The Best Gifts for High School Graduates

The end of high school is a bittersweet time. There’s jubilant celebration because school is over, but also nervous anticipation of entering the workforce or heading off to college. Luckily there is the promise of summer vacation, graduation parties and gifts to ease the pain of this transitional period. Not sure what to get the high school graduates in your life? We’ve compiled a list of eight graduate gift ideas that are sure to make the grade.

Fitness Tracker

The “freshman fifteen” is real, people. Help ward off the extra pounds that come with too much pizza and video games by gifting a Fitbit or other similar fitness tracker. These devices work by monitoring your activity and encouraging you when you need to get up and move! Check out the selection of fitness trackers at New Jersey Running Company in Hoboken, Road Runner Sports in Cherry Hill, or Fleet Feet Sports in Montclair.

Concert Tickets

Try scoring tickets to Beyonce’s Formation World Tour if you’re really looking for a gift that will impress (good luck!). Not sure which band the graduate likes? Purchase a gift certificate to Boogie’s Tickets in Westfield and let the grad select his own event. They can choose from sports, concerts, theater and more.

Chromecast

Google Chromecast is a nifty little gadget that you attach to your television in order to wirelessly stream shows from Netflix, Hulu and other entertainment apps. It’s tiny so teens can grab their Chromecast and pop it onto a friend’s TV to access their favorite shows from anywhere. Similar to the Chromecast are the Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick. Purchase these devices, which range in price from $30-$40, online or at any electronics retailer.

New Jersey Plaque

If the grad is headed out of state, this sign serves as a great reminder of where she comes from. Show off that Jersey pride with this gorgeous hand-crafted wooden plaque from Etsy’s KDCobbleShop. Both the color of the letters and the New Jersey shape can be customized. Make sure you order this gift in advance, as it takes 3-5 days before it’s ready to ship.

Watch

Now that the graduate is entering the real world (well, sort of), he will have responsibilities. A job. Early morning classes. It’s important that he be on time, so what better gift than a nice watch? You can find one at all different price points–check out the selection at department stores, jewelers, online retailers or athletic stores (for sportier models). The Apple Watch starts at $299 if you’re looking for something splurgy.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Portable speakers make an excellent gift–they’re ideal for listening to all the songs stored on her phone when she’s out at the beach. They work great for outdoor events and impromptu dance parties, too! Prices for these Bluetooth speakers run the gamut from $25 to around $85 for the JBL Flip 3 Splashproof model, which comes in a host of cool colors and is available on Amazon.

Meal in a Mug

Denise Smart’s “Meal in a Mug” is the perfect cookbook for the new college student lacking in culinary expertise. According to the book, all you need to make these 80 recipes is a mug, a microwave, a handful of ingredients and a spoon. Thai Shrimp Curry, anyone? Package a nice, big mug with this gift and you’re all set.

Cold Hard Cash

Got a graduate that’s really hard to please? If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with cash. High school graduates are always saving up for something. Gift cards work too, just make sure to buy them for places that are universally liked, such as Amazon, Target or gas stations.

Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Andres Rodriguez / Adobe Stock
Additional Images (in order) Courtesy:
Amazon
Facebook/Boogie’s Tickets
Google
Etsy/KDCobbleShop
Apple Inc.
Amazon
Amazon
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