I would give money in a nice card. It really is universally appreciated.

Yes. A check in a card is always welcome.

Or maybe with a microplane? See lemon thread. (:

I JUST asked my lunch group this question #1DS gets his hood Saturday.

He gets married this summer and had been very vocal about all the gifting. It is not his thing. I went with a token--Starbucks gift card. He turned my offer to take him out for a good steak into grilling at his place for Mother's Day.

I'd give him a personalized Visa gift card. I've used this site before several times for gifts, and have been very pleased with the end products.

https://www.giftcards.com/graduation-gift-cards

(But you could always throw in a microplane ... or a glass juicer. ;-))

I've given a few gift cards to guys in something like this. Make him use his engineering brain! They are quite fun:

Seriously, VISA or maybe Amazon gift card, or cash. I had NO money and graduation is expensive with fees, cap and gown, etc. Plus, they are getting cut from their graduate assistantship most likely--argh. I was fortunate that I had a job lined up.

Well money it is, easy peasey. Love the money puzzle maze too. Looks like it will arrive on time so I will give that a try, will have to test one out to make sure it will work with cash. The puzzle will surely

make a gift card/money gift a bit more fun .

Ida, Thank you for the personalized Visa idea, that is new to me, think I will get one for my son’s birthday coming up.

Thank you everyone!

When I read the title of this thread, my first thought was, “OMG, did I post this and then forgot it?!?” Our own DD receives her Masters next week in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. And, I’ve been trying to come up with answers to this same question for friends and family. My answer is a gift card or money.

These “kids” having been going to college and grad school for at least 6 years now, most working one to two part time jobs in addition to their internships and classes. (DD has been working two). They’ve most likely been accruing a lot of student loan debt that they’re going to have to start paying back soon. And, most of them are so ready to stop being poor students and start living some sort of a normal life! Money in one form or another is really the perfect gift. To help with moving expenses; Perhaps to help buy some much needed decent furniture finally; to possibly buy business type clothes for their new jobs; for a long overdue vacation; a down payment on health and or car insurance until they get enough paychecks to keep their head above water financially, or until their new job’s insurance kicks in, etc., etc.

Our DD is on a little vacation right now that we sent her on to visit her sorority sisters back at OU. She needed that down-time off so badly! And, as she’s already gotten a (great!!!) job that she’ll be starting soon, we’re helping her furnish her own office with artwork, lamps, etc. And, then helping her add to her (somewhat) business type clothes befitting her new job. Oh, and Dad wants to buy our sweet graduate a “significant piece of jewelry to remember this occasion by”.

So, as the mom of two “kids” who both went through college and grad school, that would be my suggestion: Money.

DS has been working full time as an Electrical Engineer for four years. He company paid for the Masters in Statistics. He and his fiance make PLENTY of money. They will be fine but I did want to mark the occasion.

Same situation as Arcy. SIL did his MBA while working full time. $$ can always be used but thoughts on something tangible he could have to remember and Marie Kondo later? ha ha

The maze says it works for cash and cards - I've only used it for cards. But a hammer will work for getting either out, if all else fails, lol!

A little OT - Any suggestions for my 57 year old sister who is getting her Masters in Public Health Policy in September? Money really doesn't work for her as she is a very successful dental hygienist.

blfenton, You could get her a nice memento from the campus bookstore like a wine/beer glass, travel mug, business card holder, picture frame, or even a diploma frame.

Meaningful gifts - Think about something you have received. Something you still cherish and remember the giver after 10 years.

Business card holder and picture frame are both good ideas. She likes antique accessories for her home so I could go that way for a frame. Thanks

Congratulations on all the accomplished degree-earners! I love reading threads like this--so inspirational. As unimaginative as it is, I agree that cash in some form is best for these graduates. I struggled through grad school, and getting started on the other side is still challenging. Any cash amount would be appreciated.

When my nephew obtained his masters, he was working full time too. I gave cash and attended graduation - a surprise, he didn't know I was coming. He obtained his masters while a working married father of three, all three beginning college in the then next 5 years. The hope was he'd use the money for something for himself with finally some time to get back to his running and hiking that had been put on a back burner for months. I sent flowers with a card to his wife. She contributed greatly to his being able to take the time to study.

An engineering degree, wish I'd seen Oly's maze presentation.

We are attending our son's fiancée's graduation tomorrow (speaker: Stacey Abrams), and I had been wringing my hands about what to get her. After mulling over many ideas, I had decided to give her cash. Reading this thread is very reassuring. I am also going to box up a pair of (small) diamond earrings that I was given years and years ago that I seldom (never) wear. I think she'll like them. I also made my Luxury Lemon Cake (an extravagant pound cake) with lots of lemon zest therein, to be served afterwards at the luncheon at her parents' house!

Kkay, I agree about the cash, but perhaps in a gift card?

Eld—but of course!

I saw picture frame mentioned above. I wonder if it would make sense to go a step further and get a gift card to a framing store. Framing those diplomas gets pricy! And sometimes (usually) they’re odd sizes so stock frames don’t quite work.

We gave our kids cash when they graduated with their undergraduate degrees and then again when the 2 boys received their MBA and Law degrees. We also wanted to give them something tangible and useful (neither son wears jewelry nor watches) - so we bought both of them Coach briefcases and I'm happy to report that 15 years later they both still use them. We gave our daughter a small emerald and diamond pendant - her birthstone and the month she graduated.

It's interesting that none of them wanted their diplomas framed - and I've offered to pay for it. But no one in their offices have diplomas on the walls. My husband had all of his framed but he worked in his own office and all the doctors had their diplomas on the walls.

Bumped by known you-know-what.