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15 Practical Gifts Your College Grad Actually Needs

15 Practical Gifts Your College Grad Actually Needs

By Lindsay Dolak

Updated May 17, 2017 @ 4:45 pm

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

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Another year, another flock of wide-eyed, hopeful young college graduates entering the (dun, dun, dun) real world. And they need a lot more than love and guidance to get through the first year or so of making it on their own. A gorgeous engraved necklace is great. A fresh set of knives to whip up top notch meals is better.

Here, we've rounded up a few super-practical gifts to give your favorite grad as they embark on this next chapter. They might not be rent money, but we think they're just as useful.

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Fresh Set of Sheets

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$150

Brooklinen

Toss those well-used college bed sheets aside for a luxe set made for an adult bed in a new apartment.

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Noise-Cancelling Headphones

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$180

Amazon

Whether they're off to hit the books in grad school or a busy city with a crazy commute, a pair of noise cancelling headphones is a necessity. And these just happen to be editor-approved.

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Meal Delivery Service

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$61.50 for three meals/week

Marley Spoon

A meal delivery service, especially one backed by Martha Stewart, will take a massive meal prep load off a new grad that's been living on ramen for a little too long.

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Pressure Cooker

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$100

Amazon

When they do want to make a meal from scratch, no doubt they'll still want to be efficient about it. This Best of Tech winning instant pot features 14 programs to do everything from slow cook a stew to make yogurt.

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Amazon Echo Look

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$200

Amazon

It's new, it's cool and it might just help your recent grad put together the perfect interview outift to land a new job.

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Tons of Tupperware

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$35

Amazon

Tupperware is necessary in the real world for carrying food everywhere from the office to the girls night pot luck. But it disappears like socks. A sturdy set with a number of pieces will last.

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Steamer

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$63

Amazon

Tbh, ironing might be a thing of a past as far as a lot of recent grads are concerned. Steaming clothes can be just as effective and super quick for keeping all their real world clothes looking presentable. And this one is our award-winning favorite.

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Knife Set

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$200

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

We've all tried to use a steak knife to cut up everything from raw vegetables to a fresh loaf of bread because we didn't have the proper tools. Get your grad a knife set to avoid losing any fingers.

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Streaming Stick

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$40

Amazon

Cut the cable cord and give them access to a treasure trove of programs like Netflix and Hulu. And this one, our Best of Tech winner, is perfect on the go, too.

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Bigger, Better Towels

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$30

Nordstrom

Towels should be replaced pretty regularly anyways. And when those towels have weathered four years of college, they should be replaced immediately.

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Tool Kit

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$90

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

To fix all of the things that will undoubtably go wrong in his or her new apartment.

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Portable Speaker

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$170

Amazon

No one realizes how much they need a speaker until they don't have one, trust us. And this portable one is our absolute favorite to keep the pregame or dinner party bumping.

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Fancy Coffee Machine

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$188

Amazon

Gone are the days of dining hall java. This high end espresso and coffee machine defines #adultgoals.

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Charging Phone Case

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$99

Apple

Now that they're free of campus confines, grads roam far and wide from work to happy hours to fitness classes and everywhere in between—and they'll need their phone charged for it all. This Best of Tech winner is the least bulky and the best.

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Business Card Holder

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$30

Nordstrom

A cute pouch will encourage your grad to remember to bring her business cards and network, network, network!

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