My DH is a teacher and coach, so we get invited to 10-20 graduations. I get a plastic pitcher and set of plastic cups for their dorm room fridges (cost $2 for set at Walmart). It is just to expensive to spend much more than that when there are so many. If it is someone you want to spend more on, I think gift cards are the way to go. That way, you know they will use it and not look at it once and never use it again.

Which would be a great idea if I had more than $5-10 to spend on each person. I would be too embarassed to do that and like putting thought and care into the gifts...it makes it fun for me, too!

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~Wendy~Rock-n-roll Hippie~Mom to Bob and Jamie~Wife to Kevin~

"The glass is neither half full nor half empty rather; it is twice as big as it needs to be."~Ngan Nghiem

Living the Simple Life...one day at a time.

i usually like to do picture frames or albums... sentimental type gifts

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Mary
mom to Jacob 6 yrs. old (first grader!!)
Nathan 5 yrs. old (registered for kindergarten!!)
wife to Matt for 7 yrs.

I would do towels for those that are either going away to college or moving out. That would be something that they will need and maybe they wont "borrow" their parents good towels.

Or even a new throw blanket. Everyone needs one to snuggle up with either watching tv or doing homework.

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Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.
Jon Bon Jovi

If they are going away to college this one is a favorite of mine...

Hammer
screwdriver with changable tips
tack it, putty stuff
nails

Another good one...

2 cup glass measuring cup
Set of 2 or 4 Corelle ware plates, bowls
small mixing bowl
silicone spatula

Teachers often get invited to so many.. If you have any teacher friends ask them what their standard gift is. Usually they are cleaver and inexpencive

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Kenny Chesney~
Everything gets hotter when the sun goes down!!
I think your tractor's Sexy!
Don't Blink!!

gift cards are always great. cannot go wrong. anyone would appreciate a gift card to a gas station nowadays....not very personal i know, but you know they would use and appreciate it. ........what has our world come to??? oh well. haha.

These are great ideas - and the best part is that you can get them all at the $1 store! One of the best gifts I got when I graduated was a giant tub of stuff to use in my dorm (scale it down if you need to):
-- laundry soap (here's where samples come in handy), fabric softener, quarters, hangers, spot cleaner
-- towel/washcloth (wash before giving to make it fluffy), plastic shower caddy, cheap flip flops (for "shower shoes"), shampoo, conditioner, body soap, loofah
-- snacks! granola bars, little debbie snacks, cookies, candy, gatorade/water, peanut butter, crackers, etc
-- first aid kit: bandaids, neosporin, tylenol, day/night cold medicine, cough drops, cold/hot packs, ace bandage, tums (put all in a small box - they have really cute decorative ones at the dollar store)

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~~Amanda~~ Mommy to Elijah (3), TTC #2

This isn't cheap, but a lot of fun if you have a special photo.

Custom Jones Soda Labels

I am giving this book to one friend. I am giving The Tightwad Gazette to another.

I was gonna say this! get a matching towel, hand towel and wash cloth set, and if you know of someone with an embroidery machine, maybe have their name or graduation year or school name or what-ever they like put on one of the corners of the towel, to make it more personal, I think this is really cool!