graduation

More Graduates Getting Cash This Year

This year more than ever, graduates want cold hard cash. A report from the National Retail Foundation found that people giving gifts to those graduating this spring will be reaching for their wallets instead of heading to the stores. The 2009 Graduation Consumer Intentions and Actions survey shows that 58.9 percent of giftgivers will give cash, up from 56.8 percent last year. The gift card frenzy seems to be abating a bit too, down to 29 percent from 32.2 percent last year.

Grads are getting less too. The survey shows that Americans will spend a total of $88.01 on graduation gifts this year compared to last year's number of close to $100. The reason is pretty obvious, the economy. Many students will pool gifts for larger purchases or savings to bulwark them against a rough job market. The traditional watch or briefcase is losing out to practicality and a gift that while appreciated, might be more easily forgotten.

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Tags: gifts, graduation, spending

I [heart] LA

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

It seems like a lot of people, celebrities in particular, are very bi-coastal these days. We know that they must have more of an affinity for New York or LA. To let everyone know about your preference, check out these textured disc pendants by Zoe Chicco. They feature scripted "I [heart] NY" or "I [heart] LA" on sterling silver ($150), 10k gold ($330) or 14k gold ($420). All the discs are 1 1/2-inches in diameter and are suspended from 18-inch chains, in silver or 14K gold, as appropriate. A necklace like this would also make a beautiful graduation gift for a daughter/niece/etc who is going off to college in, or departing from, one of these cities.