Speaking of graduation gifts--I need one for our babysitter

[Robyncz]

Our main babysitter has just graduated from college. She's a very nice girl who sits for us occasionally on weekends during the year, and one day a week during the summer. She also stays at our house and takes care of the dog when we travel.

She's not all that social, trendy, or fashionable. She lives at home and she loves to read. She's not sure what she's going to do next, but she'll probably go to graduate school.

We'd like to do something special for her graduation, but I don't know what. We're planning to spend in the $75 to $100 range. If she were moving into an apartment or something, I do a gift certificate to help with home furnishings or something. If she was a big fashion-horse, I do a gc to her favorite store.

As it is, all I can think of is cash. A $75 gc to a bookstore seems silly--but maybe Amazon.com would make more sense. Or maybe a collection of gc (books, movies, etc)?

Do any of you have a great idea?

Thanks!

[Terri_A]

I have always considered money a great graduation gift. I don't know why -but I guess because grads could be going to do so many diff't things that cash helps in all scenarios.

[zwieback]

I would probably give money, as Terri_A said. However, if you want to do something else, I might go with a gift card to a department store or other clothing store. Regardless of what she does, she'll need some nice clothes for interviews. She may even need nicer clothes for graduate school events, depending on what she might go to school for. I would have loved a gift card for clothing after I graduated from college.

[SheRa]

when i graduated from H.S., my aunts and uncles got me a luggage set. i didn't understand why at first, but they ended up coming in VERY handy!! you could get her just one piece. when i graduated from college, i got money, and that was also great.

how about maybe a spa gift card? like a mani/pedi or massage or something?

[funnybone]

We're giving a HS grad an American Express gift card ($75). You can even get personalized ones from their website. The only drawback is that there is a service fee for us, but I think such a card would be used more thoughtfully than just cash (which $5 bucks here and there is easily spent with nothing to show for). Frankly, I think any grad needs money more than anything else. The girl we're giving the card to is going away to college. She can use the money for gas, dining out, clothes, etc. Visa also offers gift cards too.

[summer02]

A $75 gc to a bookstore doesn't seem at all silly to me...or to amazon. I love to read and books are expensive so I have a hard time justifying buying the books that I really want since I'm in grad school (for one more week :D ) and am not making a lot with my stipend.

Along the lines of luggage - when I was interviewing for schools I carried a matching leather portfolio and messenger-style tote that I had received for college graduation. It was nice to have something other than a dingy backpack that the other candidates were using. It's something that I'm also planning on using for job interviews.