An Experience
- Concert tickets or a mini getaway can be the perfect gift when you don’t want to give more “stuff” to your favorite graduate. With travel restrictions lifted and venues opening back up, this could be the best time for them to go make lifelong memories.
Tech
- An iPad or similar tablet can be a great option for graduates going to college, and you can throw in a subscription to a notetaking app like GoodNotes, which will make studying that much easier and fluid.
- Noise canceling headphone are great for their balance of sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort, making them a great pick for listening to online lectures, focusing during studying, or relaxing.
- A smart mug might not be an obvious choice, but college kids tend to pick up a coffee or tea habit, and these mugs will control the temperature of their drink so they won’t have to reheat or dump it out every few hours.
- Smart watches are a great idea for grads — they can track calorie burn, resting heart rate, and heart rate zones. They can help track your sleep habits, and many models link to your phone’s text messages and calls—plus they are comfortable and stylish.
- Streaming device options like Roku are fantastic for the TV and movie buffs. Roku has a large library of streaming services (Netflix, HBO Max, Rakuten Viki, etc.). Plus, if your graduate wants to watch TV on the big screen without disturbing others, it comes with headphones for private listening.
- Smart notebooks, like the Rocketbook, are one of the best ways for students to stay on top of notetaking. They allow users to write with erasable pens in the notebook, capture the pages with an app, and upload those pages to choice of computer, phone, drives, etc. Text recognition turns handwriting into text that can be saved as a PDF or document. Less paper wasted and ease of use make this a top pick, especially for those on a budget.
Subscriptions
- Gift a meditation app subscription that can help them manage stress, practice mindfulness, and possibly improve their focus. Headspace, Calm, Shine, and InsightTimer are good options.
- If they love coffee, they will surely appreciate a coffee subscription. If they prefer tea, there are subscriptions for that, too.
- Getting groceries delivered to your door is a magical thing for someone just starting out in the “real world”—and an Instacart subscription does that! Also consider meal subscriptions, such as Blue Apron or Green Chef if they will have use of a kitchen.
Travel
- An Away brand suitcase is one of the most unique suitcases you can gift the grad. If they will be living far from home or planning future travel, this is perfect. The luggage has an external battery that you can eject that charges devices when they are in transit. This suitcase weighs only 7.6 pounds.
- For nights out on the town or unexpected times when the student may need a ride home and doesn’t feel safe riding with their designated river, an Uber or Lyft gift card is a thoughtful choice.
- However you gift the grad in your life, let them know you care and that you include your best wishes as they embark on their new journey. It truly is the thought that counts more than anything.
Nadia Morgan is an East Coast native who now feels truly at home on the West Coast. She has a degree in writing. A military wife of 20 years, Nadia is Editorial Assistant for Monterey Bay Parent Magazine. You can reach her by email at editorial@montereybayparent.com