Graduation from high school or college is a tremendously important milestone, and cause for celebration. If you have a grandchild who is about to graduate, and are pondering over what to give them, why not present them with a gift that’s truly helpful (instead of something that’s briefly used and then forgotten)?
Here are four unique graduation gift ideas we love.
These gifts might not have the glamour of a new iPhone or Xbox, but will be remembered long after other gadgets have been replaced.
1. An “Oh No” Fund
It’s easy for a young adult to get into trouble in the big bad world, and to be caught unprepared. (Face it — we’ve all been there.) It can make a huge difference to have cash available to call a cab, pay for a hotel room, pay the power bill (better late than never!), or even put food on the table while chasing a dream job.
Write “Oh No” on crisp $20 bills, so your grandchild remembers to save the money for an emergency. Alternatively, you could open an “Oh No” savings account, and hand it over at graduation. Either way, they’ll be glad to have a safety net, courtesy of you.
2. Interview Clothes
For a new graduate, going to a job interview can be a huge source of stress. Many young people simply don’t know what to wear to an interview, and, because they’ve been in school mode, don’t even own professional business attire. So help them out.
Take your grandchild shopping for a bespoke suit or other professional attire. It’s something they’d never be able to afford on their own this early in their career.
3. Cooking, Car Repair or Home Improvement Lessons
Teaching your grandchild how to prepare a meal, change a tire or perform routine home maintenance may not have the same caché as, say, the gift of a convertible sports car. However, at some point they’re going to want to make dinner for a new girlfriend, fix a dripping tap, or change a flat by the side of the road. Your gift will provide help when it’s needed most.
4. Match Retirement Contributions
Starting to build a nest egg right out of college is the best way for your grandchild to set up a long-term savings plan — even putting aside $10 per month makes a big difference.
Although you can’t directly contribute to another individual’s 401(k) or IRA (unless you’re married to the recipient), you can still give your graduate the incentive to save by matching their contributions in cash.
Every month, during their first year of work, put money aside for them, or directly deposit it into an interest-bearing savings account on their behalf. After one year, transfer the savings account and interest over to them. Long into their retirement years, they’ll be grateful you helped them get on the right track.
Gifts don’t have to be about material objects. Truth is, your grandkids probably don’t really need those things. But the ideas above provide something even better: the gift of self-sufficiency. And after all, that’s the present your grandkids really want the most.
