It’s hard to believe that the time has come for an all new group of students to walk across the stage and collect their diplomas on Graduation Day. Although it may be a great time to celebrate their achievements, it can also be a time of hardship if you’re struggling with your budget. Although many believe that money and pricey gifts are the key to celebrating the recent grad in your life, there’s many frugal ways to help them know they’re appreciated too! With a little a bit of planning and some out of the box thinking, you’ll find that some of the best gifts out there won’t cost you a lot of money at all!
1. Gift Bag/Basket
The gift bag/basket is one gift that can really stand out amongst the crowd and it’s totally easy to customize based on your budget. If you don’t have a lot to spend then gather pamphlets on colleges, if the graduate isn’t quite sure where they’ll be going. If they have picked a location then fill it with campus and local guides so they’ll be well on their way once they to the school. These can be found for very cheap and can also be printed for free, which makes them a great budget gift. You may also want to throw in little messages of encouragement as well as tips to help get them through their first semester. If you do have a little more money to put into the basket then toss in their favorite candies and junk foods as these will come in handy when they’re cramming for exams. You may also want to think practical. For instance, a small first aid kit is always a must as it’s something a lot of students don’t think about. You may also want to consider a mini screwdriver for basic repairs on electronics or a sewing kit for lost buttons and minor tears and holes. Safety items like pepper spray or a whistle could be valuable too. Finally, toss in a few gift cards! If you want to make the gift even more versatile, place the items in a shower bucket or sturdy backpack!
2. Kitchen Supplies
A lot of items that get overlooked with graduates is kitchen supplies. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a set of pots and pans though. Instead, think out of the box! You might want to remember all of the items you forgot you needed when you moved off to college. This should help you make some pretty good decisions as to what to get the graduate. For instance, an oven mitt is a must-have for any college kitchen. You know the graduate is going to be loving TV dinners and frozen desserts, so make sure they have what it takes to pull them out of the oven before it’s too late. You can even add a special touch to this by decorating it. Other supplies they may need are cooking utensils, kitchen towels, items to do dishes, and maybe even storage containers. You could also put a bit more into the gift and buy a cheap smoothie maker, popcorn maker, indoor grill or anything else that might make college life easier. If you already have gently used items they may need around the house then don’t be afraid to keep it second hand!
3. Personalized Bedding
Nothing makes a student feel less homesick quite like bedding. The bed is where they’ll spend the only time they have not running to and fro, which is more than likely going to be the place they get homesick the most. So, if you have some quilting skills here is your time to shine! Gather up fabrics from the graduate’s childhood and pieces that lead to other special memories and quilt them into a beautiful blanket your student will be happy to have. If quilting isn’t your thing then making a croquet blanket may be just as good, especially if your graduate is going somewhere cold for college. This will help them relax and feel warm as they battle through their first semester away from home. Finally, a customized pillowcase can also make life feel better, especially when you’re graduate ends up in the laundry room and items may be left behind or taken.
4. School/Office Supplies
No one wants to be the person pushing school supplies on a student that just graduated. At the same time, someone needs to be because they’re going to need them! It may not be a fun gift, but you’ll know they won’t have to spend as much money on supplies when they finally do make it to school, which means more fun for them later on. Try to find an abundance of pens, paper, pencils, notebooks and highlighters to give to the graduate. You may also want to look for colorful post-its, tape and anything that shows off your graduate’s personality. If you want to spend a bit more though, you should consider finding a filing folder to help out with all of your student’s loan, grant and scholarship paperwork as well as other important documents they may need. Finally, a backpack or briefcase may also be a great gift and will make the perfect way to display all of the goodies you bought!
