Your high school graduation is just around the corner. You’ve locked down a great job, you’ve made some life-changing friendships, and you have a bright future ahead. But now, you have to make some decisions about what to give your friends and family. We’ve got 11 great graduation gifts that your friends and family are sure to appreciate.
The best graduation gifts are often very personal. Have you ever looked at the graduation gifts you received when you graduated? We have compiled a list of the most popular graduation gifts for 2017 and 2018, and picked out the best ideas for you to consider.
Choosing the right graduation gift can be tough. For most students, their graduation gift is one of the final few gifts they leave the store with before heading off to begin their new lives as young adults. Whether it’s the best gift is really up to you.. Read more about high school graduation gifts for her and let us know what you think.
Graduation is a big accomplishment, so it’s important to find the perfect gift to congratulate a recent graduate. To help you out, here we have a list of very special gifts that they will surely appreciate.
Appropriation : Prostock Studio, Roman Samborsky, SedovaY – Shutterstock It is no secret that studying can be very difficult for many students. Graduation alone requires so much hard work and dedication that the efforts and achievements of graduates should always be celebrated. Whether it’s a friend, parent, girlfriend, boyfriend, or anyone else you know who is graduating from high school, simply acknowledging their amazing accomplishment will make a big difference. And if you decide to give them something to celebrate, it will certainly be appreciated. If you’re wondering where to buy graduation gifts, look no further. With this list of 11 gift ideas, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for the lucky graduate.
Personalised stationery
Appropriations : Paper High – Not On The High Street (left), EDSG – Amazon (right) Whether you are buying a graduation gift for him or her, personalized stationery is an appropriate graduation gift. For example, if someone has spent a lot of time writing essays or equations, a pen with their initials and/or graduation date on it can symbolize all the work they have put into their studies. It would be an even more fitting gift if they also plan to write. When buying a graduation gift for an aspiring lawyer or journalist, a special pen is something they can use in their daily life even after graduation. A personalized calendar or journal would be a thoughtful and practical gift for a recent graduate. This will help them plan their time after college, whether they plan to look for a job, pursue higher education, or even travel. Try websites like Not On The High Street and Etsy, where you can find custom stationery from small businesses.
Watches or jewellery
Appropriation : AlicjaBoutique – Etsy Everything from rings to necklaces to watches can make a great graduation gift. These subjects will last a lifetime and will always be a reminder of their success in college. While some jewelry is undeniably expensive, you can also find great deals on jewelry that is still beautiful. At the time of writing, the watch pictured above costs around £60 on Etsy, but don’t worry if that doesn’t fit your budget: you can find something exceptional in every price range. For jewelry that falls into a higher price range, consider brands like Pandora and Kate Spade. Or, if you’re on a tight budget, try Accessorize and check out the options on Amazon. It’s also worth looking for jewelry at local independent shops and thrift stores to find inexpensive but attractive gifts.
Wellness day
Appropriations : Koopkado.com After all the stress and hard work that a degree entails, a recent graduate or near graduate would really appreciate being able to relax and enjoy themselves. And what could be better than a day of wellness? Depending on where you book and what treatments are included, a day at the spa can be quite expensive, but there are plenty of good deals if you know where to look. Websites like Virgin Experience Days, Red Letter Days and Buyagift.com offer vouchers for spa days. On these sites, try sorting the results by price, from bottom to top, to find the cheapest deals. But look for good reviews on deals and check if the voucher includes a spa treatment. Some vouchers only allow access to facilities like the pool and sauna, which is certainly fine for a day out, but can be disappointing for those hoping for a massage or similar spa treatment.
Sparkling wine
Appropriations : Aldi (left), Tesco (right) If there’s a good time to bring out the champagne, it’s at graduation. While it’s not the cheapest drink, you can find great deals on champagne. Check out our food and drink deals page and your local supermarket first. If there is a large grocery store nearby, they have a large selection of beverages and therefore are more likely to be able to offer a discount on champagne. Aldi is known for its great selection of wines at reasonable prices (you can sometimes find champagne for less than £15!). And of course, prosecco, cava and other sparkling wines are excellent alternatives to champagne. They are supposed to cost a little less than their famous cousin, but are still very tasty.
