Graduation party and gift ideas
Buckle up, Mama. Graduation is galloping toward us!
I am hosting a grad party for my daughter this year. She graduates from college next week. We are doing an open house and I have been checking out the graduation decorations on Amazon to find ones that look nice and festive without needing a lot of fussiness.
And if you are new to the graduation scene, turns out when your big kid graduates, all their friends do too! So you need a pile of graduation presents that you can grab as you head out the door to another party. I like to buy 10- 15 of the same thing, wrap them all up and put them in a bag in the car, ready to go!
If you are anything like me, I want the gift I give graduates to be personal and nice, but most of all…easy.
So here are my top graduation party and gift ideas for busy moms—that’s you and me!
I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Graduation Party Decorations
I bought this exact party pack of decorations for my daughter’s open house next week. It is a TON of decorations for only $25. Big foil blow-up “2023”, two nice 6’ vertical banners, a horizontal “Congrats, Grad” banner, foil curtains, balloons and pretty round paper fans that I’m going to hand from the light in the dining room. Get it HERE.
2. This customized banner has almost 5 star 3000 reviews. It comes in multiple colors to match your school, and you can order either 6 or 8 feet long. Get it HERE
3. If you are hosting a party at the house, you might want those yard signs that are so fun. This choice is budget-friendly. Get it HERE.
4. Keep it simple and use disposable paper products! This pack comes in multiple colors to match your school. There are 50 big plates, 50 dessert plates, 50 big napkins and 50 cocktail napkins - DONE. Get it Here
Graduation Gift IDEAS -
Books and Money - I like to give money, but then put it in a book that I think will be both informative and cool. Steal Like an Artist is one of my favorite books to give, especially to any students who have a creative bent. Visually engaging, it appeals to every age and our desire to find our creative voice. Get it HERE.
2. I also like the book, Make Your Bed. It is a commencement speech made in 2014 by Navy Seal and Admiral William McRaven. It lists 10 small but mighty things “that can change your life…and maybe the world.” Get it HERE
3. This SwissGear Backpack is a little on the expensive side, but it has almost 22.000 four star reviews and it will hold a 17” laptop for any college-bound senior. Get it HERE.
4. These frames with the space for a tassel make a nice graduation gift for guys or gals. I think my kids’ tassels are wadded up in the bottom of their closets or under the bed, and it would been nice to put them in a memento frame like this. Get it HERE.
5. If you are looking for a small practical gift, I like to give outlet extenders. They ALL need as many outlets as possible to charge ALL the things, and both dorm rooms and apartments never have enough or in the correct locations, AMIRIGHT? This one has both plugs and USB outlets on a 15 foot cord. Get it HERE.
6. Laundry is a fact of life. This extra large, backpack-style laundry bag will NOT ensure that they will actually do any laundry, but it might help them bring their laundry HOME. Get it here.
7. Luggage makes a special graduation gift. My parents bought luggage for several of my kids when they graduated, and it was appreciated. This Samsonite 20” bag is hard sided and comes in multiple fun colors. It has 22,000 reviews with 4.5 stars! Get it HERE.
8. Hang in here with me…I asked my daughter who is graduating from college next week, what gifts she still remembers getting when she graduated from high school four years ago.
The first thing she said was…my waffle maker. WHAT?
She said it was the perfect combination of fun and practical. So, there you go! I’m including it here in case your graduate is also a waffle fan. Get it HERE.
9. If you just want to do graduation card with gift cards or money, that is also perfect. BUT, please buy your graduation cards in bulk! Don’t pay $5 a piece for them at the grocery store! This is a pack of 36 cards for less than $14. (That’s less than .40 cents each…I mean, really. Go buy these.) Get it HERE.
