27 Things on Sale That Would Make Excellent Graduation Gifts

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Cue “Pomp and Circumstance” — or Vitamin C’s “Graduation (Friends Forever)” if you’re feelingreallyemotional — because the season of caps, gowns, and diplomas is here. It can be difficult to find agiftthat encapsulates all the hard work your graduate has put in over the years, so let me do the heavy lifting. As the Strategist’s deals editor, it’s my job to hunt down the best deals in the internet’s sales bins, and today I’ve found some thoughtful items on sale that would make great graduation gifts — with nary a cheesy motivational book in sight. If nothing below appeals, though, you can’t go wrong with a Strategist-recommendedgift card.

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Now that they’re an adult, it’s time to get aNūFace.

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Zoppen Multipurpose Travel Passport Wallet
If they’re headed off on an international postgrad excursion, a passport holder is a must-have. This one, from our guide to thebest gifts for frequent travelers, holds multiple tickets, credit cards, and cash, so you don’t have to shuffle through your bag at the airport.

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And if those travel plans include backpacking, this colorful Cotopaxiduffelis like a suitcase on your back. (And it’s waterproof!)

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Now that they’re moving into their firstrealapartment, they’ll need some nice (read: not just from Ikea and Target) décor. We found plenty of home linens from Tekla on sale at Ssense, including this striped wool blanket that would look great on the couch or at the base of their bed.

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This cabana-striped number — our pick for thebest striped duvet cover— adds a cheerful touch to the bedroom no matter the season.

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As does this one.

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More stripes — this time for their kitchen so they’re ready for their first Friendsgiving.

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Pair this serving set from Sabre — the maker of some of ourfavorite flatware— with the above for a complete hosting set.

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Thiscutting board, which went semi-viral in the food world, looks nice enough to sit out on the counter and can double as a food tray at dinner parties.

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A Le Creuset Dutch oven is the symbol of adulthood, and this one is on sale in 11 colors right now.

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No new kitchen is complete without a solidchef’s knife, and this one, our best-overall pick, is somehow less than $100 right now.

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And no new apartment is complete without a plant or two!

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This catchall tray is a piece of art on its own.

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These pretty pearl-and-gold danglies are job-interview appropriate.

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Buying my first “real” handbag after I graduated college definitely felt like a milestone. Save them that splurge by getting this smooth leather Coach bag, which comes in black, sage green, and butter yellow and features an elegant silver closure emblazoned with the brand’s logo.

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Or get your grad ready for the office commute with this sleekbriefcase-stylebag, whichBrian Kim, Wesleyan University class of 2022, says he uses to carry documents, hislaptop, acharger, and more.

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So they don’t have to rely on office coffee.

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The ever-popular AirPods Max are a foolproof gift for Gen Z, especially if they’re worried about getting distracted in the office.

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But if you’d like to play it safe with the tried-and-true, the originalAirPodsare at an all-time-low price of $80.

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The do-everything iPad is an excellent gift, especially if their next stop is grad school.

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If they handwrote their notes all through college (same), they’ll love ourbest Kindle for notetakers. Our tech writer likes that it lets him “drop a sticky note with handwritten text” right over any paragraph or sentence.

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For gamers, the Meta Quest 2 is the perfect entry point into VR. It’s a completely stand-alone headset with access toVRChat, movies, and the entire Quest content library, which includes games such asJurassic World Aftermath,Warhammer 40,000, andThe Walking Dead.

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A watch is a classic graduation gift, and this one from Citizen — a watch brandwe’ve recommendedmany times— looks far more expensive than it is. It also happens to be fully solar-powered, so it will never need a new battery.

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Here’s one that’s a bit more military style if that’s your grad’s vibe.

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If they’re still sleeping in an oversize college tee, monogram these crisp poplinpajamasfor them so they feel like arealadult.

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A nice pair of sunglasses is always much appreciated.
The Strategistis designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the bestacne treatments,rolling luggage,pillows for side sleepers,natural anxiety remedies, andbath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.




