My niece graduates from high school this weekend and I’m going to the ceremony. I want to get her a gift and I know that cash is the usual preferred graduation present, but I’d rather not do that as she’s an extremely spoiled girl who has more cash than I do. Don’t get me wrong- she’s sweet and a good kid, but her parents just bought her a $125,000 condo to use while she’s in college and her maternal grandmother gives her loads of cash for every special occasion (as much as $2000), so while it’s not her fault she just doesn’t really appreciate the value of money and I’d rather give a $50 or $100 bill to a kid who does (like my broke college student surrogate-nephew at George Mason).
So I’m thinking instead of giving her three gifts:
A bracelet I picked up somewhere along the line that holds locket sized photos- it’s filled with about a dozen photographs of myself- not as self indulgent as it sounds as it’s a gag-gift
A cross necklace with cultured/seed pearls that belonged to her grandmother (my mother) but is still in the original box and perhaps a couple of my mother’s nicer scarves
A “things you’ll need” kit that includes a dishpan done up like an Easter basket with a plunger, spatulas, cooking utensils, George Foreman grill, and other other items as she’s never lived in her own place before and there are so many things you never realize you need until you need it (a plunger being probably highest on that list)
Does this sound like a decent enough idea, or would you still go with the money/gift certificate thing? (My alternate is a gift certificate to IKEA for perhaps $100- not a lot but enough to get a bookcase or lots of bric-a-brac and it’s a store she’s never been to but I think she’d like.)
PS- I asked my brother/her father for suggestions, and he said “money or gift certificates” which didn’t really help at all, but did say to his knowledge (when I asked) she doesn’t have the housewares like I mentioned.
How about something useful-college that she won’t buy herself? Like a copy of Endnote, or a decent dictionary/thesaurus? Is that too much of an educator answer?
Does she enjoy reading? A classic inspirational book might be appropriate. Maybe Pearl Buck? (hint, hint! There’s more to life than materialism.)
Your ideas sound great, I’m sure there must be some intimate connection between you, so that she’ll “get” the import of your choices.
She loves reading, her favorite book is The Kite Runner, and she currently plans to major in political science with plans on law school (though I expect that to change- no member of the family has made it through college with a degree in anything near what they started in and I doubt she’ll be the exception).
I got a similar gift upon first moving out and it was the best thing in the entire world, definitely do this. I would have never thought of half the items it contained, but they were all used within the first few weeks.
I think the necklace sounds lovely- and it might actually mean something to her, as opposed to all the cash & crap she’ll get from other people. I know that if it were me, I would treasure it.
And you are wonderful to give her something of Mama’s.
I think those sound very thoughtful, Sampiro, especially the necklace. The most useful graduation gift I got was a toolkit. Most 18-year-old girls don’t have their own screwdrivers or tape measures and I was no exception. Boy, that sucker came in handy when I moved into my first apartment.
If she’s decided which college to go to, what about a gift certificate to the nearest college bookstore? Whatever course she decides to do, she’ll need books.
Both the necklace and the “things you’ll need” basket sound nice.
To choose between the two…I’d go with the necklace from grandma. If she does have a lot of cash, she can and will get all the things she needs for her home. But there’s nowhere else she can get that very necklace.
I have an ugly, cheap piece of costume jewelry someone gave me that belonged to a grandma I never even knew. I never wore it but I kept it displayed forever because it was so sentimental.
I’d say (2), or if you really don’t want to get her anything, then just give her a card. Household stuff is a nice idea, but (speaking as a suburban princess myself) if I knew my uncle was bothered by spending money on me than I’d rather get a card. I I think it was a littke tacky for her dad to ask for cash or gift certificates, but that’s him talking, not her.
I’d go with #3, myself. I think it’s a great idea, and very thoughtful.
Having said that, there’s a part of me rejecting the necklace idea because of knee-jerk “I’m-a-guy-and-have-no-clue-about-jewelry” reactions in the back of my head. So, if that’s what you’d prefer to give her, don’t let my vote be the one to change your mind.
