Graduation gift?

[Monkeyfeets]

My DD is graduating next month.
What is the norm re graduation gifts, is this something parents do?

No it’s not! The rich don’t do it!

😂

No, it's just us plebs!

I think I just expected dd to get a degree because that’s why she’s there. It’s an achievement but also that’s what she is supposed to be doing.

Some of her friends are working nights in the Amazon warehouse. My dd has had a three years living in a beautiful city centre doing a subject she absolutely loves.

I am very pleased that she did go and that she enjoyed it so much. I am proud of her for managing it all so brilliantly but I don’t know that I would be less pleased with her if she had gone straight to work.

I’ve bought a new dress, I’ve taken two days off work, I’ve booked a table for fourteen and will be paying for most of that but it didn’t cross my mind to get her a present.

I think we may be outliers. Working for and getting a good degree was one of our basic expectations for our children.

Their student fees were paid, their maintenance was paid. Attending their graduations (five between two now) usually costs a minimum of £4/500: hotel room, lunch or dinner, framed picture, gown hire, etc.

Post uni, they lived at home and didn't have to contribute to rent/bills, etc.

Meal out and paid for one of the official photo shoot photos as it was a really nice one.

But the majority of parents can't afford to pay their children's university fees or take 14 people out for a celebration lunch. So they might buy a gift. It's not a "thing" something nice.

I'm not getting Dd a gift, like I said, I'm saving up for a trip to the States. Celebrating the end of one era and the beginning of another ... for both of us.

And she's had a part time job since secondary school and during her two years at uni. Same for her boyfriend. They manage to study, socialise and work.

Yeah no one is buying a £5 stethoscope for a university level degree course though!

My son bought me the mug and the sweatshirt on the day of my graduation. DH bought me a brooch to wear to pin down the hood.

I haven’t paid her fees, I’ve topped up her loan to the maximum because that’s what is expected.

@TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack A lot of that is your choice. 2 guests max at both DDs university. Are all extras squeezing in? You’ve made expensive decisions.

Yep! So what? My choice.

@TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack ?? It was you who complained of the expense!!! £3000 is ridiculous.

When my DD graduated I took with me some chocolates (ordered from Etsy) which were individually wrapped with Congratulations ‘Name’ and personal message with a graduation hat on the wrapper. I gave them to the waitress secretly at our after graduation meal and they were served with our coffee afterwards. These went down very well and were relatively cheap.

Op, do what you feel is right/affordable for you.
I will give Dd a card with some heartfelt words and perhaps a little thing as a memento, maybe something from a charity shop. She’s quirky so it won’t be hard to find some little keepsake.

DH and I gave DD £1k, paid for her to go around a supermarket and fill her food cupboards and bought a takeaway for the evening for everyone in her house. Her Dad took her and her bf out to lunch after the graduation. I went to the graduation ceremony then went off to meet DH then met up with DD again after her Dad and partner had gone home at 3pm. Then took her food shopping and ordered takeaway later in evening. I've no idea if her Dad gave her anything else or not.

We have paid for everything for the graduation day… extra guest tickets, cap&gown,suit photos etc. Then we have booked a nice place for a meal after the ceremony.
As a surprise we are going to buy him a football shirt of his favourite team and have his name printed on the back.

We bought a nice old wooden box on Facebook marketplace and got an engraved brass plaque from Timspons with name, dates, qualification, etc, as a uni memory box. Went down quite well, I think.
If you go for flowers, make sure they come in packaging with water if it's a hot day.

Got a card and an amber and silver art deco style ring in a vintage shop (less than £30) as I saw her with an amber bangle. Was wearing it before I gifted it and she thought it was mine and was trying to wrestle it off me!
Flowers were in an aqua bubble, still going strong 2 days later.

I received from family members things like jewelry, luggage, and a purse

I did get DD a graduation present (a nice but not ridiculously expensive bag) but she didn’t get a graduation ceremony due to the pandemic. She could have had one a year late but by that time she was working and the moment had passed.

I don’t recall giving either of ours graduation presents, either for undergrad or postgrad. I did have a bit of a laugh at the suggestion to get university named/logged stuff. One of ours bought and still wears logoed T-shirts and sweatshirts, plus various stuff from his university sports team. The other would be mortified at the thought of logoed stuff from any of his universities (apart from the replica shirt of the semi-professional football team where he did his Master’s).

No, I bought dinner I suppose, paid for the graduation gown hire. Other dc due to graduate finally next year, long story! and I’ve said I’d pay for her travel to come back in person, it’s not far from me to drive there and I’ll let her dad stay here for a night and all go out for dinner (plus his fiancée and my dh, how very modern family, but hoping they decline)

We’re in Italy.
For his graduation DS got a suit and some other “work” clothes, smart shoes, belt, good watch (one from us, one from friends). He’d been living in jeans and T-shirts all through University.

A reception party with cake, savouries, a toast and party favours (red sugared almonds with a themed key ring) for everyone who attended. Taxis from the University to the party. A crown of laurels and tabletop flowers.

His girlfriend’s family gave him a posh pen (he likes pens AND watches), we gave her a top brand vintage silk scarf when she graduated.

A small amount of money (like a birthday) and help with deposit, first bills etc. when moving to his new town.

I gave DD a teddy with a graduation outfit on and filled up cupboards with food and toiletries ready for the following year Masters degree. I gave my niece and nephews a cheque.

Absolutely 💯