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Inexpensive Gifts for the Graduate
Graduation Gifts
by Cheryl Schroeder
Description: Creative graduation gift ideas.
Dear Gift Gal:
My only grandson is graduating from high school in
June. I don't
want to give money, a watch, a set of suitcases or any of the
other usual
gifts. Do you have any ideas for a unique yet memorable
gift?
P.J., Montgomery, AL
The Gift Gal responds:
As my own graduation from high school drew closer, I realized
that
I didn't want to give my friends the typical graduation
gifts. Just
giving them a card didn't seem like enough. As a senior
scrimping
and saving for college tuition, I couldn't afford to buy
each of
them expensive monographed gifts or give them money. Gifts
like books,
clothes or friendship jewelry seemed too predictable and
impersonal.
Since I've always loved writing and editing, I decided to give
them
a gift that would be uniquely from me, yet practical too. I
would
put together a notebook of hints on surviving in the adult world.
I perused
stacks of books and magazines for articles on topics such as
budgeting,
doing your own laundry, surviving freshman homesickness, and
dealing with
difficult roommates. I made photocopies of those articles and put
them
in a 3- ring notebook. The first page included a message
personalized
for each of my friends. My friends seemed to appreciate the
practicality
of the gift at the time. But I never realized how useful
the notebook
was until about a year ago, when a friend told me she had hers
and was
still referring to it--even though it's been 20 years since we've
graduated!
Why not adapt this gift idea to your own situation?
Write a letter
to your relatives, telling them that you are compiling a notebook
of practical
hints for your grandson's graduation gift. Ask them to
assist you
by jotting down a tidbit of advice and sending it back to
you. Encourage
them to be creative, practical, and maybe even a little humorous!
You will
probably find that some of the responses are silly, others
poignant and
still others filled with helpful information. Compile those
pearls
of wisdom into a hand-decorated notebook and present it to your
grandson
on graduation day. I'm sure it will be one of the most
memorable
gifts he has ever received!
Cheryl Schroeder publishes the Creative Gift Giver, an online guide to imaginative gift giving. For a free subscription to her monthly Creative Gift Givers e-newsletter, send a blank e-mail to: creativegiftgivers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
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