Most kids starting out need a car....or a better car than what they have. I think cash would be the only way to go. This is so sweet of you! 🎓

Unless I know something they very specifically need…I do cash for college grads. HS grads are easier to find actual gifts for…the college grad kids seem to need/want/enjoy cold hard cash.😂

Crisp new bills for college grads.

Cash. It truly is the best gift for young people as they begin their new life. I do the same for wedding gifts.

I totally forgot to get my 13 and 11 yr. old something for Easter. I made a mental note which left my mind in two minutes. I had the cards and two wrinkled $10 bills, so I got online and learned how to make them brand new again. They came out nice and crisp!

Have you asked your son about ideas for his friends? I don't often give cash only gifts. For me, the thought that goes into selecting a personal gift makes the occasion and the gift that much more special -- even if it isn't a big gift. I still have a cookbook from an area bistro style restaurant my roommate's mother gave me for my college graduation. I have used it and remembered her for decades, even after she passed. It was small, but it was meaningful and I remember her now, even after she has passed.

Sometimes clues for unexpected things come to you in unexpected ways. I gave a friend of my son's a tuffet stool for her new apartment after I happened to see her post about it on FB, saying it would look great in her new apartment and she hoped they still had it when she could afford it. I ordered it and also gave her some basic office/teaching supplies because I know how much teachers spend out of pocket for their classes.

My nephew wasn't sure of his future job but wanted a leather backpack, so that was what he got, but my son's short roommate got a breif bag because he was going to be teaching at a middle school where the students were about his height and all carrying backpacks. My son now has both -- the backpack was from Levenger.

I gave one of his student teaching roommates a gift card for some flats I knew teachers liked (Tieks and Rothy's) and that she would not buy for herself. I've also given jewelry, from a silver bangle with an engraved quote (gifted with a hand blown glass dish that could be a jewelry catcher) to earrings or a special necklace. I've given a pen -- a precision pen for an engineering grad and a fountain pen for a law school grad to be a "signature pen", as well as travel or tech accessories (packing cubes, jewelry roll or case, chargers, power adapters, passport case) for grads who were about to take a big trip or travel a lot for work.

I might also consider this year a method of gifting that helps the people of Ukraine. I'm thinking this as I type, but I may include a card with Ukrainian art (there are downloads on Etsy) or some items from Ukraine -- I saw jewelry, Ukrainian art eggs, tealight holders, embossing rolling pin with sunflowers. Most are small and could be paired with a gift card or cash. Thinking about it for a graduation gift I am still figuring out.

I would think cash would always be welcome. A year's subscription to the online version of the NY Times, Washington Post or Wall Street Journal also might be appreciated if these are people who like that sort of thing.

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions, especially Lascatx. I really appreciate the time and thought that you put into your reply. Talking to my son is indeed a great first step.

As is the case with many occasions, i do agree that the bulk of the gift should be allocated to legal tender. But I hate to give *just* cash and adding in small silly or thoughtful personal gift just makes it more of an occasion than a balance transfer.

I was going to suggest some sugar cookies in their mascot (recalling, I think, that your DD does cookies on the side?) But I bet she is very busy with her own cookie now! : )

Jojo, oh my gosh! And I can see you in your daughter's sliver of a profile! Awwwwww

Yeah, I’m totally smitten ( and my daughter is my mini me— were both a little salty that holden looks just like his father .)

OMG -- I didn't realize how long that reply got! Sorry about that, but I was thinking of ideas and what I have done most recently. But that grandson or yours --and a mini me! Awwwwww.

I have given money inside a travel coffee mug…also thought of a good all purpose cookbook and a gift card to the local grocery, if they’re not going to be living at home. Like mtn, I always try to give money along with something fun.

My go-to high school graduation gift is a gift card for the future college bookstore along with an item that I also ordered from the book store, like a water bottle, lanyard for dorm room key, etc.

That baby is just scrumptious!! 💕 Definitely sweeter than a cookie!

What an adorable baby! She is just precious!

Oh, that pumpkin, jo jo, how precious!

Land sakes what an adorable sweet child!!!

So sweet; hardly anything better than having them fall asleep on you!

Like SueB: My go-to high school graduation gift is a gift card for the future college bookstore along with an item that I also ordered from the book store, like a water bottle, lanyard for dorm room key, etc.

But depending on whom I am giving to, sometimes I wrap the bookstore giftcard up in an afghan or quilt that I've made.

I got my husband a nice leather trimmed canvas travel duffle bag for a Christmas gift one year. That might make a nice graduation gift. I traveled a lot after college, I was unencumbered then but did not have much practical to pack with.

My DS finished his undergrad last semester, but will be part of the graduation ceremony with his friends next month as well. We have already given him a very generous monetary gift (equal to the money saved from his maintaining a scholarship all 4 years), but I am stumped about a more personal gift.

He doesn't need or want luggage (especially not fancy luggage). Only guys really into fashion wear a traditional watch nowadays (and he has one). He hates handwriting so fancy pens are out. His phone and laptop are new. He has a "briefcase" he uses for school. Totally stumped. All i can think of is an Apple Watch tho he has never expressed interest in one. Got him a standing fancy globe for HS graduation. He will prob live here for a year while he finishes grad school, so won't need apartment stuff. I would not buy him a car and set a precedent. He doesn't need a suit or sportcoat. Am I missing something?

