Hixson High School graduating seniors listen to a speaker during their commencement ceremony in this 2013 photo.MOST POPULAR GIFTSAccording to Amazon.com, here are currently the most-wished-for gadgets for grads in various categories:Camera (video): GoPro HERO3+: Black Edition, $399Camera (SLR): Canon EOS REbel T3i, $599Laptop: Acer C720 Chromebook, $199Mini fridge: Danby DAR195BL 1.8 cubic-foot, $119Tablet: Kindle Fire HD 7-inch, $119Video game system: Playstation 4, $399Watch: Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwach, $192USE IT WISELYSmartAboutMoney.org offers the following tips to senior to make the best use of the money they’re statistically bound to receive as graduation presents:Stash some. Put a portion of the money in a savings account to use in case of unexpected expenses. Cars and computers can break down and, if yours do, you might wish you’d put some of your bounty aside.Buy books and supplies. According to College Board, students this year spent an average of $1,200 on books and school supplies. If you shop for books early, you can save some money, especially if you buy used. Just be sure to get the right edition.Deck out your dorm. In a dorm, mom can’t hear you whine that you’re out of fresh sheets. That’s on you now. Earmark some of your cash to invest in necessities such as towels, linens and blankets, kitchen supplies and toiletries.Spend (some of) it. Graduation is cause for celebration. No need to be too responsible. Reward yourself with some new clothes or that gadget you’ve been eyeing. Just keep in mind that if you blow it now, you won’t have it later.
For many of life’s momentous occasions – weddings, births, buying a home – registries take the guesswork out of the gift-giving process.
But when it comes to celebrating high school graduation, friends and loved ones often are shooting blind.
As a result, gift givers traditionally fall back on can’t-miss presents that let grads buy what they want. And mostly, that means cash. According to the National Retail Federation, 88.8 percent of graduation gifts in 2013 were either money or gift cards. The federation estimated total graduation gift spending last year at about $4.7 billion.
To friends and family who would prefer to give something a little more personal than a check, a group of students who should know — recent high school graduates who just finished their first year of college — have a few suggestions for gifts that will make life easier for the class of 2014 next fall.