As another year of school ends, high school and college seniors are trading in their textbooks for diplomas and sending out graduation party invitations to all their friends and family members.
As a college student, you might have older friends who are graduating from college or younger ones who are finishing up their last year of high school.
Buying graduation presents for every one of your friends can be costly and take a toll on your bank account.
This year, save some of your cash and create personalized gifts on a budget for all of your graduating friends.
Personalized photographs
If the friend you’re shopping for is a close one, it’s likely you have taken many pictures together throughout the course of your relationship.
Create a scrapbook full of all your most precious memories. You can include pictures of the two of you at a sporting event, before going out or any other occasion that you want to cherish.
A scrapbook allows you to utilize multiple photos and add messages or decorations on each page if you want. Specialty stores that tend to be more expensive can be offset by several area craft stores such as Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store, 533 Mall Court in Lansing, and Hobby Lobby, 2775 E. Grand River Ave., by offering a variety of scrapbooking supplies.
Musical memories
Another way to share memories is through a mixtape or compact disc. A compilation of meaningful tunes is a thoughtful way to bring back old memories you have with a close friend.
You can include some of your friend’s favorite songs, a few numbers that were popular during the years the two of you spent together and some that you played frequently while getting ready to go out or studying for a tough exam.
If you already have these songs downloaded on your computer, this gift shouldn’t cost you more than the price of a blank CD. But if you don’t, you can purchase them inexpensively on iTunes or another similar music downloading program.
Survival supplies
If the graduate you’re shopping for is college bound, and you’ve already made it through a few semesters at school, find a cheap basket to fill with items you found useful during your time as a student.
If your friend will be living in the dorms, stuff the container with detergent and quarters so they can do their laundry. If the graduate will have access to a kitchen but doesn’t have much experience cooking, buy him or her a cookbook so they don’t have to live off of takeout food.
If your friend is graduating from college and you have yet to do so, fill their gift basket with thoughtful items you think they might need once they enter the real world.
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