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Don’t leave your grad hangin’.
Wondering about the best graduation gifts for young people on the verge of adulting? Nab one from our curated list and ensure that they don’t end up unwrapping a clunker.
1) Bone conduction headphones
Brookstone has a ton of great gift ideas for your gadget-loving grad, like these high-tech bone conduction headphones. Millennials always have their dang headphones in, so music quality is important to them. These headphones pump out the jams, to be sure, but the bone conducting tech sends vibrations as well. This will keep your grad alert, even when their tunes are turned all the way up. The wrap-around design blares out clear, distortion-free sound that will make multi-tasking a breeze.
Price on Brookstone: $99 (regularly $129.99)
2) Luxe Bidet Neo
Wiping is so last century. Millennials know this. Every toilet deserves to be upgraded into a bidet with this simple accessory. Once installed, washing up after your grad does their business will feel as if they’re in a penthouse suite. In France! With only a month or two of use, it will become a massive investment, considering your grad won’t be spending all their extra cash on piles of toilet paper. Plus, the chrome plated knobs make this accessory sleek AF.
Price on Amazon: $35
3) Vincero watches
In today’s digital age, the last thing millennials want is another device to keep up with. What they really want is a way to feel as confident as their Instagram makes them seem. The luxury watches at Vincero have been crafted with the highest quality materials to make the wearer look and feel unstoppable. If you really want to impress your graduating millennial, take it back to basics with a classic watch that will get them noticed on and off the internet. Take 15% off your order with special code DAILY at checkout.
Price on Vincero: $119+
4) GiftCards.com
Afraid of getting the wrong gift? Just give them gift cash! GiftCards.com is the leading gift card website, with over eight million gift cards sold. It’s their mission to provide convenience & safety for gift card buyers and recipients by offering personalized electronic gift cards with custom greetings. Visa Gift Cards are their most popular and can be customized with a photo and message. EGift Cards can be purchased for many top brands like Visa, Best Buy, Target and more and are delivered within minutes via email. Buyers can earn G-Money reward points when you buy select gift card brands and eGift card brands which can be redeemed for future purchases.
Price: Varies
5) Krups 6-slice convection toaster oven
Face it: your grad doesn’t need a big oven to themselves. Lucky for them, this toaster oven is a tiny powerhouse. It heats up fast while being totally energy efficient. Not only can your foodie grad roast an entire chicken, beef, or pork roast, they can toast up to six slices of bread. It can even fit a massiv12-inchch pizza! It’s a great kitchen appliance for grads in the transition from dorm room to “normal living area.”
Price on Amazon: $123
6) Blue Apron
With their diplomas in hand and hearts full of moxie, grads are eager to graduate from the microwave they’ve endured for four years. Get them started on this new foodie frontier with a meal kit from Blue Apron. Choose from a rotating selection of delicious, chef-designed meal offerings, catered to any taste and diet. A meal plan for two means leftovers for your favorite hungry grad, but there are family-sized boxes for four too. Blue Apron will mail farm-fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and simple instructions to anyone’s door—no unnecessary waste. Sign up now and get $50 off your first two weeks.
Price on Blue Apron: from $8.99 per serving
7) State & Liberty dress shirts
These are the perfect shirt for the fit grad entering the work force for the first time. They are wrinkle free, moisture wicking and machine washable (no more dry cleaning!). They come with an athletic cut that fits in the chest and is still trim at the waist – no more parachute dress shirts. Use code RECENTGRAD for 10% off your first order on these.
8) Homesick scented candle
Even grads that hated school will eventually get wistful for their college days. And what’s more reminiscent of years of study than the smell of a pile of new, over-priced textbooks? This candle smells like that, along with cherry blossoms and stone buildings. You know, college stuff. Unlike a Gender Studies textbook, this candle is totally affordable.
Price on Amazon: $29
9) Fred Party Cup
The red Solo cup is a college mainstay, but your grad can do better when it comes to getting toasted. This cup is not only environmentally friendly, it’s super fancy. The plated steel keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. It can hold up to 16 ounces of refreshing liquid and is available in Gold, Copper, and Rainbow plated offerings. Fancy!
Price on Amazon: $16
10) Sugru moldable glue, 8-pack
Grads may know tons of fancy book learning but can occasionally stumble when it comes to old-fashioned handiwork. No worries! Sugru is totally user-friendly with those who squirm at the thought of picking up a hammer. This moldable glue is ideal for a slew of home DIY projects and fix-it jobs. It bonds to glass, ceramic, wood, metal and even most plastics, and is almost completely weatherproof. It seals, it bonds, and it fixes. Plus, it’s fun to use. If your grad can use Play-Doh, they can use Sugru.
