School’s almost out for summer! Need some cheap graduation gift ideas?
The end of the school year is upon us, and we’re getting ready to celebrate seniors and the class of 2021! Even though the Coronavirus pandemic may have had a big impact on their last year of school, it won’t stop us from celebrating all the graduates out there! 🎉Here are a few unique but super-useful, fun, and affordable graduation gift ideas they’ll be sure to love and actually use.
The best part? All of these graduation gifts are under $15! 👏
1. Gift a cute ID lanyard wallet that they’ll actually want to wear around campus.
Leather Badge Holder | from $6.97
An ID lanyard is a sure way for any future college kid to roam around campus and know exactly where their ID and wallet are. Since this one is so cute, they’ll never look for an excuse not to wear it!
Looking for something a little more masculine? These retractable lanyards are made of linen and are extremely versatile.
2. Gift a rolling laundry basket on wheels to make laundry trips easier.
Sterilite Wheeled Laundry Basket | $15
While this gift idea may not seem super fun, it sure is practical for your student when they go off to college or move into an apartment where they’ll have to lug their clothes around. Pair it with some of our favorite laundry detergent and you’ll have a gift bundle you can be sure they’ll use!
“I loved the wheeled hamper my mom gave me when I went off to college! I lived on the 3rd floor and the laundry was in the basement so it was a life-saver!” – Chelsey
Hip Tip: If you don’t mind going over budget, you could also gift some personalized bath towels so your new college student won’t have to worry about people stealing their towels.
3. Make this easy money lei as a unique graduation gift idea!
DIY money Lei | The final cost is up to you!
This cute money Lei is such a fun graduation gift idea and a really simple DIY project! It’s perfect for any graduating senior, because who doesn’t love getting money?!
4. Write a note of encouragement with a Lovepop 3D card.
Lovepop 3D cards | from $13
If you like to keep things old school and send meaningful, handwritten cards via snail mail, Lovepop offers incredibly designed 3D graduation cards. While a lot of the graduation cards are on the pricier side, many of their options are blank, so depending on what your senior is into, there’s sure to be a card that will fit their personality perfectly!
Just keep in mind that the cards feel very thick due to the intricate designs, so you may feel compelled to add cash or a check so you don’t get a college kid’s hopes up when they feel the weight of the card. 🤣
Have a few people to buy for? When you buy 5 cards for $50, you’ll spend just $10 on each card (normally $13 EACH).
5. Use a Dollar Tree hamper to create a DIY college survival kit.
College Survival Kit | Under $15!
Have an old shoebox or hamper? You could decorate an old shoebox with some wrapping paper you have laying around or even pick up an affordable container/hamper from the Dollar Tree and fill it with some essentials that your senior will be likely to use when they go off to college.
Chances are you already have some stuff laying around the house to fill it with, but if you need some ideas, we’re adding some Command strips, Bandaids, an all-in-one tool, labels, stamps (to write home of course), super glue, and some baggie clips.
Here some additional fun ideas you can grab at Dollar Tree:
- flip flops for shower shoes
- earplugs and sleeping masks
- laundry detergent/dryer sheets
- laundry basket/laundry bags
- hangers
- food items like Ramen noodles & microwave popcorn
- shower gel and a loofah
- coffee mugs/cups and instant coffee
- hand soap/hand sanitizer
- personal care items like deodorant, toothpaste, etc.
“My mom gifted me a box of essentials when I went off to college and it was such a cute and unexpected idea. It ended up being something that I actually used a lot!” – Amber R.
6. Send them off with a book full of wisdom.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss | $8.98
An inspirational book can make make a great gift for a young person who’s setting off to make their own way in the world. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is a perfect choice for this momentous occasion, and it can double as a graduation card when you write your own words of wisdom inside the front cover.
Amazon.com has a ton of other great books to inspire graduates as they begin a new chapter of their lives. Browse them all here and then choose the perfect title for your grad!
7. Those with green thumbs will love this fun planter you can write on.
Face planter | $14.99
Draw on it, express how you’re feeling, have a place to set your glasses, or just enjoy a unique way to display a plant! This little planter will be a cute addition to any studious graduate’s dorm room desk, and it can also double as a pencil holder!
While you’ll have to spend some extra dough if you want to have an actual plant in it, we think it would make a great gift idea! Might I suggest going with a succulent? That way even those without green thumbs will have something to make them smile without the worry of keeping it alive.
Hip Tip: Did you know that college students can score a FREE Amazon Prime membership for 6 months?!
Check out these awesome college care packages for every budget!
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