28 thoughtful graduation gifts under $100 for the class of 2022
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Framebridge and Amazon
As soon-to-be-grads experience the complicated feelings of finishing a chapter of their lives, their friends and family are right there beside them to celebrate it all.
Your new grad could be continuing on with more school, starting work, taking a break, or still figuring out what they want to do. Regardless of their plans, congratulations on their achievements are surely in order, and there’s no better way to say it than with practical, thoughtful, and even indulgent gifts. There’s something for everyone in the Class of 2022 in this under-$100 gift guide.
28 gift ideas for your grad that won’t cost more than $100:
Milkbarstore
Gift sweets, available at Milk Bar, from $29
Milk Bar cakes are one of our go-to gifts to send to friends and family — especially if we can’t celebrate an occasion like graduation with them in person.
We love their classic flavors as well as the limited-edition stuff, too. You can find a review of the Milk Bar cakes here. It’s also one of the Insider Reviews All-Time Best products.
Anna Popp/Insider
Gift an UrbanStems Bouquet, $55 monthly subscription or from $45 without
Send flowers if you can’t be there in person, or if you’re supplementing a digital gift such as a gift card. We’re fans of UrbanStems; the company’s bouquets are one of the best items we’ve ever tested.
If you’re looking for something that won’t be gone after a couple of weeks, you’ll also find options for potted plants and low-maintenance, decor-friendly dried bouquets.
Amazon
The decisions you make in your 20s can greatly impact the rest of your life. The best defense is a good offense — your grad should know now, before any life-altering events crop up, how to get the most out of their “defining decade.” Find more books for recent grads here.
Framebridge
Gift a Framebridge Photo, from $45
Most of us appreciate some nostalgia; frame a photo of the graduate’s friends or some of their favorite memories so they can take them anywhere they call home.
Target
Gift an Amazon Echo, from $69.99
From music to hands-free info — like how many grams are in a number of ounces — the Amazon Echo will make your graduate’s life more convenient.
ClassPass/Instagram/@beachyogasocal
Gift a ClassPass fitness gift card, from $50
ClassPass makes trying various boutique classes easier and more affordable. Members can book a seemingly never-ending catalog of good workouts with small class sizes. Whether their next chapter includes a new town or not, this will help them explore something new.
BestSelf Co
Gift a BestSelf journal, available at Amazon, from $31.99
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 way to provide growth and direction after graduation, whether they’re on their way to college, a new job, traveling, or anything else.
Monoprice
Gift Noise-Canceling MonoPrice Headphones, available at Amazon, from $79.99
We love these headphones — and they have premium features even for an under-$100 price tag. Their sound is nicely balanced, they travel well, and they’re wireless. They’re perfect for commutes or shutting out the rest of the world while they work or relax.
You can find more options for different budgets in our best over-ear headphones guide.
Brooklinen
Gift a Brooklinen Gift Card, from $50
Few things sound so nice as comfortable, beautiful sheets that you don’t need to buy for yourself. Brooklinen is one of our favorite startups to shop at, and we especially love the company’s sateen cotton sheets (from $129).
Fanatics
Gift Fanatics NCAA gear, from $15
Get them excited for the next four years — or gift them school gear as a thoughtful reminder of the years behind them. Fanatics is full of clothing, hats, bags, balls, games, and drinkware for NCAA schools. Your grad will be able to spot a fellow alum from miles away.
Disney Plus
Gift a Disney Plus subscription, $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year ($6.66/month)
Graduating from college usually marks the beginning of “adulting,” but they’ll eventually need a break from being a grownup. With everything from classic Disney movies and shows from their childhood to “Star Wars” and Marvel movies, a Disney Plus subscription is an almost sure way to stay entertained.
ClassPass
Gift the ZZ Plant, available at The Sill, from $68
Is a millennial/Gen Zer’s apartment set-up really complete if it doesn’t have at least one leafy plant in the corner or on a sill? The ZZ Plant, which comes with a planter, only requires low-to-medium indirect light and watering about every two weeks.
Workman Publishing
Gift “I Will Teach You to be Rich,” available at Amazon, from $10.35
Good news for your grad: they can buy as many lattes as they want. What’s more important for accruing savings is choosing the right accounts and investments so their money automatically grows.
Libby Kane, the Executive Editor for Insider’s Personal Finance section, says she regularly buys a new copy of this book just to give it away. It’s an excellent introduction to making the most of one’s personal finances — especially if your graduate is new to managing money.
