A Birchbox subscription
In general, subscriptions are some of the best gifts that you can give. A monthly treat, especially on a tight budget, can be a really nice thing to look forward to. And every time their subscription is delivered, your giftee has a nice reminder that you care.
Birchbox is one of the best subscription services out there, and one uniquely well-suited for graduates. It combines monthly deliveries of small personalized beauty and skincare samples with an easy-to-use e-commerce shop.
You can gift a woman's subscription gift card for 3 months for $45, 6 months for $84, or a full 12 months for $156.
An Amazon Prime membership
An Amazon Prime membership is one of those things that immediately makes life easier and ultimately better. If you decide to gift one, the recipient will enjoy free two-day shipping; access to the Prime Now app, which provides free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items; Prime Video, Amazon's streaming video service; Prime Music; the Kindle Lending Library; Prime Reading; Prime Audible Channels; unlimited photo storage, and more.
If you want to see how Amazon Prime ($199 for the year) actually gives you a lot more than free shipping, you can read our overview of the service here.
A Blue Apron gift card
In case that cookbook isn't always the first thing they turn to after a long day, Blue Apron is one of the best subscriptions to gift.
Basically, they'll deliver the ingredients for a meal with detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make it. Depending on how many people the subscriber notes in their order, Blue Apron will also send the right portion size. They work directly with farmers and cut out the middlemen, so their foods are higher and fresher quality for less money.
Plus, your grad can learn how to make healthy, delicious meals by doing it themselves with fresher ingredients and in a more convenient way.
A nice watch
One of the perks of getting gifts, especially as a graduate, is receiving things you'll be so happy to have but might not have the funds to buy for yourself, like those Mejuri earrings. Watches are like that, too.
Traditional watches can be expensive, but startups are changing that. MVMT is probably the best-known watch industry disruptor. If you'd like to read more about the brand, we've covered them in depth here.
You can get the sort of classic, work-appropriate accessory that makes outfits look a bit more competent and established for as little as $105.
A Brooklinen gift card for really nice new sheets for her adult apartment
Graduates will be moving from dorms to a new place that's more fundamentally 'adult,' and that calls for an upgrade in bedding. They'll probably want to pick it out for themselves, but a gift card is a perfect way to give them a luxury they'll be extremely happy to have but maybe couldn't justify just yet for themselves.
Brooklinen has quickly become one of the best-known startups offering premium bedding at affordable prices. They look great, they feel even better, and they can genuinely offer you a better night's sleep for the third of your life you spend doing just that. They're also our pick for the best luxury sheets you can buy.
You can get a Queen sheet set (flat sheet, fitted sheet, and 2 standard pillowcases) for as little as $129 altogether.
Nice gold jewelry from an up-and-coming jewelry company that she can keep coming back to
Right out of college, she may not have the budget to treat herself to some of the things that go a long way in the adult world. A nice delicate pair of gold vermeil earrings (seen above, $55) can elevate an outfit (be it for work or the weekends), and it's fun to be able to show a recent grad an up-and-coming company they can return to in the future.
A commemorative map of their college town
Commemorate their college town, hometown, or favorite place in the world with this customizable graphic map so they can keep it with them wherever life takes them.
An instant coffee maker
Coffee is something many of us rely on daily and don't want to spend a lot of time making. In the morning or in a rush, instant gratification is best, which is why fast coffee makers that take the hassle out of the equation are so popular. Keurig is the most seamless, standard option. If you want to get her something slightly different, check out our Buying Guide to the best coffee makers you can buy.
An Amazon gift card
If what you really want to do is just give cash but are looking for a nicer equivalent, an Amazon Gift Card is a subtle way to accomplish the same freedom and utility. Amazon has virtually everything a new grad could desire (really, everything), so you know that no matter what, they'll be getting something they genuinely want — which, in a lot of cases, is best since they know what they need better than anyone.
A fun cookbook she will actually use
A lot of graduates are coming out of school with little knowledge of cuisine or the human palette as it pertains to tastes that are not mac and cheese or $1 pizza (yes, it exists). A cookbook is a nice way to make sure they can get off on the right foot post-graduation, maybe eating some vegetables and enjoying the activity itself rather than relying on the same cheap eats out of habit or lack of know-how.
Wine and other goodies
If your graduate appreciates a glass of wine every once in awhile, the subscription service Winc might be a particularly nice gift. New members take a simple six-question survey to get a sense of their taste preferences and then receive recommendations of four bottles for their first box. From there, members can choose to continue receiving four bottles a month or skip any month without being charged. Bottles start at $13 each, and members will receive extra discounts.
