Graduation present?

[Nougat555]

Posting here for traffic.

What graduation present did you get from your parents? Or have you bought for your children? Please share the item and it’s approximate cost in today’s money.

I received nothing, nor did my DH (we were both first in our families to go to uni so I don’t think our parents knew it was a thing). Our DS is graduating soon and we have no idea at all about what people usually get and what they spend.

we didn't go to uni - our eldest graduated 4 years ago - we took him out for lunch on graduation day - DS2 is about to graduate and he will be treated the same - I've never heard of graduation gifts either

My parents took me out for a meal for my BA graduation. For my MA graduation, they took me to the pub for a meal with my boyfriend and gran and they gave me a bouquet of flowers. By the time I got to my PGCE graduation, my dad was terminally ill so we didn't go to my graduation and I received nothing.

I don't think I got anything but I got my younger brothers really nice pens. I like pens though!

I graduated in 1994, and my mum got me a briefcase. £50 or so I think. I used it for interviews and conferences for years

NC for this. I make graduation mugs to order!

Back in the day wasn't really a thing though I recall it tended to be the young women who received something and that tended to be bought more extravagant presents (new car, Apple? laptop). Don't recall any chap reporting anything though it may have been discretion.

Now, I see more demonstrable gifting with a mix of mementos to be kept (jewellery and watches) and practicality (cars and laptops still).

Nothing for me and nothing for children either.

It simply didn't occur to me.

I was the first to go to university, and I didn't get a present. I graduated in 2007, 2014 and 2018 and it's never been a thing I've heard of to give gifts/money for graduation. A nice meal after to celebrate is fine.

I was given a mobile phone 😂and we went out to dinner.

I didn't even know it was a thing! Nothing for me I don't even recall them saying well done and it was jolly hard work at university whilst commuting.
They did come to watch the awards ceremony so they did acknowledge it.

Is this a thing? My parents both graduated from university and I didn't get any graduation presents.

I graduated in the late 90s and asked for a black Miu Miu wool coat costing £1200. I still have it and wear it becaue it's a classic cut and it's been looked after so it looks almost new. It's still the most expensive item of clothing I own. Parents wanted to buy me a gold pendant and chain but I'm not a jewellery person. My nieces have receny graduated and it seems the new thing is luxury handbags.

DS got his degree results during covid restrictions. We bought a celebratory take away meal from a lovely local restaurant. He never went to his graduation as it was postponed a number of times (Covid) and by the time they held it he'd finished his Masters so couldn't see the point in going to his BA graduation.
I think we had a bottle of champagne to celebrate his Masters result and we hope to take him to a lovely fish restaurant after his graduation ceremony in July - already postponed once due to Covid!
But we never even realised getting an actual gift was a thing. He's difficult enough to buy for on birthdays and Christmas!

Nothing. 94
Didn't know they were a thing at the time

Not aware of graduation gifts being a thing. We celebrate with a nice meal out and a congratulatory chink of glasses! (And by paying for the expensive graduation photos!)

I got £800, which was a deposit for the house I was entering. 2006.

It’s interesting to hear everyone’s take on this- I’d thought DH and I were in a minority not getting anything from our parents, obviously not!

We’re going to the ceremony and buying a meal anyway, not sure whether to leave it at that now as graduation gift-giving obviously isn’t as widespread as I’d thought.

I graduated in early '90's and didn't receive a graduation gift, nor did any friends so far as I recall. TBF I wouldn't have expected one as my parents contributed the "parental contribution" not covered by my grant and I'd 3 siblings all at home or uni. No clue whether DD1 expecting a gift this summer when she graduates!

We bought our daughter her first car, it was a graduation present and 21st birthday present combined. We'd just moved and paid off the mortgage otherwise she would have got something considerably cheaper.

They bought my graduation and interview outfit, meal out afterwards
No gift - wasnt a thing in 1990
Didnt buy either of mine a gift either

@Alsonification and @beachcitygirl what lovely, thoughtful presents.

I got my DD a bracelet that went nicely with her outfit and we went out for a family meal beforehand. I just wanted to give her something that might be a reminder of how proud we are of her.

We gave both sons £250, to spend on themselves for something a bit special. Once they got their first grad job we gave them further £250 to help the, in getting set up. My eldest already had a job lined up at point he graduated so got £500 . We gave it to them in a card at that celebratory meal on the day with us.
We gave money as I knew there would be a lot of little things they needed/watnted over that summer and as they started new job.
both spent on going to a festival over their last summer and then on smart work clothes. I liked the fact they spent on festival - always better to have memories than things.

I've never heard of graduation presents. It seems most people on this thread haven't either so perhaps not a thing.

Oh, and when I graduated my parents gave me nothing (mid 80s).
BUT
my grandmother bought me a TV (expensive then) as she was so delighted I’d graduated- I was first women in family and she’d had to leave school at 14 to go into service despite winning a place at grammar school. - she wasn’t allowed to take that place. She burst into tears when I told her over the phone from a phone box..I was pushing money in and all I could hear was her sobbing.
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