Need frugal gift ideas

**freyadog** · 05-05-2007, 05:00 PM

Wasn't sure where to point this question. My nephew's daughter is graduating from high school. I would like to send a gift but on our budget there is not much room for gifts. Are there any ideas out there that would be frugal yet nice? I am beside myself as to what to do.

Barbara

**wanderlusting** · 05-05-2007, 05:15 PM

If she's going to college and live away from home, some things around the house are great. A good college- bound gift is a box w/ clothes hangers, duct tape, and any other household items she never thought she would need.

If you have any photos of her growing up, a nice collage in a picture frame would be nice.

Hmm....all I can think of for now......

**julieb** · 05-05-2007, 05:25 PM

I like the picture idea. Perhaps a picture of you and her? Or maybe a small photo album with pictures of her growing up leaving room for the future?

**AmyMCGS** · 05-05-2007, 05:43 PM

Two ideas from Christian Book Distributers (I love this store!):
I just gave this to my sister for her birthday for $5.99:

Class of 2007 Pewter Key Chain

If you can spend a little more, I got her this shadow-box graduation frame (I'm saving it for a graduation gift) for $20:

Graduate Shadow Box

It would be easy to create something similar on your own, and probably cheaper, but I liked this one and wasn't sure I'd have time to make one between now and her graduation.

Or, you could buy a large mat and a frame (wait for a 50% off sale at a craft store), and give it to her to have people sign at her graduation party.

If she's going off to college, some easy dorm foods or fast food gift certificates would be nice, too.

**sunshine** · 05-05-2007, 05:58 PM

Money origami is always nice. . . even a $1 bill looks special when it's folded into a ring, or rose!

**sunshine** · 05-05-2007, 06:00 PM

If you sew -- how about making a laundry bag from a sturdy material (denim, canvas, etc) . . use a fabric marker to write laundry hints on it -- and add a roll of quarters.

**pita1213** · 05-05-2007, 06:03 PM

if she is college bound, you could get her some school supplies, pens, pencils, paper, etc. that is what my grandfather gave my sister when she graduated. it was very helpful and appreciated.

if she's not going to college, but maybe moving out on her own, a laundry basket filles with household items would be good. you can get a lot of neat stuff from the dollar store including teh laundry basket.

walmart or target gift cards are good whether she's going to college or getting a job. you could put it in a card with some words of wisdom and helpful hints.

**SSGWilkesWife** · 05-05-2007, 06:16 PM

Framing her graduation invitation along with a senior picture is nice and inexpensive. You can add scrap booking items or do a collage of her 12 years of school pics. Just a thought.

**sunshine** · 05-05-2007, 06:23 PM

I forgot to mention -- a few years ago, when my oldest son graduated. . one of his teachers got him a $1 gold coin. Very nice, very inexpensive, and very memorable. He still has it and thinks of that teacher with fondness, when ever he see the coin.

**socalgal** · 05-05-2007, 06:29 PM

I would have LOVED a laundry bag and role of quarters. Sometimes dorm rooms are incredibly tiny and she may not have room for nick nacks and keepsakes. Something useful is a great idea. Another idea: a plastic shower caddy and a pair of flip flops for the shower....those dorm showers are gross.

**justpeachy92** · 05-05-2007, 06:38 PM

If she is going away to school a gift card that she can use for school supplies or anything she needs for her dorm room.

**ewokgirl** · 05-05-2007, 07:22 PM

DH's niece graduated a few years ago, and I really wanted to do something nice for her, but we didn't have much to spend at the time. What I really wanted to give her was a pair of pearl earrings. I shopped and shopped and shopped until I found a jewelry store with a pair of freshwater pearls that were so perfectly round that they looked like cultured pearls. They had 14k gold posts and were only $13. The gift looked super impressive, but it cost very little.

Also, someone here suggested this site a while back, and I've ordered from it a few times. All the jewelry is only $5.99, and it's really nice stuff. I believe it's a creative way of building their business or something. They change out the merchandise every few minutes, so you may have to watch it for a while before you find something you like, but there are several nice things there. The website is http://www.silverjewelryclub.com/.

**acidcookie** · 05-06-2007, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by socalgal

I would have LOVED a laundry bag and role of quarters. Sometimes dorm rooms are incredibly tiny and she may not have room for nick nacks and keepsakes. Something useful is a great idea. Another idea: a plastic shower caddy and a pair of flip flops for the shower....those dorm showers are gross.

I agree with this! My freshman year I lived in a dorm room with another person about the size of my current bedroom. I think the dorm room was 12'x15' or something, which included both beds, both desks, closets for two, a sink, and both of us! I had two tiny shelves on the wall above my computer for all my non-essentials. I also sure could have used quarters, a laundry bag, a shower caddy (since we had to walk down the hall to the shower stalls), etc.

**latierra84** · 05-06-2007, 04:18 PM

id say go with things that she can use and probably hasnt really thought she'll need because... this is her first time away.
a shower caddy, flipflops
roll of quarters and small box of laundry soap
a small set of bowls and cups for two maybe
a new pillow and pretty pillow sham
assortment of school supplies
some brain food! arranged in a basket
if youre into sewing.. you could make a cute bag for her to carry around her laptop in or.. books and stuff.