A Gift For Your Grad
It’s that time of year when gowns are worn and caps are flying. Graduates are beginning to celebrate and we start thinking, What should I give them? Choosing a gift can be tricky, especially graduation gifts. Your gift to a grad should be something that inspires them, goes with them through their next journey, and shapes their new lifestyle. This may seem like a lot of pressure, but don’t worry! We have a few tips to make finding a gift for your grad much easier! (And if we’re talking about gifts, we can also think about thank-you notes! If you’re looking for some cute personalized graduation thank you notes, our shop has a lot of options!)
1. Find something “Adult”Graduation means crossing the line from childhood to adulthood, so think of something that looks to the future rather than the past. A lot of high schoolers and college students drink coffee every morning. Therefore a thoughtful and “adult” (and actually quite practical) gift for them would be a sleek and easy to use coffee maker. A great option is this one by Mr. Coffee. This coffee maker is perfect for a student heading off to college or even for a college graduate who is creating a new home! It’s also a great choice to help the environment, which we love to do! This option is pod free, meaning that pods are no longer being disposed of and it allows for your graduate to use any coffee grounds for their morning coffee! Another small gift idea to include with the coffee maker, is a bag of coffee grounds from a local roaster in your town!
Although a lot of students run off coffee, drinking water is so important for their health. These BKR glass bottles are the perfect way for your grad to always carry water to and from class. Not only are they rather inexpensive, they are eco friendly and super easy to clean. They come in various shapes and you can personalize your bottle with stickers and colorful silicone sleeves. They even have tops with a hidden lipgloss compartment if your grad is into that! We love BKR and use them constantly!
For the grad who is headed off to college with all of their electronic devices, these Felix Gray blue light glasses are a perfect gift. We absolutely love these glasses and rave about them to all of our friends. We actually have another great blog about these glasses which you can find here! They’re super cute and simple and can match anyone’s style! Plus, you can order them with a FSA or HSA card, a little added bonus!
Something that will help them live independently
For many graduating high schoolers who are leaving home to go off to college, many are beginning to get excited about decorating their new dorm/housing and creating their own space. Learning how to organize and manage their time, responsibilities, along with their personal space can be a fun or stressful part of college life. To help with this, a great gift idea is a few cute and durable towels or some college decor such as pennants and wall hangings with the college logo printed on them. If you have no clue what the grad’s decorating style may be, or if you know they like to pick out their own things, then a cute congratulatory card with a gift card or check can go a long way.
Another very thoughtful and simple gift is a book or handwritten note that gives advice on how to form a good and healthy lifestyle during and after college. Some great options are Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy, or Growing Boldly by Emily Ley. A little pro tip to giving books is to write a personalized message in the front. This way they will cherish the book more and will be an everlasting reminder of your support and pride in them.
Something that reminds them of good timesIf you’re asking me, one of my favorite things to do is look back at my photo albums and notes from friends. Looking back at these little things can really help when grads are feeling sad, stressed, or missing home. One of the best gifts you can give a graduate is something personal that reminds them of the good times they’ve had. Photos, a tee of their favorite team or favorite vacation spot, or other little things that hold memories can be a very special gift. An awesome place for photos or albums is Artifact Uprising. They do a beautiful job with photos and you can design a custom photo book for your graduate to take with them to college or their new home!
We also love this Let’s Toast Candle from Homesick. This company makes the coolest candles with all different cities and states on them, great for giving to a graduate that is moving away from home. These candles are a reminder of home and are specially designed with scents that smell like the fresh air of their hometown. Another amazing and thoughtful gift is a One Line a Day memory book. I’ve used this book for two years and it’s an incredible experience to look back on where I’ve been over the years.This gift could help a graduate remember so many fun stories and moments from their college life that can be passed down to future generations. After all, it’s the little things in life!
Last But Not Least: Something PersonalizedI’d actually say this is the most valuable and most special category when it comes to graduation gifts. Nothing says you are an adult or you are your own person and we are proud of you more than something special with their names printed on them permanently for all to see. When heading off to college or organizing a new home, it’s so comforting (and not to mention cute) to have special items that make your place yours. A great place to go for handmade, personalized items, is Etsy! There are so many shops on Etsy that sell super cute personalized items. From mugs, to blankets, shirts, jewelry, kitchen supplies, bags, stationery, office supplies, and many more, there’s no end to the personalization! If you are looking for a personalized card or stationery set for your grad, our shop has SO many options! I know whenever I receive something that has my name or initials on it, it immediately makes me love it more than something generic, because it not only belongs to me but the person who gave it to me took the time to have my name or monogram put on an item. This is a quick and easy way for your gift to be more unique. By getting your graduate a gift that is personalized, it is showing them that THEY are one of a kind and that is a pretty special feeling.
All-in-all, your gift doesn’t have to be big, just meaningful enough to show them that you care. This means taking the time out of your day to find something unique that will be special to them. When searching for gifts for others, make sure THEY would like it (if you would love it, but they wouldn’t, it isn’t the right gift). If your gift happens to be something that’s not especially personalized, like a gift card or check, then find a special card. (PS: We can help with that). All of our cards can be personalized with names, colors, and texts, to add a special touch. When we give gifts that are filled with care and love, they become so much more special and appreciated! It’s also the thought that counts! Hope this graduation guide helps you find the perfect gift for any graduate. Remember, this should be an enjoyable process, so take your time and have fun! If you have any ideas/ have given some great grad gifts, please share in the comments below!
Peace + Blessings
Shop Intern | Inventory Specialist
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