ISO gift ideas for college-bound HS graduate

[Anonymous]

My niece is graduating from HS in June and heading off to college out of state in the fall. We would like to get her something useful but also somewhat momentous to mark the transition. I'm hesitant to go the jewelry route as my brother is pretty well off and likely to out do anything I could afford in that department (e.g. a nice watch). My budget is up to $250. Any suggestions appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Apple and/or iTunes gift certificate.

[Anonymous]

When I graduated from high school and was getting ready to leave for college, a close family friend gave me several hundred dollars worth of gift certificates to restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and other local stores near the college I was attending. One, they were extremely useful for a starving college student, and two, I got to use them throughout the course of the year and always thought of him every time I used one. Practical and fun to use! It was definitely the best graduation gift I received, and is the only one I remember 15 years later.

[Anonymous]

Gift certificates/gift cards is a great idea - very useful and something that all college students would get a lot of use out of (between decorating the dorm room, eating out, etc).

If you didn't want to use the whole $250 towards gift cards, you could do a couple of $25 or $50 gift cards then buy something else to go with it.

I used a Timbuk2 bag for 5 years, and I still have it and use it occasionally. That could be an option if she does not have something to use yet. They have everything from tote bags to messenger bags to pannier bags to backpacks.

[Anonymous]

I would not choose any kind of bag. It is really tough to gauge toe tastes of a high school girl.

[Anonymous]

condoms.

[Anonymous]

condoms.

Good one!

[Anonymous]

lol that is hilarious pp

[Anonymous]

I love 11:10's idea!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, an umbrella was one of the best gifts I got before going to college. I never thought to get one myself and I used it a LOT around campus. You could give some practical things like that along with a bigger gift card to some stores.

[Anonymous]

I like the gift cards idea so the college student will be able to spend their own money and not their parents. That helps to make them responsible and realize how much stuff costs.

[Anonymous]

Seed money for a new company. College won't be worth her time or money. She might as well try to create her own job.