Price on Amazon: $22
11) Nintendo Switch
The latest Nintendo console isn’t just a joy to behold, it’s a cultural touchstone. Finally, there’s a way for your grad to play Zelda, Mario, Splatoon, and soon, Super Smash Bros. anywhere. When the Switch is in its dock, it’s an awesome home console for the entire family to enjoy. But the selling point for this baby is that it can be played on the go. Each console comes with a dock and two Joy-Cons to play right out of the box.
Price on Amazon: $299
12) Nespresso Essenza espresso machine
Everyone knows grads are fueled by ample amounts of coffee. But why should they shell out money anytime they need a caffeine fix? The miracle machine is like a live-in barista. Using pods, a simple click of a button makes espresso shots or full cups of coffee. All they need is a little dairy and some flavored syrups before they completely break up with Starbucks.
Price on Amazon: $144
13) Xbox Game Pass
“Work hard, play hard.” We say it all the time. This graduation season, put your money where your mouth is by gifting your hard-working grad an Xbox Game Pass. Get unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games on Xbox One, including new exclusives like Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2, for one low monthly price. Discover and download titles you’ve always wanted to play or revisit favorites that you’ve been missing. With new games added every month, Xbox Game Pass is your ticket to endless play.
Price: 14 days free, $9.99/a month after
14) Star Wars levitating Death Star Bluetooth speaker
No, it’s not a moon. It is in fact, a bluetooth speaker shaped like a the death machine from the original Star Wars. It delivers 360 degrees of uncompromising sound quality for up to five hours on a single charge. Unlike other Bluetooth speakers, it floats on its platform as if it were in orbit. What’s keeping it up? Is it the Force? Who knows, but it’s definitely the most amazing speaker this side of Dagobah.
Price on Amazon: $98 (regularly $179)
15) ASUS Flip Chromebook
Not sure wether your grad needs a netbook or a tablet? Don’t settle for either – get them both! Luckily, the ASUS Flip Chromebook is a twofer. It comes with 4GB of ram and operates as a dedicated internet surfing and professional work machine. When it comes to chilling, they can transition it into a tablet with a working touchscreen and webcam. It works for up to nine hours at a time with a single charge.
Price on Amazon: $329
16) Samsonite luggage
Before your grad dives headfirst into the real world, there’s a good chance they’ll be traveling abroad. Why not send them off in style and security with a Samsonite luggage case? This 28-inch beast is lightweight and built with total mobility in mind when your grad is zipping through TSA. The side-mounted locks ensure nobody will have access to your belongings when traveling. It’s also available in seven colors.
Price on Amazon: $109 (regularly $189)
17) Kodak Printomatic instant camera
No matter what generation grads are from, nobody is safe from the clarion call of nostalgia. Sometimes, even tech savvy grads need to take a picture on something that isn’t a smartphone. This 10 megapixel camera develops instantly, just like in ye olde days. Don’t worry, there’s a slot for a micro SD card for grads to save photos to, in case the charm of instant gratification wears off.
Price on Amazon: $70
18) Multi-function desk pad
Nothing makes a grad entering the workforce more desirable to employers more than flexibility. With this multi-function desk pad, the world is their office. Once it rolls out, your grad-turned-dutiful worker will have a 31 x 15 inch work space for their laptop, mouse, and other office accouterments. It’s waterproof so it protects from the occasional spills when your grad is hitting their deadline. Best of all, once work is done, all they have to do is roll it up. It’s available in five bold colors to match any aesthetic.
Price on Amazon: $20
19) Charcoal memory foam mattress
Instead of buying your grad a new bed, just upgrade the one they have. This charcoal memory foam mattress makes even the dingiest mattress new again. The four inch thick hypoallergenic memory foam resists bacterial growth and regulates moisture and temperature. Plus, simply laying on one melts away pressure point pain after a long day, while supporting the lower back allowing the spine to stay neutral. Not to mention, it’s cheaper than a new mattress.
Price on Amazon: $105 (regularly $175)
20) Core Max Ab Machine
Help your grad lose that college flab without having to shell out cash for a gym membership. Using a tool that tucks away under a bed, they can burn away fat and tone muscle in only eight minutes a day. Yes, it’s made with crunches in mind, but there are eight workouts with three resistance levels. There’s even a companion DVD with exercises to inspire your grad to get active.
Price on Amazon: $54
MORE BAZAAR DEALS:
- 5 gifts for minimalists that are chic and practical
- 12 essentials every grad needs to succeed as an adult
- The best graduation gift ideas for any budget
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