HS grad gift ideas! help please!

[IrishLake]

Thank you everyone! I am definately going to use ideas from everyone. I am thinking a few rolls of quarters is my favorite so far! So obvious, but easy to overlook. I also am thinking that I will encourage my brother to get her a backpack or messenger bag and fill it with school supplies (notebooks, pens, pencils, hi-lighters, scissors, markers, dry erase board, paper clips, thumbtacks, stapler, etc. Stuff that's easy for a guy to think of!), and I will get her a laundry basket and fill it with living essentials. I saw the Purex laundry sheets today at the store, another great idea! I am going to keep an eye out for lighted make-up mirrors. I had one in college and it was a lifesaver. I like what Raggedy Ann said... Useful is meaningful!


I'll clarify on my meaningful statement though... I just always think of the Willow tree figures, Pandora beads, other collectible items as the traditional "meaningful" stuff. I am NOT that kind of person, but she is. We're at opposite ends of the girliness spectrum. However, my sister is SOOO excited for college (as I was). She has "senioritis" very badly right now, and would leave northern Ohio for OU tomorrow if she could. I think something like this will be a big hit with her. AND it will help my mom out down the road.

IKEA has a simple tool kit that I already marked down to get her, as well as a hanging shoe organizer caddy that hangs right on the closet pole (not an over-the-door type). I just have to make sure not to go overboard, or I'll break my budget! Always easier said than done, though.

[ADPiTigergurl]

Ok so not sure how much your wanting to spend but i graduated last year and the present I recieved that has definately had the most use is my vera bradley weekender bag! I never knew how much id use it, but its the perfect size and i litereally use it almost every weekend its great

[AnchorAlumna]

Electric alarm clock - yes, even if they use their phone for an alarm clock. A colorful beach towel - useful for the summer AND later. One of those folding chairs that fold up into a bag. Not for the dorm room so much as for outdoor fun. She could keep it in her car trunk.

[sceniczip]

Double check about quarters for laundry because I know my school only used quarters in a few dorms my freshman year. Mostly you used your zipcard. Then my sophomore year, laundry became free. However, I would have loved quarters for the turnpike and vending machines

[ADPiTigergurl]

Ok thought of a few other things that I found extremely useful...the shower robe thing (especially if it a communal bath i saw a really cute one the other day from walmart for like 10 bucks), and EYE MASK!!! (mine wasnt a gift but a suggestion I thought was dumb before I moved in, the day after i went a purchased one my roomie was an insomniac that wanted all the lights on ALL night),shelves for above the bed (from BB&B they have two shelves and hooks and cup holder...love it!!!), coffee pot, small jewlry box, and then hangers (the velvet ones that hold clothes easier and take up a lot less space in the closet) hooks, baskets, towels, a lamp, pretty paper!

[sceniczip]

Also, it wouldn't fit in the basket but consider putting everything in one of those plastic drawer unit things. My sophomore year my dorm had a wardrobe only, no dresser, so I used the plastic drawers to hold more clothes.