Graduation Gifts
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Four Gift Ideas for Big City-Bound Graduates.
If your college graduate will be living in a major city, you can give them a jump start with a gift tailored to their urban lifestyle. Choosing a gift for a young urban professional requires a keen eye for products that help him or her overcome the city’s difficulties or enhances the convenience, excitement, and efficiency that urban areas provide. Below are four great gift ideas for a college graduate moving to the big city, all of which can be purchased and delivered over the internet.
ZipCar and Flexcar.
Grads moving to compact, walkable cities will appreciate a gift of ZipCar and FlexCar. These services offer car rental by the hour in major cities like
Boston, and Seattle. Cars are available for about $9 an hour–which includes gas and insurance—up to a daily maximum. The cars are positioned at central parking spaces and are accessed through a remote key-card provided to members. Most cars are compact sedans, but premium cars are available if the renter wants or needs one. Trucks, SUVs, and luxury cars can be rented for a higher hourly rate. Owning a car costs as much as $600 a month–even more in a big city. Car sharing allows people to give up owning a car and the expenses that go with it. Pre-paid Zipcar and Flexcar gift memberships are available for set dollar amounts or by the year. Gift purchases can be made and given over the internet, starting at $50. Giving a car sharing service will save the graduate a lot of money, while allowing them the mobility they need to enjoy their new city and the life of a young professional.
iTunes Gift Cards.
Modern city-dwellers are addicted to their iPods. While these devices are popular nationwide, people in big cities use them religiously on long commutes. Most college graduates will already own an iPod, but filling it with the latest music, TV shows, and podcasts costs a lot of money. Any iPod owner will appreciate a gift card toward the purchase of media as a graduation gift. The most popular place to download music and video is iTunes. Gift cards and online gift certificates can be purchased directly from Apple, through Amazon.com, or in person at major technology outlets.
Blackberry Device .
The blackberry is quickly becoming a must-have for young professionals. Blackberry is the technology that allows a handheld device to access and respond to email. Devices are equipped with a tiny keyboard that allows the user to compose email. A robust calendar and address book synch up with a Microsoft’s Office software, helping to keep the user organized. Blackberry devices can also browse the internet and make phone calls like any regular cellular phone. The wide range of communications capability make blackberry devices perfect for work or personal life as graduation gifts. Blackberry-enabled devices can be purchased from any cellular phone provider. The Blackberry 8800 series offers an extremely slim device that isn’t much larger than a cell phone. The Blackberry Curve 8300 device has more functionality and is geared toward business users. Both devices retail for over $400, but the purchase price is usually severely marked down if the buyer agrees to a service plan.
Hybrid Dress Shoes.
Today’s young professional worker doesn’t wear father’s dress shoes. In recent years, a new generation of dress shoe has emerged that offers the comfort of a sneaker with the appearance of a dress shoe. Workers in big cities need these shoes because they will be walking long distances. Because big cities require walking to the subway or from remote parking lots, a sturdy pair of comfortable shoes is a must. Cole Haan, a leading leather goods manufacturer, has teamed up with Nike to offer an entire line of dress shoes equipped with Nike Air® technology ($150-200). Mens Wearhouse offers a wide selection of hybrid dress shoes by Bostonian and Florsheim ($80-140). With hybrid dress shoes, the soon-to-be office worker will be comfortable while looking good.