5. Food
It may seem pretty basic, but after a couple of weeks of cafeteria food or burning through money on fast food, your graduate will be so thankful they already have a stock of food to enjoy. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should go out and fill their cabinets with items to make luxurious meals. Instead, look for cheap items like instant noodles, boxed mac ‘n cheese and other foods that come in boxes that hold a long shelf life. Canned foods are also great, especially items like spaghetti-o’s or canned fruit. Anything that isn’t difficult, expensive, perishable or requires a refrigerator or stove is pretty much a brilliant idea on your end. You can also toss in some of their favorite junk food items like candy and chips to give them the comfort foods they need to get though the change in lifestyle. Finally, to make things even better for the student provide them with coupons for free baked goods. When the student feels like brownies, cookies or anything else, they can let you know and you can bake them and send them in!
6. Transit Pass
If your graduate plans on using public transit while they’re in school then see if you can purchase a pass ahead of time via the school or transit company. This will give them one less thing to worry about when they get there. In the long run, having a transit pass will give them a huge advantage. For example, they’ll be able to travel around more which will allow them to find the best places to eat and hang out that are near and far from their location. It will also allow them to explore and find grocery stores and clothing stores that will be affordable for their budget. If they’re going to look for a job from the beginning then this is also a great route to go as it will allow them to travel to interviews without having to worry about the price of busses, trains or taxis!
7. Scrapbook
One amazing and creative gift to present to a graduate is a personal scrapbook. Try to gather up photos from friends and family to place into a book. You can easily make your own scrapbooking backgrounds or you can use some you already have to save money. If you do plan on buying more backgrounds then try to find a good coupon that can take a considerable amount off of the price. When you have all of your backgrounds and accessories picked out, make a copy of the photos and start placing them into the book. This present will be cherished for years to come and may even help the graduate get through the tough times they experience in their new life. With all of the amazing memories within the scrapbook the graduate will get more out of this book than most other gifts!
8. Cheap Technology
Your graduate probably has the laptop or tablets needed to make school a bit easier, but there’s always a few items that no student can go without. For instance, one of the smartest things to give a graduate is a flash drive or two. These can be purchased for fairly cheap and will allow students to move their work from one computer to the next. It also doesn’t hurt to have a couple of these lying around in case one goes missing or stops working. You might also want to consider buying some extra USB cables and charging cables as these items go missing a lot, especially in dorm rooms! Items like reading lights and other simple accessories to make studying easier and less of an irritant to sleeping roommates is also a great idea. Finally, a tape recorder might be a great investment. Although most phones can record audio it might be easier to have a device that only stores the course material on it!
9. Entertainment
Although the majority of your graduate’s time will be spent in class, studying or hanging out with friends, there will still be down time in which they’ll be pretty bored. It’s often hard to keep entertained when you’re broke so you might want to consider getting them some items to pass the time. Movies, music and books are one of the best routes to go as they should be able to fit them into various periods of the day. This will also prevent illegal downloading as they’ll already own a copy of the music or movie they love. Other great options are brain teaser games or board games that they can play with other people. This will help spark friendships and will make long weekends even more fun. If the student has a hobby then consider buying items to help with that. For instance, guitar strings or reeds for musicians, paints and brushes for artists and anything else that comes to mind.
10. Gift Cards
These types of gifts will probably be the most appreciated as they will help the student out while also helping avoid the temptation that cash brings to the table. Try to figure out which grocery stores are in the area and find a gift card to help out with some food. You can also offer gift cards to their favorite restaurants, which will come in handy when instant noodles aren’t cutting it. Department and clothing stores are another great option. Of course, considering entertainment is also a popular way to go. For instance, a gift card to help pay for a gym will be greatly appreciated if the college doesn’t provide one. They may also enjoy music gift cards or movie passes for days that seem a bit too stressful. If you look for any of these gift cards online you should be able to get more for your money!
Graduation is a huge reason to let loose and celebrate the one you love who has achieved something spectacular. Although you may feel like spending a fortune to help make the celebration even more spectacular, it isn’t always an option. With these ten easy gift ideas you should be able to find the perfect item for your graduate at a price that won’t make you feel overwhelmed. After all, one of the best gifts you can give a graduate is to share how to live a frugal lifestyle, so don’t forget to pass on your gift shopping secrets!