Mtn - What about a sterling silver belt buckle with an aligator belt strip?

Pork, that is an interesting one!

FYI your phraseology gave me a start. A young woman in our office, prob 5 years since she left, used to wear a belt that had a big alligator clasp. I always wanted it. She tended to wear it with all black, and it just looked stunning on her (did not hurt she had a supermodel vibe to begin with). I could never pull it off but one of my fashionista DD might. Anyway, on my way home from the office yesterday, for some reason this "alligator belt" came to mind and I started thinking about trying to find one. So a quick read of your idea and I am like "what?" a guy wearing something like this?:

(and this will teach people for scanning threads, as they try to imagine this as a grad gift for a young man!?)

Back on topic; where would you look for a "luxury" men's belt? BB?

Tiffany used to sell them, but someone mentioned to me recently that they don’t have them anymore. My DH’s buckle and black calfskin strap came from there.

His aligator strap came from BD Jeffiries. I’m pretty sure they sell buckles too.

https://www.bdjeffries.com/index.php/

Thank you, @porkandham, those are very nice!

If I know of something the graduate would want or could use, I would rather give something personal instead of money. I love the idea of something leather - a bookbag, computer case, business card holder (you could do matching wallet), etc. If all else fails, cash and a little something personal. FWIW, I rarely see young men wearing watches (phones) and I'm trying to think of a male I know with an apple watch. It seems they are worn more by women.

A nice touch for a young man - if you are giving cash - is a monogrammed money clip.

Congratulations to all the upcoming graduates.

Mnt, Does your son like maps by any chance? Antique maps have saved me with my eldest.

Mtn, maybe an experience versus a physical item? DH took DS to see Hamilton in NYC and did some other things there for a guys’ weekend, just the two of them. We also paid his first month rent and security, etc. as he got a job far from home right after graduation, and other ”financial aid” setting up his apt. Obviously that part doesn’t apply in your case.

My very overused gift idea for those I don't know well is a yeti cup with a gift card. Not all that creative but always received well. When my BFF's son graduated, I did a larger yeti water bottle, a travel/sketch journal and this set of caramels in addition to his monetary gift. He was going on a cross country roadtrip/adventure so it was fitting.

For my own family, I usually try to give money and gifts to prepare them for the professional lives and living on their own. Since none of that is needed for your son, @mtnrdredux_gw, I might go with something like..

• An experience: a sailing trip, flying lessons (do i remember he's already done this?), a mountain trek (I especially like the symbolism of scaling a peak)
• A special "piece" : art, good quality telescope, antique something related to his profession. (When my nephew graduated, I got him a vintage WWII map with handwritten field notes-- he selected it but we shopped for it together so it was both an experience hitting the antique stores and a gift for him to treasure/hang).

Regarding Apple watches-- they are definitely worn by men here. Of course many of the men in my circle are techies so that may have something to do with it. My nephew and BILs wear non-apple watches and more as jewelry (their phones are their timekeepers).

Super ideas, as usual, I will discuss them all with DH ... we still have a month or so. I also need to be mindful of precedent setting, since he is the oldest of our 3.

Tina, I gave DH a money clip when we were dating and he still uses it.

Zalco, He is a total geography geek. We have hit on that past time heavily for gifts for years.

Sue, LOL "financial aid package." A father/son trip is a really nice idea. They all got 16th bday trips but I didn't think about graduation.

Funky, He has a pilot license, but I'm sure he'd like to go to the next level. Love the "peak" idea. Where did you find a vintage WWII map with handwritten field notes? He talks about history, WWII in particular, so much that it is now a running joke. : ) His field is Data Analytics so hard to think of a gift for that.

Mtn, Oh, data analytics. Does he have all the Edward Tufte books? They are gorgeous tomes on how to represent data.

https://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/books_vdqi

My husband suggested a book, but it is some advanced text, nothing pretty, or special looking at all.

Self-organizing maps, by Kohonenen. (but we are back to maps ;-)

Zalco, One of his profs taught a lot of Tufte, not sure what book(s) DS has. I remember it because it was while he was working remotely during COVID and he shared a lot of it with me, since that is kinda my thing, too. Very cool stuff.

IDK about Self-organizing maps, have not heard that term. Off to Google. Thanks!

Mtn, my nephew was very involved in the WWII historical community-- pre-career on the seas and pre-baby, he was very involved in WWII reenactments. That community is vast and strong and he had a lot of connections-- I believe he had identified the antique shops to check out based on this. He is now living in NE now (Durham, NH) and his interest hasn't waned so I will reach out to him to see if he has any suggestions on where to shop in Boston/Maine area.

Not sure how much nephew liked this (he often reports back on gifts-- but hasn't on this one) -- but Levenger and Big A carry a line of collectable pens (Retro 51 Vintage Metalsmith) that are styled after various WWII planes. They are pretty inexpensive (under $50 on Levenger) so even if he doesn't actually use them to write, they are kinda cool.

Wow,Funky, that is cool. I think maybe his sisters, who roll their eyes when he and DH (and basicially any male over 10 it seems), get started, might like to give him the pens.

Thank you!

PS Jojoco, sorry for the hijack. Back to your cookie! (s)

Mtn, is right! I thought it was Jojo, but it's your daughter. Is it weird if I say DS1 is my mini-me? lol