Oh, and nice desk stuff for the college grad. Having nice desk stuff is great. I mean like a pen cup and whatnot.

For goth/punk sewing artist, I'd find a local really cool fabric place or art supplies place and get a gift certificate and wrap it up all funky. Not practical, but if that is the sort of thing that feeds her and she's a recent grad, she probably won't have any budget for more than the practical crap.

For the college going, I'm with Jesse. There's a lot of retro-style stuff out there right now that would fit her style. Also? Ask msbelle. She's good at that vintage. I mean, she has a pink vintage fridge! Oh! And nice towels. Or a good robe.

Cash is also good, of course, but it is also fun to feed the nonpractical. I know all cash I got (greatly appreciated) went to boring shit. Necessary, but not food for me.

Jesse, this is why I can't give gifts - I always just want cash myself. Youngest will undoubtedly need cash. Oldest has a summer job and is already selling her art for generous sums.

Biggest problem is, their uncle is THE best gift-giver in the world, and he is impossible to top. It's all I can do to even come close.

Zenkitty, I'm putting together a graduation gift for one of my neices too. I've done it twice now, for her older siblings. I put together a bunch of stuff they can use at college but might not think of themselves, but I try to tailor it to their personalities. I put in things like those little reading lights, book holders, book marks, an address book, a toy, etc.

This niece is getting a couple of strange things. I slept in her room when I was up there for the holidays and she has posters of Orlando Bloom and Sponge Bob Squarepants. So she's getting a homemade Sponge Bob picture frame holding a picture of Orlando Bloom. Also, a Sponge Bob toothbrush.

Excellent ideas! Thank you, mighty Buffistas. Where do I put the sacrifice?

Picture frames are good for going off to college, too.

Oh! Those frameless glass 5x7 frames from IKEA. I LOVE those. I have a bunch of postcards collected from various points in my life that I've put in them. It makes for nice "art." Or Art.

Can they please make nonstick covers for balance balls? Sticking to the plastic ouch!

I have to say, my mom gave me the best high school graduation present ever -- she collected advice from a ton of people, including current college students, about leaving home/living with roommates/being in college. I think she asked people I was close to, but also people she knew would be funny. She compiled it all, and got a calligrapher friend to make the cover, but you could just do it on a computer. That was a fabulous present. A pain in the ass to do, but not a lot of money.

Some favorite bits: If you don't have enough money for drinks and dinner, get a bloody mary. The drink + celery + bar nuts is practically a meal! Also, second hand from someone's dad: Tell your date you only drink Chivas, and you won't get drunk and taken advantage of. You won't like the taste, and he won't want to pay for much of it!

That reminds me: my brother is a poor grad student with a family (though well paid for a grad student.) He's found a good way to get free lunches. Seminars. Being a MAJOR Neurosciences university, it gets the supercatered type seminars nearly daily. He only hesitates when he enters the hall and everyone is wearing doctor's coats. Otherwise, he doesn't hesitate to fake it.

Sometimes, he even finds it relevent to his work (some alzheimers, but now I think he's more towards cancer.)

And yes, he sneaks leftoevers out.

This is the problem with my school: we have brown bag seminars. Hmph.