My parents gave me diamond stud earrings at the restaurant where we went for dinner after HS graduation (1994). After college graduation I received a matching necklace. Neither were very expensive, but both were nice and thoughtful.

My husband received a car after HS graduation and golf clubs for college graduation. The car was a surprise. The clubs were what he wanted.

High school: A very nice dinner with the whole family and my boyfriend.

College: Well, they paid for my wedding just 2 months after graduation, so I'll count that (not the same guy as HS boyfried!)

PhD: A beautiful pair of pearl drop earrings that I still wear frequently.

For our kids:

High school: #1 got a weekend trip to NY; #2 went to Tiffany to pick out a piece of jewelry (we gave her a limit!), and #3 hasn't gotten anything yet. He graduated last year, and he never could decide what he wanted despite our (my) pestering. I really need to get him something. Maybe a Tag, haha.

College: Only one has graduated from college. She moved to NYC right after graduation for a job. We set up her new apartment for her - first mont's rent/deposit (maybe it was first + last, I can't remember), furniture, kitchen things. Nothing fancy but decent quality and comfortable.

Her sister has already decided that she wants to go on a trip to Yellowstone and Glacier when she graduates from college. And the youngest? Who knows what he'll want.

We try to tailor the present to the wants/needs of the individual kid, keeping the amount somewhere in the same ballpark.

High school: luggage
College: 4 yrs of tuition, room and board

Anonymous wrote:My dad got me an evening with a stripper.

Nice!!! Your son or daughter probably really shingles themselves

High school? They gave me a nice fan to use in the dorm room, that I used for years afterwards.

College? New Toyota!

Anonymous wrote:I’m old. I got a typewriter for HS graduation. It was a state of the art one with a readout that allowed you to type and proofread before actually printing. I doubt many typewriters were produced after that- computers were already common. Nothing for college graduation, although my parents sold me one of their old Volvos for very little $.

I got a typewriter too! From my grandparents. I must be older than you because I didn't get any fancy readout.

I don't remember what my parents got me for high school graduation. For college graduation I got airfare to Europe to do the obligatory backpacking trip. I think I paid for the rest of it.

Maybe some cash?

My friends got cars.

Got a new Accord (early 90s) for HS graduation - i already had a car, but I was going out of state and they wanted me to have a safe car to drive to/from school (about 600 miles each way)

Got a diamond tennis bracelet for college graduation. I had them return it. I was was going to be working in an urban/underserved/underfunded high school. I wasn't going to wear it to work - and it just didn't sit right with me to wear a 2k bracelet while kids I taught were hungry. My parents did send me $300/month for a year or so to help with rent.

My dad got me an evening with a stripper.

Anonymous wrote:I'm laughing at the people so proud of themselves for not expecting a gift because their parents had already paid for college. Don't assume those of us who got taken out to dinner or a trip or a mattress got that after also getting a paid-for college experience. Except Tag Hauer bro, he definitely did.

Lol at all of these. I guess my gift was them finally filling out the FAFSA so I could get financial aid, but not in time to get me the best lower interest loans.

Anonymous wrote:HS..nothing. They paid for a lot of my college.
College.. a necklace.

Do kids really expect a big gift for graduation from college when parents likely just paid for college?

I didn’t expect gifts, but my Mom was sentimental, and I got graduation gifts and a party — that I argued against — after I finished grad school. Now, though, those gifts and the party really mean a lot to me. Many of us have very few rituals and ceremonies in our lives. It doesn’t have to be a “big gift” — but a meaningful gift, possibly a family heirloom, would be nice. I have a friend that does albums and videos for her kids, that include significant life events from their births through HS graduation. I think this is a wonderful and deeply loving gift.

HS..nothing. They paid for a lot of my college.
College.. a necklace.

Do kids really expect a big gift for graduation from college when parents likely just paid for college?

My parents said good job and that was it.

For HS, my best gift was to spend the summer exploring and playing tourist in DC, spending time with friends and family— instead of getting a summer job. It was glorious!

Other memorable gifts from other graduations : a strand of pearls and a Montblanc pen. I still have and cherish them both.
Not a graduation gift, but over the years, my Dad gave me pieces of luggage to make a set. I still have, cherish and appreciate them too, even though I don’t use them for travel.

I'm laughing at the people so proud of themselves for not expecting a gift because their parents had already paid for college. Don't assume those of us who got taken out to dinner or a trip or a mattress got that after also getting a paid-for college experience. Except Tag Hauer bro, he definitely did.