7 Thoughtful Graduation Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank in a High-Tariff Economy

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Graduations are sneaking up on families for both high school and college students heading on to the next chapters of their lives. Whether you’re celebrating someone who’s fledging the nest and headed to college, or out of college into their first career, you want to get them something that acknowledges their hard work and shows that you care.

However, with high tariffs adding price hikes to even the most everyday items, it may be a tough year to give gifts that don’t come at a steep price.

Here are seven thoughtful graduation gifts that won’t break the bank.

Personalized Journals or Planners

If the grad in your life is a Type A who needs to have all their ducks in a row and loves the personal touch of pen and paper over a digital screen, order up a personalized planner of the sort that keeps everything from calendar dates to contacts and notes on track. The online retailer Etsy offers a variety of different personalized notebook and planner options where you can engrave the cover but still get something that looks unique and even handmade for under $30.

Portland Gear Cascade Backpack

For grads headed to college, the perfect backpack is a necessity, and the one they’ve been carrying through high school probably doesn’t cut it anymore. The Portland Gear Cascade backpack is big enough to fit a computer, books and even clothes for an overnight or two and still fit under an airplane seat for travel. It’s weatherproof, waterproof, stylish and so coveted that various colors often go out of stock, so keep tabs on the one you want. At $109 it’s built to last, so your grad won’t need to buy a new one every couple of years.

Refurbished Tech

While it’s nice to have the latest model in phone, laptop or tablet, the newest generation comes at significantly higher prices, often with very few significant upgrades. Instead, consider giving your grad the gift of a refurbished piece of tech that will look and function like brand new. A refurbished iPhone 11 with 64 mb of storage from Best Buy’s Geek Squad is just $449, for example, versus the $900-$1,100 you’d spend on a brand new model. You can look for similar deals on other items at similar retailers.

Portable Charger/Power Bank

While college students will get more time with physical texts and papers, grads will inevitably need to stay plugged in digitally for one reason or another. A portable charger and power bank is a practical gift that shows you know how important it is for them to stay connected, digitally, to school, but also, hopefully to you. You can get this Charmast version with four built-in cables and six outputs for just $29.99 on Amazon.

Customized Pet Pillow

Leaving home to go to college or off into a career can mean leaving behind a childhood pet, a difficult act of separation for a young adult. Give your grad a nostalgic gift that they can hold close and simulate the comfort of a pet, with adorable customizable pet pillows from The Pet Pillow. Rates vary based on the size of the pillow but start as low as $9.95.

Useful Subscriptions

College students and new college grads don’t have a lot of disposable income to work with. The things they took for granted when they lived at home because they could count on the family subscriptions now start adding up. Consider signing your grad up for such services as Spotify or Apple Music to Amazon Prime Student for cheap shipping to mental health or meditation apps like Headspace and Calm.

Meal Kit Services

While many grads do find themselves on a food plan at school, if your grad is going to be living off campus or in an apartment and enjoys making their own meals, invest in a meal kit plan such as Every Plate, Hello Fresh, Blue Apron or even Purple Carrot for the vegans in your life. These services often offer deals for the first few months, making a few months’ worth of subscriptions very affordable. They can also be a great way to teach young adults to become more independent.

Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of May 23, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

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