The Ultimate Low-Cost Grad Gift Guide

Your soon-to-be grad has worked super-hard to reach this momentous occasion and to have their diploma in hand. Celebrate with your grad and show them how proud you are of their hard work and dedication with these low-cost, but awesome, gifts!

1. ID lanyard

Make it easy for your grad to carry their ID and wallet around campus or the workplace. Super-cute and durable, lanyards make the perfect graduation gift. 

2. Oh the Places You’ll Go

You can’t go wrong with this Dr. Seuss classic! Whimsical, yet inspirational, it’s a great read for the older teen setting off into the big world of adulthood. Add your own words of wisdom to the front inside cover for a personalized touch. 

3. College survival kit

Hit the dollar store and scour the aisles for a big basket and all sorts of stuff you can add to it for making a college survival kit or house/apartment warming kit. You can include essentials, like flip flops and hair ties, kitchen utensils, and hand soap. Don’t shy away from having fun by adding extras, like Bluetooth speakers, wall decals, and more!

4. “Open when” letters

Your recent grad’s got a long road ahead of them, but you can make it a little easier with a few well-worded missives. Pen some letters for your grad to open at specific milestones and/or at more challenging times, such as after the first round of final exams, when they’re feeling homesick, when they need a laugh, after handing in their first term paper, etc. Your letters will be the gift that keeps on giving throughout their time in college.

5. Picture collage

Help your grad have the most awesomely decorated room in college with a fantastic homemade picture collage! Check out their social media pages for the best snapshots of your grad and their friends and family. Then, put together a low-cost, meaningful gift they’ll always treasure. As a plus, they’ll think of you every time they see the collage hanging on their dorm room wall.

6. Laundry essentials

Spring for an adorable laundry hamper and fill it with all your grad needs to master the wash. Think detergent, dryer sheets, stain remover, and more. Add a cute note, like “Have LOADS of fun in college!” to complete the gift. 

7. Chef’s special

Is your grad a foodie who’s thrilled to prep their own meals? A kitchen-phobic young adult who is worried about being in charge of their own meals? Either way, they’ll love a chef package to help them out. Take a huge mixing bowl, Bundt pan, or another large, round cooking essential, and fill it with all they need to master the kitchen. You can load it up with spatulas, measuring cups and spoons, a cute apron, oven mitts, a skillet, and more. To make it even more personal, fill a small cookbook with your favorite easy recipes for your grad to try out. If you don’t have a collection of recipes, you can purchase one of the many college cookbooks you’ll find on sites like Amazon.

8. Bright light

If you’re looking for a cute way to present a cash gift to a grad, try this bright idea: Throw some money in a fake lightbulb and add a note that says “Wishing you a future that’s as bright as you are!” For a variation of this idea, insert cash into the photo slot of an empty picture frame and add a note that says, “In case of emergency, break glass!” Cash is always appreciated, and a creative presentation makes it personal and fun. 

Your grad is off to college or into the workforce soon. Show them how proud you are and prepare them for the exciting years that are ahead. Use these ideas to find the perfect low-cost gift for your grad.