Whether you spare no expense or are on a budget the gift you get the “grad” in your life is meant to be heartfelt and memorable.
I come from a big family – more than 30 grandchildren. It means an average of 2-4 graduation ceremonies a year –between junior high, high school and college students. It can be overwhelming for any family to coordinate carpools to the event, make sure everyone is dressed and ready to go early enough to get a good parking spot and then carrying all the gifts, flowers and cameras!
But it’s always about the sentiment – Here are some tips and suggestions for gifts that anyone would love:
1) Give the gift of money: I know you’ve heard people talk about how rough it is. And how they are “tightening” their financial belts. It is for that very reason that cash gifts are all the more valuable! If you feel less secure about giving a monetary gift the solution is a gift card to a grad’s favorite restaurant, bookstore, or a gas station.
SUPER TIP: Along with the gift certificate add in a personalized note and a thrifty accompaniment with the individual’s best interest at heart. For example: For a road trip lover includes a gas card for 25 dollars along with a note that reads: “enjoy hitting the road – and seeing all that the world has to offer”. Include a road map of the person’s most desirable destinations, a pair of discounted designer sunglasses (almost any retailer offers nice shades now a days). For a mocha lover give a coffee shop’s gift card with a nice mug in a gift bag.
2) Give the gift of your greatest assets: Since the beginning of time, tribes and nations have been bartering. Are you an auto-mechanic? Hair stylist? Offer a year’s supply of oil changes or free hair cut... If you work at a shop, offer up a gift certificate that you can get approved by your employer. If you don’t have a formal certificate have it made by a computer savvy friend or take the copy to a copy place like Kinko’s.
SUPERTIP: If you have a few extra dollars put the gift certificate in a nice, colored envelope and using a hole punch string some ribbon around a bottle of shampoo, or conditioner. *For the automotive services tie it around some transmission fluid or oil.
3) Give the gift of time: What do you do if you feel that you lack the few bucks AND the inherent talent or assets? GET BUSY. Get online – search craigslist in the “free” section. Can you polish up some older wood furniture? Are you handy with appliances and can you fix someone’s used treadmill? I went on and found a free SuperCuts haircut posting.
SUPERTIP: Go online for free community events, cheap outings. There are so many deals now! Check local news websites, community blogs, and read the North Sacramento News!!