My neighbor Hulda and I were talking about graduation gifts awhile back. With The Girl’s graduation on the horizon {wah!}, I wanted to come up with some creative ways to slip her a little cash. Hulda suggested filling a Camelbak water bottle with quarters. Brilliant, I tell ya!
The Girl loves those particular water bottles, so it’s kind of its own gift. AND, she can use the quarters for vending machines, laundry, parking downtown {Remember when I could also add a payphone to that list? Ha! Makes me feel ancient for so many reasons.}, etc.
I have to admit, I was shocked to find out how much money it held {$102.00}! Still, I totally would have slipped The Girl some quarters anyway, if nothing else, just to make sure she was covered for laundry.
I don’t give money to everyone for graduation, but for nieces, nephews, etc., I am totally using this idea again and again. It’s practical, consumable cold hard cash–all wrapped up in a reusable water bottle. What kid {or adult} wouldn’t love that, right?
~Mavis
Chris M says
I’ve done something similar before using one dollar bills. A water bottle from their college would be awesome, if you can get one without too much trouble. I’ve also filled soccer socks. My favorite grad gift is a laundry basket, laundry supplies, and a small container full of quarters.
KAte says
Best graduation gift I ever got was an electric kettle. I used the HECK out of that sucker in my dorm room. Now I give one to everyone who is headed off to college.
Amy E says
One of my college friends always used to say, “When it comes to doing laundry, a quarter is worth a whole lot more than 25 cents!” Given that our dorm had coin operated laundry, and NO change machine, I couldn’t agree more!
Sandra says
The gift I like to give to relatives going to college is what my niece called the “I Feel Lousy” kit: first aid items, OTC pain meds and cold relief, tissues, saline spray, hand sanitizer, chicken soup, saltines, ginger ale and a map to the closest ER. It all gets used.
e in upstate ny says
My best graduation gift was a small toolkit containing a small hammer, various size and kinds of screwdrivers, a Yankee drill, tape measure, carpenter’s pencil, emery and various grit sand papers, a jar of various size nails and one of a variety of screws, some nuts and bolts and washers. Think I’ve remembered it all. When ever something needed fixed in the dorm, my door was the one that was knocked on. That toolkit stayed with me into marriage!
Sandra says
e, I made up a toolkit for my daughter too, with a PINK hammer. The boys next door would borrow it, but they did return it in a hurry! (I bought the hammer from a friend who sells pink tools as a fundraiser for breast cancer research.)
Robin in SoCal says
Keep the graduation ideas coming. I am stealing this idea and looking forward to any others you pass along.
Mavis Butterfield says
🙂 Thanks Robin. Can you believe it’s almost here? Where does the time go?
Sabrina says
I always give girls headed off to college a tool kit and they always think it is silly until they get into their dorm room, or apartment and realise how often they use it. I also supplied self addressed stamped envelopes to me good for a care package full of baked goods to use throughout the year. My daughters college didn’t have coin operated laundry rooms, they had to use their student id card.
Karen Wolff says
I love this! Just want to confirm though that it take $102 worth of quarters to fill it? That may be a deal breaker lol
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! But you could always used a smaller water bottle.
Karen Wolff says
Or dollar bills rolled up?
Mavis Butterfield says
This is super fun to make with dollar bills –> https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/gift-idea-for-your-graduate-money-lei/