-climate gear (mittens and a hat if heading somewhere cold)
- phone accessories (speaker, headphones)
- public transportation card
- quarters for the laundry room
- sleep mask
If graduating and getting their own place…
- baking set (measuring cups and spoons, cupcake tin, whisk)
- binder of family-favorite recipes (include a batch of Grandma’s famous cookies in a cookie jar!)
- blender
- coffeemaker
- cooking set (meat thermometer, spatula, cast-iron pan)
- house plant
- tea kettle
- tool kit (include supplies to hang pics)
And let’s not forget the little ones! Here are some gifts for preschool grads:
- app (See a list of our favorite apps for little ones here)
- art supplies
- ball
- book
- building toys
- CD of children’s music
- coloring book
- costume for what they want to be when they grow up
- DVD
- gardening set
- gift card for a fun class
- plant of their own
- museum tickets
- school supplies
- science equipment (magnifying glass, eyedropper, etc.)
- science kit
- seeds
- water park tickets
- workbook
- zoo tickets
What’s your favorite gift to give a grad?
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