High-quality noise-canceling headphones
Whether for a daily commute, plane ride, or just to throw on to enjoy music and TV shows while her roommates are asleep, you can't find a much better option than the beloved Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones. On the fancy side of things, they have three levels of world-class noise cancellation, along with Amazon's Alexa built right in.
Books that every young adult should read
Graduates are bound to be excited about the end of classes, but learning can be a lot of fun when it's self-directed and at their leisure. Having a couple inspirational books on hand that can motivate ambition and reaffirm priorities is nice to have, even if they don't pick them up for the first month or so that they're out of school. You can be one reason why they continue to learn by gifting them one or many of the books that every young person should read, and the sooner the better.
If you want a list to start your thinking, here are 10 books that famous CEOs loved reading. If you're not in love with any of those or "The Happiness Advantage", you might find "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office" to be another good fit.
A bouquet of flowers
Flowers are one classic gift that will never go out of style. Send a bouquet to brighten up their living space and remind them of how proud you are. Plus, it's a pretty convenient gift to give with delivery, since neither of you will have to carry it around for the day.
You can pick out an arrangement online from about $40 and up and have it sent directly to their door, so you both get all of the sweetness without any hassle.
The Best Self Co. Journal that helps make her 10-year plan tangible
Post-college is full of a lot of fun and a lot of excitement, but many recent graduates will find that they miss the clear goals given in their 15 or so years of schooling. The Best Self Co. Journal helps people map out their five- or 10-year plans in a tangible, easily managed way. It's a nice and low-pressure way to provide growth and direction after graduation.
A fitness tracker
Give her a fitness wearable that will serve both as a tracker and a motivator to work out (and store up on endorphins, along with other health benefits). We think this option is the best fitness tracker that you can buy.
An Echo Dot
This smart-home device can turn the lights on, wake you up in the morning with an alarm, set timers, report the traffic and weather, and many more helpful tasks. In essence, the Amazon Echo Dot is an easy-to-use, affordable personal assistant that will make her life more convenient.
A book about capitalizing on the huge choices you make in your twenties
You make big, disproportionately impactful decisions in your twenties that affect the rest of your life. The best defense is a good offense — and she should know now, before any of them crop up, how to get the most out of her "defining decade."
A tumbler that keeps drinks hot for hours on end
Keep her hot drinks hot up to six hours and cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours with this double-wall, vacuum-insulated tumbler. In other words, make sure she never gets to work in the morning with a lukewarm coffee ever again — no expensive Starbucks stop necessary.
An unlimited subscription to designer clothes
What's better than a never-ending closet of designer clothes you could otherwise never afford? Rent the Runway Unlimited allows her to cycle out tons of styles over the course of the month. It's particularly useful when you're trying to make positive first impressions at work, and need an entirely different wardrobe for the hours of life not spend in an office. Read a personal review of the service here.
A small, powerful speaker that's Amazon Alexa-enabled
Sonos makes some pretty great speakers, a gift recent grads would love to get because they probably couldn't afford to buy it for themselves. They work well, can be used as a sound system, and have useful features like a morning alarm that may sound more pleasant than their phone. If she's planning on entertaining friends, or just loves listening to music at home, the newest Sonos One is a great option — especially since it now connects with Amazon Alexa. You can read our full review here.
A nice business card holder
Her company will probably give out business cards, but she's less likely to already own a business card holder she can feel good about pulling out at work, internships, or networking events. This looks polished, and Leatherology delivers orders in beautiful boxes, which doesn't hurt for gifting. You can even get the holder monogrammed.
The work bag women everywhere have been looking for
Speaking of luxuries she'll thank her lucky stars for but can't yet afford, a really nice work bag with ample organization is a must — and normally too pricey to be possible right after graduation. We're big fans of Dagne Dover, thanks to their flawless construction, high-quality materials, and next-level organization structure. You can read the full review here, and we also crowned it the best tote bag you can buy for organization here.
A nice blazer they can keep for years to come
A high-quality, timeless blazer is something you can add to your wardrobe at 20 and still find in your closet a couple decades later. It can elevate any outfit, and if it's there from the beginning of your career to its peak, there's a good shot it could become that "lucky blazer" that adds assurance and confidence. It's one of the best and most valuable workplace buys you can make or give. You're looking at Of Mercer's "Prince Blazer" ($235) above, but there are plenty of fresh and high-quality workwear startups to browse before buying. Here's a list of our personal favorite workwear stores.
