<p>Before I leave for college, I want to show my gratitude to my parents. I am planning on saving up for an expression of gratitude to my parents.</p>
<p>I am thinking about something in the range of $1000-2000 with money I have earned from an internship and various other jobs. What would be a nice gift? </p>
<p>I am also planning on a smaller gift to my grandparents (roughly $200-500) and preferrably some sort of item that is highly visible so they can tell their friends that their grandson bought it for them (Well, I think it would be nice to be able to do that). What would be a nice gift? </p>
<p>By the way, I'd prefer not to give a clock or watch. </p>
<p>Not a parent, but I would imagine that your parents would rather you save most of that money and give them something small but meaningful instead.</p>
<p>Take your parents out for a nice dinner (not overly expensive, just nice - if it's too expensive, they'll be worried about that instead) before you leave for college. If you have brothers/sisters - they are not invited! Tell your parents that since you're leaving, you wanted to spend some time with them before you left. Spend the dinner talking, laughing, and just generally having a good time.</p>
<p>You'll leave your parents with a great memory, and that's all they really want. Parents like gifts, but believe me, all they're thinking about right now is how fast the time went. They want to hold onto every moment. This would be a great way to recognize that - and also to show that just because you've grown up and are going away doesn't mean you're "going away."</p>
<p>Grandparents - do the same thing, but with a luncheon (grandparents hate to stay up late, you ever notice?). Have someone take your picture with them while you're at lunch. Print each a picture and put it in a nice frame. Grandparents are trying to hold on to the memories too (and no, I didn't mean that in a mean way!).</p>
<p>You know hwat parent's love? They love to spend time with you and they love to read long lengthy letters about how much they mean to you and your life.</p>
<p>So...take them out to a five course meal and give them a letter?</p>
<p>Or give them a handmade coupon with hotel reservations to come ssee you at college for parent's weekend?</p>
<p>Grandparents love photos of their grandchildren that can easily lead into other conversations. "This is Johnny standing on the steps of his college library. What college does he go to? Oh! He goes to La Di Da college and he has a 6.0 GPA and he is wonderful in every aspect."</p>
<p>Also, grandparents and parents love to get calls. You could give both handmade coupons rpomising at least one call every week (parents) or one call every other week (grandparents). They like personal emails too.</p>
<p>I think that my parents would find me spending $1000-2000 on my own tuition to be a great gift to their wallets.</p>
<p>If you want to show your gratitude for your parents before leaving, why don't you take them out for a nice dinner or to a show or do something that will let your parents spend some time with you before you leave? That would probably be more meaningful to them than any object you can buy.</p>
<p>I agree with all the above. The thing i love most from my kids is time. And one of the most touching things my son did was write me a letter. And the picture with the grandparents - lovely idea. I would probably be a bit horrified at this stage in my kids lives if they spent such a large sum on me (hey down the road - houses, cars, vacations would be great ;) ). But the dinner, pictures, letters would all bring a tear to my eye.</p>
<p>I am an only child and very close with my parents, especially my mother. I will probably leave for college in late August and my mother's birthday, father's birthday, and their wedding anniversary are all in September so I know it will be a tough month. </p>
<p>For the past year I have been trying to take as many pictures as possible and am planning on making a scrap book/slideshow type thing before I leave. I will hide it in my room with a note and tell my mom where to find it after I've been gone for a couple weeks. Great presents don't need to cost a lot.</p>
<p>A thank-you letter will be cherished for years. Quality time together--be that a rented movie, Thai food or pizza--most appreciated. A cooperative spirit when shopping for college (you could use your own $ for the extras) and a clean bedroom would be gifts enough.</p>
<p>Our daughter left us a very very nice thank you note on her bedroom pillow when she left for college. We didn't find it until about a week after she left (which I think was purposeful). I appreciated that much more than any gift she could have bought us. We have it placed in a location where we can read it again and again. She is far away, and the note is so special to us. I agree...don't spend money. Do something with your heart.</p>
<p>Don't spend money -- your parents might interpret that as wasting it, which is not a good idea during the expensive college years.</p>
<p>The thank-you letter or scrapbook is a great idea. Another possibility is to contribute some of your time, over the summer, to any household projects that have been waiting to be completed. Does the garage need to be cleaned out? Does a room need repainting? That sort of thing.</p>
<p>Another vote for a letter, or even a cute funny note. My former boss had some sweet letters her son had written framed in her bedroom - some dated to elementary school days, but at least one was from high school or college. Honestly, I'd be impressed if my kids had enough of their own money to take me out to dinner!</p>
<p>My daughter gave us a framed poem with pictures of herself for a Christmas present her senior year of High School. She talked about how we had raised her and how much she loved us and her brothers. It was one of the nicest presents I've ever gotten.</p>
<p>An original work of art, such as watercolor/litho/print from a gallery with a very stylized treatment of a subject related to education, for example: book(s), library, scholar, laboratory with people in it. You might even affix the thank you note onto the back of the picture frame; mat and cover the thank-you with some kind of clear film to preserve it.
