Graduation Gifting Etiquette: What To Get and How Much To Spend

Graduation gifts are wonderful, meaningful markers of a person’s academic achievements. While graduation gifts should be memorable, they don’t always have to be expensive or elaborate! Here I have compiled a guide to graduation gifting etiquette: what to get and how much to spend!

1) Blank Journal

This would be a great gift for a graduating person who enjoys writing, and or journaling their life events and experiences. A pretty, blank journal would be perfect for a person who would like to write about their life after University. There are lots of handmade journals available, for an extra special touch.

2) Wine Glasses

When the person graduating finally gets out into the real world after graduation, working hard, paying the rent and bills, and trying to balance work and play, the chances are, they’ll need a calming glass of wine once in a while! Gift them a classy, grown-up set of wine glasses to add a touch of refinement and elegance to their kitchen, and to their wine-drinking experience!

3) Personalised Graduation Award

This is a light-hearted, humorous gift that can easily be transferred and displayed at the graduate’s new place of residence when they move, following graduation. Personalised glass graduation awards are available on Amazon, for circa £28.00, so this gift won’t break the bank!

4) Personalised ‘Graduate’ Mug

No gift guide is complete without the advocation of a cheesy personalised mug! Like many of the graduation gifts being mentioned, this is not only a cute graduation gift option, but also a functional one that can be taken and used at the person’s new home!

5) Picture Frame

A sentimental picture frame is the perfect, touching gift for a graduate who is about to move away from home and into their own place in the real world! Select a meaningful picture from a really good day during their time at university, that they can take with them to their new place and put up on display, to remind them of their fond memories! There are some beautiful picture frames available to purchase at John Lewis.

6) Personalised Phone Case

Considering a phone is something people carry around with them, there can be no greater reminder of you than the gift of a personalised phone case! These can be commissioned relatively cheaply via online services, or even at Kiosks in various malls, and the design options are endless! You could opt to personalise the case by having a name or photograph printed on it for example, or having a phrase that means a lot to the person printed on it. Get your creative cap on and have fun with it!

7) Tablet

If you have a healthy graduation gift budget, then it may be worth looking into purchasing a tablet. Although these devices are on the expensive side of the gift spectrum, no doubt a tablet will be a much-appreciated gift for the graduate who is moving away (which can be expensive!) and in need of a laptop or tablet for work or entertainment purposes.

8) Pressure Cooker

This is a super useful gift that will come in handy for life in the real world, following University. I would recommend the ‘Slow Cook’ which can be found on – Amazon UK for £99.99 – as it has a variety of uses including sautéing, steaming, cake making, pasteurising, yogurt making, cooking rice, and warming food. Given that this nifty appliance can do so much, it would be incredibly useful for when the person doesn’t have the time and/or energy to come home and cook in the evening after a tiring day at work. So, although the ‘Slow Cook’ is slightly expensive as far as kitchen appliances go, it is worth it!

What gifts are you considering purchasing for your loved ones’ graduation! Tell us in the comments!

Featured image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/2RouMSg9Rnw