The Class of 2020 certainly wins the award for the most unique graduation experience in recent memory! As many of you know, Amy’s son is a senior and it’s so poignant to see these kids miss out on some of the biggest high school milestones–prom, class trips, graduation, and even just the chance to say goodbye to friends. While I know they’ll go on to thrive despite the circumstances they find themselves in, my heart still hurts for them.
Every year we like to compile a list of graduation gift ideas in a variety of price ranges. Whether you’re shopping for a child or grandchild, or a more casual acquaintance, we’ve got you covered for 2020!
Money
My kids and their friends still say that hands-down, the most useful gift is cold, hard cash. Whether they use it to buy items for their dorm room or apartment, or save it to cover expenses during the school year, you know that it will come in handy. If your budget is small or you’re gifting multiple graduates, a check for $20.20 in a graduation card is an easy and thoughtful gift.
Along the same lines, gift cards to local stores and restaurants will most certainly come in handy, too.
Jewelry and Accessories
When my son graduated from high school a few years ago, two of his favorite gifts were a nice watch and a set of cufflinks. He is frequently required to appear in a coat and tie for school events and having the appropriate accessories is a plus. For ladies, a watch or a timeless bracelet like my go-to favorite from Tiffany are two great ideas.
The bracelet is the highest price point, the watches are a middle-of-the-road choice, and the cufflinks are relatively inexpensive (depending on which brand and metal you choose).
Bags and Luggage
I think that a high quality bag or piece of luggage is a great “welcome to adulthood” gift. At the lower end of the price point, a monogrammed leather dopp kit is a great choice for guys, and my favorite Longchamp Le Pliage weekender tote is is my favorite pick for ladies.
A mid-range pick is high quality luggage, especially appropriate if they’re planning to travel after graduation (it is still happening–remember that we’re moving to Germany in late July!).
At the higher end, these beautiful handmade (in the US!) leather messenger bags from Gentry Leather {small} or {large} are heirloom pieces that will last a lifetime and then be handed down. The owner of the company is a friend, so I’ve had the opportunity to touch and feel the bags and they are outstanding quality. They hold files and a laptop and would make a great briefcase or travel bag, for a man or a woman.
Dorm or Apartment Items
Whether you’re shopping for a high school or college graduate, gifts that make the dorm room or apartment more comfortable are always a hit. I highly recommend a Nespresso espresso maker, or a small Keurig, for the caffeine lover.
My son was given a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond for his graduation and we used it to buy him the softest, fluffiest monogrammed towels for his dorm room. He doesn’t care a lick about monograms but he never lost a towel since his initials were on them. I ordered dark gray with red thread (coincidentally his school colors) and they just came home in March after two years of use looking as good as new. I don’t think I’d recommend white, especially for guys who tend to wash their lights and darks together, but the gray has held up really well.
Personalized Stationery
My daughter says this is the equivalent of giving someone socks at Christmas because it’s a useful gift, but I think that personalized, professional stationery is something that every young adult needs (but doesn’t necessarily realize that they do). Once they enter the land of writing thank you notes for letters of recommendations, job interviews, scholarships, and more, the cutesy cards they used to use just don’t cut it.
If none of those are quite what you’re after, you usually can’t go wrong with a high-quality insulated tumbler (bonus points if it’s branded with their school’s name), or a meaningful book or two.
If you have any tried and true ideas, please drop them in the comments so everyone can enjoy them. Good luck to the Class of 2020, and thanks for stopping by!
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