It’s important to give a gift to those you know who are graduating. It’s a momentous achievement that only happens once in a lifetime – think about all the blood, sweat and tears that person went through to get that diploma! A simple gift (little do they know – cheap gift) will make all the difference. Here are five cheap gifts that will make you Best Friend of the Year!
These gifts are not free, however, in my expert shopping opinion – these items are definitely within your college budget. Each item is fairly plain on its own, but it’s up to you to spice it up to make it meaningful and I’ll explain how to do that in each gift.
1. A writing prompt journal
It’s the simplest gift you can give to someone! Instead of giving them a plain journal, give them prompts to write about. For example, the first page says, “The First Thing I’ll Do After I Graduate Is…” or “The One Person That Still Annoys Me Is…” and have them complete the sentence. Do this for twenty pages, and be creative with your writing prompts. The thing about a journal is that it’s theirs to decide what to write, what to doodle, what to skip or what to complain about.
2. A picture frame
You’ve heard it a million times, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and it’s true! Buy a cheap picture frame, print out a nice photo of you and the graduate, and give that as your gift. Maybe even write a small note on the back of the photo if you’re really close with that person. I guarantee that this picture frame will sit next to their bed or on their desk for a really long time.
3. Chocolate, and lots of it
If you have a friend who doesn’t like many things, chocolate is your best bet. A box of chocolate is everyone’s favorite! Get them an assortment for a cheap price at your local grocery store, or even different kinds of their favorite candy bars and pack it all in one nice gift bag. Worst case scenario, if they aren’t too fond of the candy you give them, it will be re-gifted to someone who wants it. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
4. A card
I don’t mean just buy one and sign it, I mean actually make it from scratch. Homemade cards are truly the best kind of cards because you’re turning a plain piece of paper to a paper full of emotions and love. Write a cute little excerpt about how proud of you of that person, and write down your best memory you have with the graduate. This gets me every time!
5. Fresh flower lei
These are probably the most expensive out of all the cheap gifts. Coming from Hawaii, it is customary to “lei” someone with a fresh flower lei. A “lei” is the Hawaiian word for “wreath,” and it is often given to someone on special occasions such birthdays, anniversaries and graduation. Bringing a lei is a very simple gesture and the gift of aloha. The cheapest lei is called the “Orchid Flower Lei” is shouldn’t cost more than $7. If it’s more than that, you’re getting ripped off my friend!
Now you know all my secrets about cheap gift giving under a budget. Graduation is around the corner for most high schools and college graduation commencements, so get to work! In all honesty, your friends will appreciate anything at this point, but it’s always the unexpected gifts that mean the most. For those who are graduating soon, congratulations! For those who are almost graduating, you’re almost there! And lastly, for those who have a long way to go – hang in there.