It’s officially the season of caps and gowns. Celebrate with these graduation gift ideas before the newly minted scholar enters the workforce.
Don’t overthink it. Your grad doesn’t want their name engraved on some weird pewter figurine of an owl. Instead of buying them an overpriced paperweight, give them something practical. You know, stuff that will help them “adult.” We’ve curated some of the best deals for every budget that will make any grad beam with happiness.
Graduation gift ideas under $25
1) Magnetic phone holder
When it comes to driving around with a smartphone, safety should be everyone’s first priority. This handy accessory slides into any car’s air vent, so you can slap your iPhone onto it. A magnet holds it in place, so you’re not tempted to fumble with it when you should be driving. Even if your grad is simply flipping through songs on a playlist, they won’t be distracted from the road.
Price: $13.99
2) Tervis customizable tumblers
Show your grad how proud you are that they survived four grueling years. Support them with a gift they can use every day: a customizable tumbler. Pair it with their favorite beverage of choice. Whether they prefer iced coffee over iced tea or beer over water, Tervis has all kinds of different containers with fun patterns and lovely motivational words. They make an easy, thoughtful gift, and they’ll smile every time they take a sip.
Price: $14.99+
3) 3-in-1 core fitness kit
After four years of sustaining on ramen and Little Caesar’s, your grad is likely a little thick around the waist. Help them get back to fighting form with this three in one workout kit. It comes with an easy to use ab roller with mat, jump rope, and push-up bar. Used in tandem, their flab will melt away in months. In a year, it will be so solid they could run for governor of California.
Price: $19.99
4) Logitech multi-device wireless keyboard
Despite the fact that the world is inundated with touch screens, keyboards aren’t going away anytime soon. This keyboard is not only super portable, but it’s also super-adaptable to any office situation. Yes, it connects to Macs and PCs, but it also connects to your smartphones and tablets. It’s the ultimate office pal for grads entering the office workforce.
Price on: $23.89
5) Smartphone camera lens kit
Grads love taking selfies, but with a few handy accessories, their humble smartphone camera can become something way better. This lens kit comes with eight lenses from fisheye to telephoto. Simply affix them to your smartphone’s camera lens and shoot as usual. The set even comes with a handy carrying case so your grad won’t lose any when they’re taking pics of their dang lunch.
Price: $23.99
6) OontZ Angle portable Bluetooth speaker
Whether they’re zipping around in their cars or crashing a party, this Bluetooth speaker is the perfect accessory to get up and groove. It connects to any smartphone, tablet, or PC and amplifies it for everyone around to hear. Once it’s charged, it stays that way for up to 12 hours. It’s also weatherproof just in case some June gloom rolls around.
Price: $25
Graduation gift ideas under $50
7) Blue Apron
With their diplomas in hand and hearts full of moxie, grads are eager to graduate from the tyranny of 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. Sign up now</> to get $50 off your first two boxes.—no unnecessary waste.
8) Amazon Fire TV with Alexa voice remote
When grads want to kick back, you can bet they’re streaming. And there’s no better way to stream than with Fire TV. Gain access to half a million TV episodes and movies using Netflix, Hulu, and of course, Prime Video. And because it’s powered by Alexa, you can also command her to play your favorite shows, look up weather and news, or even order a pizza.
Price: $39.99 (regularly $49.99)
9) Oster ceramic griddle
For grads who are new to making meals that don’t start by pushing numbers on a microwave, getting this griddle is step one into turning them into a polished chef. It’s practically fail-proof when it comes to making breakfast staples like pancakes, eggs, and sausage. But that’s just the beginning! Because it gets rip-roaring hot and is easy to clean, everything from chicken cutlets to rib-eye steaks are welcome on this wide and beautiful cooking surface.
Price: $35.85 (regularly $41.99)
10) Sherpa comforter
After years of study, your grad has earned some well-deserved rest. This sherpa comforter is basically a big, cozy marshmallow for them to sleep on. One side is flannel, the other side sherpa, to suit all comforts and tastes. It’s ultra-soft and machine washable, unlike the fancier and more expensive offerings.
Price: $27
11) Shark Ultimate iron
As your grad enters the workforce, they’re going to have to look their best. This powerful iron will actually get them excited to get their clothes interview ready. It’s totally user-friendly with a huge eight-foot cord and anti-calcificati0n features. There’s even a filling flask so keeping the tank full will always be easy as pie.
Price: $46 (regularly $59.99)
12) Laptop backpack
After walking down the aisle with their diploma, the sight of a backpack might just send a grad into a panic. That aside, a great backpack is always welcome, whether they’re entering the workforce or having a lazy day in the park. This one is built with laptops in mind and will keep one snug and secure. Plus, there’s a place for them to charge their phones or USB devices. And with high-elasticity fabric, carrying their bulky tech around will be a breeze.
Price: $32.99
Graduation gift ideas under $100
13) Audio-Technica SonicFuel Bluetooth headphones
Bluetooth wireless technology, unbeatable comfort, and sound quality make SonicFuel headphones the perfect gift for any recent grad. This particular pair of Audio-Technicas are also foldable, so they can be tucked away into the safety of nearly any purse, briefcase or backpack.
Price: $86.99 (regularly $119)
14) Instant Pot Ultra, 3 quart
Post-graduate life is enough of a challenge as is, so dinner time should be as stress-free as possible. The Instant Pot is on just about ever Millennial’s wishlist for a reason. In minutes (not hours) this baby makes flawless one-pot dinners with the touch of a button. Pot roast, pulled pork, stir-fry, and even cakes are a breeze for this countertop workhorse.
Price: $99.95 (regularly $119.95)
15) Bissell Cleanview bagless vacuum
Nobody likes to vacuum, especially grads. With this upright vacuum, they may just look forward to the weekly sweeps. This vacuum works equally well on carpet and hardwood floors. And because there are no cumbersome bags, they’re a breeze to empty. One-pass tech ensures they won’t have to make three tours across their place to get it clean.
Price: $85.79 (regularly $89.99)
16) JORLAI 3-speed retro turntable
This turntable will satisfy every kind of music snob around. Yes, it plays music the way it was meant to be heard. But if your grad ever gets sick of playing their tunes the old-fashioned way, there’s another option. This machine will happily convert music to MP3 or WAV formats so they can be played on a phone, tablet, or other modern devices. Plus, the lightweight/natural wooden look is sleek AF.
Price: $39.99+
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