Houseplant
Appropriations : Flowers & Wildlife Potted plants make excellent graduation gifts. Not only are they long-lasting gifts that can (hopefully) be enjoyed for years to come, but they are also particularly attractive because it is a gift that the recipient can cherish and watch grow. Bloom & Wild is best known for their flowers, but they also have a small but excellent selection of houseplants for sale – we even saw a pineapple there. Another popular online plant store is Patch Plants. They have a number of plants with rather showy names – at the time of writing they are Spike (cactus), Tommy (cherry tomato) and Big Ken (kentia palm, which is actually quite large).
Art print
Appropriations : Timetobelove – Etsy (left and right) A personalized art print is a wonderful and unique graduation gift. We love the one pictured above on the Etsy site. At the time of writing they cost around £10 each and they can be personalised for the person you give them to. If you are a talented artist yourself, you can also draw or write something for them. To know that you took the time and effort to create a piece of art for them means a lot to any graduate.
Sweets
Appropriations : SugarCookieCoGB – Etsy (left), Yellow Submarine (right) Websites such as Etsy, Biscuiteers and Not On The High Street offer a wide selection of cookies, chocolates and other treats. Prices for these gifts can vary widely and are usually higher for personalized gifts, but they don’t have to cost a fortune. The baked goods from Yellow Submarine, a social enterprise that supports disabled and autistic people, are also worth a visit. Their cakes are incredibly delicious and 100% of the proceeds go to charity. They also offer handmade cakes with a personalized message on them – perfect for a memorable (and delicious) graduation gift.
Graduation album
Appropriations : Hobbycraft The albums themselves are usually very affordable (at the time of writing, the one pictured above cost about £5 from Hobbycraft), and if you already have craft supplies in the house, you can get one made for free. Find pictures of you and them, and maybe a few notes about the good times you had together. It would be even better if you had photos and stories directly related to their time at the university, but no problem if you don’t. Most importantly, it should be thoughtful, well designed and filled with happy memories that will make them smile.
Afternoon tea
Appropriations : Koopkado.com Just like a spa day, you can find great deals on afternoon tea on sites like Buyagift.com. You might even find vouchers for a spa visit in the afternoon tea. But that’s not the only way to treat a happy graduate to delicious tea, cakes and sandwiches. You can send them a tea box like this one from Morrisons. This is a similar service to prescription subscription boxes, but it is a one-time donation (no recurring fees). You can even make delicate sandwiches and pastries at home for your loved ones and treat them to their favorite tea and maybe even a glass of champagne. This is the most economical way to offer afternoon tea and probably the most cordial.
Planting a tree in your name
Appropriations : Willie Barton – Shutterstock It goes without saying that planting more trees is important for the planet. By planting a tree in someone’s name at graduation, you and that person have the joy of knowing that this gift will benefit the world – and continue to do so for years to come. For this gift, it may be worth visiting the National Trust website to donate to their tree planting fund. They are asking for a donation of at least £5, which will be used to plant a tree seedling. And the more you give, the more trees will be planted. You can also plant trees through Ecologi. At Save the Student we use this site to plant trees and work in a climate friendly way, so we highly recommend it.
Handwritten letter
Appropriation : Kate Ahedon – Shutterstock In the end, the best graduation gifts don’t have to cost a lot of money, they can even be free. It’s hard to buy a gift as heartwarming as a long, handwritten letter writing how proud you are of them and their accomplishments – not just of their graduation, but of everything they do.
It may sound trite, but celebrating their success and letting them know you’ll always be there for them no matter what is going on is a graduation gift that is hard to beat.We all want to make sure we leave school with memorable gifts that will leave long-lasting memories of our day. But as graduation season gets closer, we often feel overwhelmed with the task of choosing just the right gift. Here are 11 great graduation gifts that will leave a lasting impression on your recipient.. Read more about high school graduation gifts from parents and let us know what you think.