by Audra H. Anders for The Aha! Connection
It is definitely Graduation Gift Season! I’ve been told that everyone likes CASH (or gift cards); that girls love anything monogrammed; and that everyone likes memorabilia from their college destination!
I asked some close friends with recent graduates about suggestions for monetary amounts. I asked them separately and they both told me the same thing:
- For a relative or close dear friend: $100
- An average amount: $40-$50
- For someone you don’t really know but are friends with their parents and they sent you an invitation: $20-$25
Share your comments on this post! I’d love to know what you think are good graduation gift ideas and guidelines!
Meanwhile, here are a few links to suggestions my boys and their friends told me were some of their favorite gifts but remember CASH and Gift Cards are KING/QUEEN to most every grad!
- Amazon Gift Cards
- Visa Gift Cards
- Ikea Gift Cards
- Bed Bath & Beyond Gift Cards
- Starbucks Gift Cards
- Chick-fil-A Gift Cards
- Uber Gift Cards
- Lyft Gift Cards
- A unique embroidered gift featuring their college destination from EmmaBroiderie (Artist from Dunwoody, her work can also be found at Village Threads in Dunwoody Village).
- Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
- Smathers & Branson Collegiate Key Fobs (I’ve also seen these locally at Under the Pecan Tree)
- T-Shirt Quilt (I have all the tees and jerseys and swear I’m going to get one of these for each of my boys someday!)
- Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- Echo Dot with Clock
- Portable Charger
- Tool Kit
- Personal Safe
- Gift Card to a highly recommended restaurant in their college town. Here’s my fave for Auburn Grads.
- Collegiate Pouches
- Homesick Candles
- World Traveler’s Cork Globe
- Study! & Call Your Mom! Pillows
- Collapsible Laundry Bag
- Personalized Stationery from ASIP Ink
- Monogrammed Towels
- Weekender Travel Bag
- God’s Promises for Graduates (Pink) or Navy
- The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating by Andy Stanley
- Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life….and maybe the World
- Moving Bags with Carrying Handles (College kids move a lot!)
- AAA Membership
- Keurig
- First Aid Kit
Leave a comment if you have other gift ideas….
For shopping local, I would try the following gift stores in Dunwoody:
*As an Amazon Associate The Aha Connection may earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases. We use this money to invest in more giveaways!
Personalized note cards from Asip Ink (asipink.com) make a great gift 🙂