A Kindle for post-grad reading
Gifting a Kindle is basically like gifting graduates all the books young adults should read. Learning is an ongoing process, and graduation shouldn't be the end of it. Giving them a Kindle means they'll have the tools to keep being curious in their lives by having both the device that makes it an easy and affordable process and the reminder. Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof and has a no-glare screen even in direct sunlight. If you can spend a bit more, the Kindle Oasis ($249.99) is our top pick overall.
If they've already got a Kindle or they read on their phone or iPad, you might look into gifting them a Scribd membership (3 months for $25, 6 months for $50, or 1 year for $100). It's lesser-known than apps like Audible, but it's typically a better deal and will give them access to hundreds of thousands of books and audiobooks.
A gentle alarm clock
Make the routine of waking up early every day happier and more seamless with an alarm clock that mimics the sunrise. This way, she gets the luxury of waking up somewhat naturally, rather than to the blaring of an alarm clock. Whether she loves her first job or not, it's surprisingly impactful to start every day on a nice note.
A monogrammed passport holder for her future trips
Hopefully, post-graduation life brings with it plenty of opportunities for travel and new experiences. This leather passport case can be a beautiful, sentimental legacy piece they continue to travel with — especially because you can have it monogrammed when you buy. For a whole set, pair it with the book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" and a nice inscription. If you want to know more about why this holder is potentially better than others, scroll through our review here.
A set of luxurious candles
Candles make any home smell great, and this fancy candle set from Otherland will look gorgeous in any room in her new apartment — and give it a cozy, recognizable scent. The set includes three coconut and soy wax blend candles in beautiful glass vessels. Each candle burns for 55 hours — that's a lot of time that she can spend enjoying this gift.
A Framebridge gift card to frame her favorite college memories
Framebridge is one of our favorite photo services because they make framing your memories and pictures easier and more affordable than ever. If you want to commemorate the years they've spent in college, or, if they're going far from home for a job opportunity — frame a nice picture of their loved ones. It's thoughtful, sweet, and something they'll likely be glad to have.
Access to the best studio fitness in her city
Boutique fitness classes are extremely popular at the moment, and they can be easier to commit to in the busy post-grad adjustment period than a gym membership.
ClassPass lets her try studio fitness classes in her city for lower-than-normal prices, so she can test drive a good variety without breaking her budget. She can either continue to use ClassPass herself, or commit to one she found through the experience and really liked.
A monogrammed planner
Life is busy in college, and it doesn't stop being busy after graduation. Having a professional-looking, organized way to start off the year like a monogrammed Moleskine planner is a thoughtful and useful gift. It's certainly better than writing things down on the back of their hand.
A New York Times subscription
Make sure that they have the tools to be informed about the things that matter. By gifting them a subscription to The New York Times, you're making it much more likely that they'll read about the world around them.
A tablet for Netflix and surfing the web when not at the office
On average, a laptop has a lifespan of about four years. If you've just attended a four-year institution, your own laptop might be on its last legs. Since most companies give their employees work computers, it's not totally necessary to go get another. But for streaming Netflix or surfing the web at home, an iPad can be a budget-friendly alternative that better suits their lifestyle. I bought one for myself as a senior in college, and it's basically all I use at home now almost a year after graduation.
A toolkit, which they will undoubtedly need in "real life"
After graduation, you enter the "real world," and the real world will include putting together furniture, Googling how to fix leaky faucets when your landlord avoids your calls, and enticing your friends with pizza to get them to help you mount your living room TV. It's not the most strictly "fun" gift, but it will absolutely be necessary. She'll be glad she has the tools to handle whatever life throws at her confidently, and since this is one gift she may not buy for herself, it makes perfect sense as a post-graduation gift.
Gift cards for every conceivable need
If she just graduated and is dealing with moving, starting a career, and furnishing a new apartment — or other trappings of a new, adult life stage — she will have more expenses than funds. Here's how to take the edge off and make sure she builds in some necessary fun.
Everything: Visa Gift Card / Amazon Gift Card / Gift Amazon Prime Membership Coffee: Starbucks Gift Card Entertainment: Netflix Gift Card / Hulu Gift Card / Sling Gift Card / StubHub gift card Transportation: Uber Gift Card Decoration: Framebridge Gift Card Furniture: Amazon Gift Card / Wayfair Gift Card Music: Spotify Gift Card Sheets: Brooklinen Gift Card Groceries and food: Whole Foods Gift Card / Chipotle Gift Card Clothes: Nordstrom Gift Card / Everlane Gift Card Tech: Best Buy Gift Card Travel: Delta Gift Card / Away Gift Card