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Our neighbor's daughter is graduating from highschool and I need some ideas for a cool gift. I know money is also an option but like to put some thought into it.
2025 High School graduation gift ideas?
- Thread starter RazorsEdge
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Help the kid setup a Roth IRA and throw 'em a few hundred bucks towards it.
No fiat money, might be worthless in her lifetime. Gold or maybe some of the things survivalists tout.
What are their plans once graduated?
That's where I'd start.
When my wife graduated HS, friends and neighbours in her farming community gave her household items she'd need once she was had relocated to the city.
By the time we moved in together, we practically had everything we needed to start our life.
Items like cutlery, small appliances etc were all provided. Many of which we still use over 20 years later.
At least you can be a little more creative this way.
That's where I'd start.
When my wife graduated HS, friends and neighbours in her farming community gave her household items she'd need once she was had relocated to the city.
By the time we moved in together, we practically had everything we needed to start our life.
Items like cutlery, small appliances etc were all provided. Many of which we still use over 20 years later.
At least you can be a little more creative this way.
Last edited:
Cash is King.
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For me, the best gifts I got were those that made life easier / better in college and money. For example, a nice fan with an air filter and cooling/heating modes like a Dyson blade less, noise cancelling headphones for studying (like Bose QCs), a nice large monitor to split screen Canvas and Microsoft Word, a cheap rice cooker for eating meals that aren’t the dining hall, things like that.
A 1 oz silver coin if she is planning to be an economics (or history) major. Or a coin as a stocking stuffer + fill-in-the-blank if $40 is too low. bonus points if she expressed an interest in XYZ and there is a foreign mint that has a commemorative coin about it.
Or a gift Netflix subscription or something along those lines (Uber, Amazon Prime, etc.)
I'm a utilitarian, so I prefer cash or cash equivalents----unless I really know someone or want to get a specific point across, lol
Good luck
Or a gift Netflix subscription or something along those lines (Uber, Amazon Prime, etc.)
I'm a utilitarian, so I prefer cash or cash equivalents----unless I really know someone or want to get a specific point across, lol
Good luck
If they're going to college some little appliances aren't a bad idea, depends on the person though. Maybe a small Keurig or Nespresso machine with a bunch of pods, a small air fryer maybe. A gift card for a gas station if they will have a car for gas money and car washes. All depends.
Owen Lucas
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1 year subscription to ChatGPT, they will need it for college. 
Two tickets to an amusement park if within 100 miles from one. I got two tickets to Cedar point as a grad present, took my best friend and was one of the best experiences of my life.
I am giving my friend's daughter a Costco gift card. Neither of her parents graduated high school; she has been accepted to Notre Dame. Gabbi is a real worker bee, just like her folks. I helped her with a little Calculus hoeweok when she was a sophomore. OMG...
Give a kid a side of existential depression...
Graduating HS is a "world's your oyster" moment and money is definitely not gauche in this instance. If you know what college she's going to, a gift card to the "extra" dining hall that serves comfort food/ desserts would be nice. Also uber/ doordash so she can get rides or food delivered. With young adults it's good to respect their newfound agency and not be too heavy handed in choosing things for them unless you're very close and it's something like a computer... even then, choose with them.
BTW, if she's not going to college, work-related stuff would be amazing, particularly if you can relate to her field of work. Clothes, lunch kit, etc.
It totally matters what's her plans are after graduation.
2,3,4,6...money related...The Roth IRA idea might initiate interest in funding/budgeting/thrift/avoiding wastefulness etc.
5...Great idea but requires knowledge of what they have already.
7...great notion, skip electric heating gizmos in dorm (Fire Safety Kira here). Niece's air cleaning fan is in MY storage room.
8.. great ideas. PM coin Countries issue commemorative specials in gold and silver....personalizable gift! Netflix? No, a library card
9 solid but again with the electrics and smell making appliances. Totally all depends
10..the demise of communications, and thus, society...nice knowing you
11, Great idea...a gift someone might never buy for themselves! "The gift of a good time" Show/concert/museum membership
12 Costco...I went to Costco this morning They have Ramen for college kids
13 yes, make wrong gifts returnable at least. I LOVE the "choose with them"
14 Not totally, but great to consider.
I have a problem with gifts...in both directions...yes, I don't receive them well.
When I give someone something and it doesn't please them, I bum out.
A "husband" (reading pillow),
A suitable torchier -floor lighting fixture..get one with a reading light on an arm- if in a dorm room with a chair.
Gift card for a dry cleaner if she wears that kind of clothing?
Gift card at an accessible, OK or better restaurant.
Quality safety glasses if she's lab bound.
5...Great idea but requires knowledge of what they have already.
7...great notion, skip electric heating gizmos in dorm (Fire Safety Kira here). Niece's air cleaning fan is in MY storage room.
8.. great ideas. PM coin Countries issue commemorative specials in gold and silver....personalizable gift! Netflix? No, a library card
9 solid but again with the electrics and smell making appliances. Totally all depends
10..the demise of communications, and thus, society...nice knowing you
11, Great idea...a gift someone might never buy for themselves! "The gift of a good time" Show/concert/museum membership
12 Costco...I went to Costco this morning They have Ramen for college kids
13 yes, make wrong gifts returnable at least. I LOVE the "choose with them"
14 Not totally, but great to consider.
I have a problem with gifts...in both directions...yes, I don't receive them well.
When I give someone something and it doesn't please them, I bum out.
A "husband" (reading pillow),
A suitable torchier -floor lighting fixture..get one with a reading light on an arm- if in a dorm room with a chair.
Gift card for a dry cleaner if she wears that kind of clothing?
Gift card at an accessible, OK or better restaurant.
Quality safety glasses if she's lab bound.
Is she going to college/higher education? If so, when I graduated high school all of my cousins went together and bought me a toolbox filled with all the stuff you forget to take to college, like packs of pens, highlighters, cough and cold medicine. All the stuff that you normally have in a house but may not think to take to a dorm room. Used stuff out of that for all 4 years of college. One of the best gifts I was given
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I know this isn't a good gift but I'd like to mention what was life changing for me as a young man. One of the best things I ever got in my life was a Passport. Traveling the world opens the mind to so many ideas that you never learn in school or by hanging out in the local community.
Money is the basis for accomplishing everything in our lives so giving that as a gift is probably the best idea. It can be used to travel, to start their hope chest, or to simply start a long-term investment portfolio that will pay off down the road. Just remember that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
Being well-read and well-traveled is probably the most fulfilling status anybody can have in their life.
Money is the basis for accomplishing everything in our lives so giving that as a gift is probably the best idea. It can be used to travel, to start their hope chest, or to simply start a long-term investment portfolio that will pay off down the road. Just remember that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
Being well-read and well-traveled is probably the most fulfilling status anybody can have in their life.
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