‘Tis the season of happy tears, when all of our little munchkins — the ones who would ask for “just one more story” night after night and who needed only a kiss to soothe a boo-boo — graduate. While all you may want to do is hold them close, you know deep down that it’s your duty to send them off into the so-called real world to make their own discoveries, endure their own failures, celebrate their own victories and become the amazing adults you’ve trained them to be.
This rite of passage certainly calls for celebration, and do we ever love to celebrate! This year, Americans will spend $4.77 billion dollars on graduation gifts, according to the National Retail Federation. More than half will tuck a crisp hundred dollar bill into an envelope and call it a day, and while I’m sure your Benjamin will be greatly appreciated and much enjoyed, I’m also pretty sure that no matter how smart your grad is, he or she will spend it immediately and on a memory that’ll probably last a few days (or hours) rather than a lifetime. I have a few better ideas. Here are some gifts for your grad that will help him or her either save or earn more money just at the time when they need it most.
A cheap buzz: Now that she’s out on her own, gone are the days when she can afford $4-a-day trip to her favorite barista. So give her the tools to make barista-quality coffee at home for just pennies a cup. My favorite way to brew is using a single-serving Aeropress Coffee and Espresso maker ($29.99 at Amazon). This portable coffee press comes with 350 filters so even those with a several-cups-a-day habit will be set for a while.
If you want more bells and whistles (or if you sense that one cup at a time isn’t going to cut it), invest in a multi-cup brewer, like the popular Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker, which grinds beans and brews great coffee. The regular price is $185, but it’s on sale for $99 at JCPenney.com. (Just don’t forget some high-quality beans and a set of chic mugs.)
A good meal: You know that old saying, “You give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him feed him for a lifetime.” Same principle applies here, but rather than sending your grad off with a pair of wading boots and a fishing pole, give a few kitchen essentials and a classic cookbook full of easy recipes. Having the basics to cook at home will not only help him stay healthy, but it will prevent him from spending all of his money on greasy take-out. Opt for a few must-haves: a frying pan, a saucepan, a decent knife or two, a cutting board and a few tools, like measuring cups and spoons, a spatula, whisk and grater.
Right now, Crate & Barrel is offering $50 off the 12-inch All-Clad stainless steel frying pan ($149.99), while West Elm is selling a very good non-stick 12-inch fry pan by Greenpan for half price (at $24.99). Macy’s is having a huge sale on knife sets including an 8-piece set of Zwilling J.A. Henckels knives on sale for $169 (original $357). As for cookbooks, I love Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything,” but for a more personal touch, consider assembling your own favorite recipes.
A new ride: If your grad is moving to the big city (or a college campus), help him or her save on transportation costs (those subways, taxis and Ubers add up) by giving him or her shiny, new city cruiser bike. Since it’s probably best for your grad to get properly sized, opt for a gift card to a local bike shop, which will include a free fitting, and then wrap up the gift card with a few accessories, like a new lock, basket or a helmet. I found 10 percent off some locks, baskets and helmet at Target, and some helmets at Target qualify toward a $20 gift card with a $100 purchase.
A personal stylist: If your grad is lucky, he or she will have some big job interviews on the horizon. So give a gift that will help land that high-paying gig: the perfect interview suit. Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, J.Crew and Neiman Marcus all offer free one-on-one consultations with personal shoppers. Just book an appointment online or via phone for your grad, make a day of it together and be there to foot the bill. If you can’t be there in person, give them a gift card to shop with.
A sweet bond: I’m not talking about an emotional bond between you and your grad. You already know you can’t buy that! I’m talking about an actual government-issued EE savings bond, available now only at TreasuryDirect.gov. While the interest is negligible at first (it’s currently 0.3 percent), it’s guaranteed to double in value by its maturity date, meaning that in 20 years a $250 bond will be worth $500. While your generosity may be met with a polite smile and a shrug now, in another two decades, I guarantee that you’ll get a more heartfelt thank-you, one that will surely be worth the wait.
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The Best Frugal Gifts for New Graduates originally appeared on usnews.com
