<p>Anyone else having a hard time wth the idea of buying an expensive high school graduation gifts when we’re about to face college tuition bills? Let’s share ideas. I’ve been putting a lot of thought into presents that come from the heart rather than the wallet. I’ll offer my two ideas and hope you’ll offer one or two also.</p>
<li><p>Words to Live By: A Journal of Wisdom for Someone You Love (Emily and Kate Marshall, Broadway Books, $14). It’s a family wisdom journal that you write in your tips, advise, stories and lessons about leading a happy, healthy life. Great questions in it make it easy. Parents, grandparents, anyone can write in it. The student takes the family wisdom with them to college and beyond. Very cool. I found it at Barnes and Noble.</p></li>
<li><p>Two stylin’ photo albums, one you label “Past” and the other “Future.” ($0 if recycled) Make copies of favorite family/friend photos from birth to graduation and put them in the Past album. Leave the Future album empty, with a note that says “Can’t wait to see how you fill this.” Especially good if grandma will splurge for the new camera! Target has great albums for teens.</p></li>
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<p>D's friend put together a CD of pictures of all of them through the years. Then she burned copies for each girl. Even added music to it. D took it with her to college. Another friend gave everyone a silver charm with their initials engraved on one side, and the initials of the group of friends on the other.</p>
<p>How about a "hoodie" or sweatshirt from their future college? I give them to my friends' kids when they go to college along with some money.</p>
<p>We told our s that he'll get a laptop and accessories (printer, etc) but he informed us that he's expecting a car! LOL Maybe we'll put a pic of a car on the screen saver!</p>
<p>nngmm-
Yes, we gave our eldest a laptop. But we did it as a Christmas gift senior year so there was time to get used to it/work out the bugs/ before leaving. Not particularly sentimental but definitely appreciated and needed.</p>
<p>I hear Mr.Roger's has a grad-type book-- "Life's Journeys According to Mr. Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way." Not sure how much today's 17 year olds remember Mr Rogers though. Maria Shriver has one too. But I really like the idea of writing your own sentiments in the "Words to Live By" journal book. More personal--a family keepsake.</p>
<p>How about a weekend trip somewhere special? This could be for the kid and a friend.... Or.... if he/she likes being with family, a trip with parents as a "last hurrah" with family before going off to college. It could be a fab memory.</p>
<p>I forgot to add to post #5 that we are taking son to Italy the summer after graduation.</p>
<p>The whole albums for teens thing is a bad idea. They're going off to college where they're supposed to become adults.. more mature, older, wiser.. those teen albums (if we're thinking about the same ones) are so .. no no no. (coming from a teen.) The first idea is nice.</p>
<p>I am a senior and I love the idea of a scrapbook/photo album. I have been making mine all year long with my mom, and it has been great. I am definantly planning on taking it to college with me. </p>
<p>For graduation I am getting a laptp from my dad, and some sort of jewelry from my mom. The jewelry is a family tradition, usually it is a ring.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a good deal on a laptop check out the refurbished. That is what I got and it works well. It is normally a much more expensive laptop to.</p>
<p>IF all goes well I expect my parents to give me a nice watch, and a Mac Book Pro its a pretty expensive laptop ($2300) but it will last through all 4 years of college</p>
<p>I made a birth thru grad. photo album for S. He enjoyed looking thru it but did not take it to college. Didn't expect or want him to. It's much safer at home in the top of his closet.</p>
<p>The real grad. gift was paying for half the airfare for him to take a trip to Mexico with a friend (and friend's family). The friend's family paid half for him because they really wanted him to go along with their son. It was the experience of a lifetime (one we never could have given him) and something he will never forget. </p>
<p>So I 'd have to say helping to fund (within reason) a special trip with friends is much appreciated.</p>
<p>I made each of my kids a quilt to take to college...not heirloom quality, so they don't have to worry about it getting well used! But it is a reminder of home (and they are pretty cool looking if I do say so...).
I also made them each a scrapbook of grades K-12 (which has stayed home) - was a big hit at the family graduation party.</p>
<p>My kid wants a horse! It's not happening. Anyway, as a gift for many of her close high school friends, I'm buying Starbucks gift cards. These kids will be astounded at how the cost of lattes add up!</p>
<p>horse...coffee...horse...coffee...which to give...LOL!
A horse doesn't exactly fit the "inexpensive" descriptor, does it. Maybe a coupon for a few trail rides?</p>
<p>gift cards to amazon.com (could be used for textbooks) or itunes are always nice...</p>
<p>i also LOVED getting gift cards to cvs as channukkah presents during college...it was nice not to spend my own money on boring essentials like toothpaste, soap, etc.</p>
<p>Or, you could buy American Express gift cards...My sister gave me one for Christmas and I was able to use it practically anywhere. I really aprreciated it, and I think I'm gonna start buying myself some of these and keep them as back up when I'm low on cash. Plus, they look like credit cards.</p>