If your family likes to spend time together but disdains restaurants (not everyone's a foodie), consider buying 3 tickets to a concert with music of their taste; play or musical theater evening; dance concert; sport event. Whatever you choose, it should be tipped towards something they love so they know you chose it for them. Afterwards, just eat out lightly for dessert or tea...and TALK!
Recently, a middle-aged friend of mine lost her mom (a predictable transition moment, not a tragedy). It meant a lot to her when her brother spent all night assembling some old family photos onto a computer presentation with graphic titles and music. He also found some old footage from family movies and had it all put together onto this one film. When we walked into her house, she was showing everyone the beautiful tribute to her mom. If you don't have these skills but like the idea, probably there are companies around that do this work. It's just another version of a scrapbook, which he also assembled. That might be for your grandparents IF they have computers to play it!
May you go from strength to strength!</p>
<p>As a parent, the best gift that my kids ever could give me would be a heart felt letter providing specifics about what I had done that they felt had helped them have a nice childhood and fulfill their potential as a human being. This would be far better than any monetary gift. However, a nice gift that could go along with that would be a beautifully framed picture of my child and me.</p>
<p>I agree with people who say that your parents probably would much prefer that you use your savings for college.</p>
<p>If you wanted to do more than just a dinner together, you could take a whole day or even an overnite - just the three of you. Do things they would enjoy, a concert with their kind of music, a movie they would enjoy, antique shopping, museum, sports event, whatever would be appropriate. Then, the letter and a picture presentation. You could even get a silver frame that you have engraved with a special quote, the date of your graduation, Thank you and Love Always, JoeBob, etc. Engraved picture frame works for grandparents also, they can display and show off to friends while they beam with pride.</p>
<p>Oh, and look at your college bookstore/website for something special for your grandparents. Then they can beam with pride as they talk about their grandson at XYZ university.</p>
<p>Both grandmoms are thrilled with Son2's gifts to them this Christmas. Pictures of him with his arm around each of them in a dollar shop frame. His brothers are mumbling that he is just a narcissist and cheap, just like an actor in training to give pictures of himself as gifts to old ladies. But, hey, the recipients could not be happier, and I couldn't tell you what the rest of the boys gave the grandmoms.</p>
<p>Taking another tack...what do you do at home they'd miss. As a semi-handicapped person I'd love to have the house cleaned, pre-cooked meals made, lawn mowed etc.
If you do the yardwork, walk the dogs etc you could pre-pay someone to do that for a short time. Not 1k unless you come from a family that values the value of a gift more than the 'thought behind it". Some folks do care about pricetags, despite the suggestions here. You'd know that best.</p>
<p>fastMEd, it is very sweet of you to think of giving gifts to your parents and grandparents.</p>
<p>You have received some very good advice. Generally, parents aren't interested in having their college age children spend money on them. Instead, they are interested in your heartfelt thanks and time. Just the other day I was talking my freshman daughter who is 3,000 miles away and mentioned I would be paying her tuition this week, and she said "Thank you." That and a phone call are very meaningful to parents.</p>
<p>I have a couple of ideas for you:</p>
<p>Plan an afternoon or evening and ask your parents or grandparents on a date before you leave. It needn't be expensive, but the time spent together is more important than the cost of a meal or activity together.</p>
<p>Put together a scrapbook of pictures, either the old fashioned type, or digitally using iPhoto or Microsoft Photo Story 3 (it's a free download if you don't have it already). I put together a couple of Photo Stories set to music for my daughter's graduation and she loved them and even showed them to her friends. You know, pictures when she was just born, first steps, first birthday, first boyfriend, that dreaded family roadtrip. I gave her electronic copies and well as DVDs. If your parents or grandparents aren't computer inclined, they will be very impressed. Find pictures of yourself growing up and involved in activities with your parents/grandparents...it helps if you have a scanner.</p>
<p>As part of an afternoon or evening "date" with your parents/grandparents, arrange to have a professional photographer meet you to take a picture of you before leaving for college.</p>
<p>And, oh yeah, set aside a little time each week to call your parents while you're away at college not because you need something, but just to chat.</p>
<p>My suggestion would be to have a portrait painted.... I had individual ones done for our two sons.....for my H's 50th birthday.....so you might want to consider having someone paint a portrait for your gift.....it could be replicated in a smaller size for the grandparents?</p>
<p>If your grandparents are fans of chocolates or fruit, then consider a Godiva gift or something from Harry & David, ie Fruit of the Month club? For the folks that "winter", these things are always welcome. </p>
<p>Plant a tree in your yard before you go to school.....a special unique one that will serve as a constant reminder of you.....what matters most is that you can be identified with your choice. Good luck....</p>
<p>Wow. So many responses. You are all probably right, even if I like expensive things, my parents and grandparents would probably prefer something a little more human. </p>
<p>I think I'll just take them out to dinner at a nice restaurant and maybe try one of the suggestions about a picture. There are so many good suggestions. Thanks.</p>