Walmart
Gift the YnM Weighted Blanket, available at Amazon, from $69.90
Weighted blankets can help reduce insomnia and ease anxiety (though only limited research supports these claims). They’re also just extremely cozy.
We love them here at Insider Reviews, and the YnM version — with its affordability and performance — is also on our All-Time Best products list.
Grafomap
Gift a custom map poster, available at Grafomap, from $72.80
Remembering their roots, where they went to school, or a favorite spring break trip looks nicer than ever with Grafomap’s custom maps. Zoom in to a hyperspecific location and choose from nine different design themes to find one that will represent their place well. You can also write your own title, subtitle, and tagline.
Williams Sonoma
Gift a Chemex, available at Williams Sonoma, from $39.95
Gift a glass Chemex from Williams Sonoma that delivers flavorful, sediment-free coffee routinely. The glass is heat-resistant, and the wood and leather collar serves as an insulated handle.
JBL/Instagram
Gift the JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker, available at Amazon, from $89.95
This speaker weighs just over a pound, has up to 12 hours of continuous playtime, and can even be submerged underwater. It lets you bring the party anywhere, so you’re never stuck at an event without the best music.
Awaytravel
Gift Away Travel Packing Cubes, from $65
If their next step might include travel, they’ll call you and thank you for the packing cubes in a few months. They can group their items together by genre, outfit, or day and speed up the packing, travel, and unpacking process.
Amazon
Gift the Instant Pot Duo 60 7-in-1, available at Amazon, from $69
These electric multicookers are some of the most versatile, helpful kitchen appliances you can gift a busy person — and they’re extra useful for newcomers to cooking. We think the Instant Pot Duo 60 7-in-1 is the best instant pot you can buy; it’s a great balance of price, features, and performance.
Book of the Month/Instagram
Students are hard-pressed to find time to read for fun while in school. They’ll likely have a little more time after graduation, and you can help them get back into the joy of reading with a Book of the Month membership. BOTM lets them choose one book from a curated selection of five titles across a range of genres and sends it right to their door.
Made In
Gift the Stainless Clad Frying Pan, available at Made In, from $75
Say goodbye to the days of cheap hand-me-downs and give the gift of nice cookware that will last. Made In’s five-ply stainless steel and aluminum skillet is sturdy and cooks like a pan that should cost a lot more. Grads who are looking to spend more time in the kitchen now have an excuse to with this piece of cookware.
Blend Images-JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Gift a “You Need A Budget” subscription, from $98.99
Learning how to budget your money efficiently is a lesson that’s better learned early. You Need A Budget helps teach you how to manage your money and plan for the future — without feeling restricted or overwhelmed.
Amazon
Gift a NutriBullet, available at Amazon, from $89.87
A NutriBullet is convenient, doesn’t require a ton of space, and makes fruit smoothies quickly. Whether they’re particularly health-conscious or just appreciate fast, healthy food on demand, it’ll be one of their home’s most valued appliances.
Logitech
Gift the Logitech Keys-To-Go iOS version, available at Amazon, from $56.62
This wireless Bluetooth keyboard should be on every business traveler or busy student’s carry-on because of its comfortable feel, light and thin build, and reliable connection. The rechargeable accessory is a near-perfect companion to their phone or tablet if they need to type anything up.
Hydro Flask
Gift the Hydro Flask 40 oz. Water Bottle, available at Walmart, from $37.59
This is the sturdy, powerfully insulated water bottle that they’ll carry with them everywhere. I’ve had friends lament the loss of their Hydro Flasks with much more emotion than you’d expect for a water bottle.
Goby/Instagram
Gift the All-Black Electric Toothbrush, available at Goby, from $65 with subscription or $80 without
Dental hygiene doesn’t get less important as you grow up. Goby’s brush has a smart design, is surprisingly effective for its price, and takes up minimal countertop space. Your grad can subscribe to receive a fresh brush head every 1-3 months, so they don’t even have to think about it changing themselves.
Amazon
Gift Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag Pack, available at Amazon, from $54.99
Whether they’re meal-prepping, organizing a fridge, or packing a lunch for their next stage in life, these reusable silicone pockets are extremely useful.
Amazon
Gift an Amazon Gift Card, from $25
Sometimes it’s hard to know what your graduate is in need of as they progress to the next stage of their life. Many times, they’re not even sure what they need themselves.
For situations like this, it’s best to give them the power to choose at some point down the road. An Amazon gift card gives them access to one of the largest marketplaces on the internet.
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