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Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Great gifts for college grads
It's college graduation season, and that means it's time to come up with gift ideas for the college grad you want to congratulate on a job well done. So much hard work goes into achieving that diploma, so it's only natural to want to acknowledge this major milestone with a gift. When it comes to rewarding their hard work, you can go with something that's practical, meaningful or even a little fancy. While a recent survey shows cash is the top gift among the over $6 billion spent each year on graduation gifts, some people prefer to give something their new grad can unwrap. That's why we've gathered some ideas to help you come up with the perfect gift for the new grad in your life. Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Luggage Nothing says embarking on a new life journey like a good piece of luggage, and this expandable 28-inch suitcase with spinner wheels is the perfect choice. It comes in several colors and has a 10-year warranty, so your grad can travel with confidence. Beats Studio Buds A reliable and high-quality pair of earbuds can be invaluable for a newly minted grad. They can drown out unwanted sounds with the noise-canceling feature to help them focus on their new job or in grad school. They provide up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge, making them super convenient. Productivity Store Daily Planner Some young adults may prefer to keep their daily schedule digital, but there is something about paper and pen that has timeless appeal. Show a new grad that the old-school way of keeping track of important events still works with this planner that includes space for daily to-do lists along with monthly calendars. Bentgo Classic All-In-One Stackable Lunch Box A new grad on a budget will surely appreciate a good lunch box to help them tote food to the office (and avoid spending their monthly budget on expensive meals out). This bento-style lunch box is stackable and dishwasher-safe, making it a convenient option. Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set A college grad moving into their first 'adult' apartment will definitely need a decent set of cookware to get their kitchen properly outfitted. This set is nonstick and includes frying pans, sauce pans and a stock pot along with lids and utensils. Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine If there's one thing most adults of any age need, it's a dependable coffee pot. This one is countertop-size to save space and can make coffee or espresso. It can make four different sizes of coffee and is compatible with Nespresso pods. Black + Decker Home Tool Kit Every adult just starting out in life needs a solid tool kit to tackle minor household repairs. This set features 66 different hand tools, including a cordless drill, a hammer, screwdrivers and more. Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera Because some events call for more than a phone camera, set up the new grad in your life with a reliable and high-quality digital camera. This one has built-in Wi-Fi and features 24.1 megapixels for clear, beautiful photos. All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Reading is a wonderful hobby to keep up with long after graduation, and this Kindle Paperwhite will help encourage a college grad to spend time with their nose in a book. The device can last 12 weeks on a single charge and helps make reading comfortable on the eyes and very accessible. New grads can download Kindle books from Amazon or hook up with their local library's app to read for free. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Buzz Feed
12-02-2025
- Business
- Buzz Feed
20 Practical Things Worth Buying From Presidents' Day Sales
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · All these items make your life better in some way, so the practical thing to do is grab 'em while they're on sale. 1. A Nespresso Vertuo Plus for 30% off so you can whip you up cafe-quality brews with the simple push of a button. Trust me, the amount of money you'll save on Dunkin/Starbies alone will make this a worthwhile investment! Promising review:"I love an iced white chocolate mocha latte, and now I can make them at home. I love the Nespresso machine so much that I use it every day. It is a little loud, but I don't care. It makes the best espressos. The little tray is super easy to clean off and actually catches the drips at the end. I really like how the water container can move around to fit wherever you need it to go. It gets hot enough to melt the chocolate chips I put in my cup. This is great. It helps me save money on coffee, and I can tell it's pretty durable! I use it at least two times a day, and I've never had any issues with it opening or closing." — Kyra Malkowski Get it from Amazon for $117.99 (originally $169). 2. A clever upholstered storage platform bed for 81% off because you can't beat a stylish piece of furniture that also provides hidden storage. Plus, it has a hydraulic lift that makes it easy to access the storage area. Stow away seasonal items and forget about 'em until it's time to bring 'em out again. Wayfair Promising reviews:"This bed was a breeze to put together. The instructions were clear, and the pieces fit together perfectly. While it's doable for one person, I'd definitely recommend having a second set of hands to make the process even faster. Once assembled, the bed was surprisingly comfortable. The mattress support is sturdy, and the overall design is sleek and modern. I love it so far" — Shania "It's a great bed. I really recommend this because of the functionality of the bed and the amount of space it saves, making your room less messy. Lots of room to hide your unnecessary things. It really sure does the job! The quality is excellent as well. Delivered to my door carefully!" — Junrei Get it from Wayfair for $286.99+ (originally $1,479.96+; available in sizes Full–King and in seven colors). Shop all of Wayfair's Presidents' Day sale here. 3. An 8-quart, oval-shaped Le Creuset Dutch oven for 37% off that may just have you looking forward to the time you spend cooking. Given all your hard work, you at least deserve to have a sturdy, reliable, *and* beautiful pot like this one at your disposal. Sur La Table This enameled cast iron Dutch oven is ready to use out of the box! It's oven safe up to 500 degrees, has two large loop handles for easy maneuvering, and comes with built-in lid stabilizers. Promising review: " If I could give this pan a 10, I would. If I had known that cooking with a Dutch oven would create the results it does with this wonderful pan, I would have bought one 30 years ago. I can do anything in this vessel – braise, roast, simmer, brown with exceptional results. What to do with simple chicken tenders? Brown, add vegetables and spices, wine and tomato paste, a flavorful au jus just happens! Now I look at every protein wondering what I can do with it in my new Dutch oven. Remarkable." — Susan W. Get it from Sur La Table for $299.96 (originally $474.95; available in 14 colors). Shop all of Sur La Table's Presidents' Day sale here. 4. A sleek motorized standing desk that's $200 off, which is a perfectly justifiable splurge for anyone who spends a LOT of time working from home. You'll be able to stretch your legs whenever you feel like it! With the built-in reminder function, you'll never forget to switch positions throughout the day. Article The height can be adjusted with the push of a button and ranges from 28 to 47.5". It also has a handy height memory function that allows you to save up to three favorites. Promising reviews: "Couldn't be happier with this desk. Great design and build quality, and memory functionality is a great addition. Highly recommended! " — Tristan S. "Easy to put together looks great and is perfect for my office! Love the flexibility of height. Finish matches the other items purchased a few years ago." — Yael N. Get it from Article for $499 (originally $699; available in oak or walnut). Shop all of Article's Presidents' Day sale here. 5. And this under-desk walking pad for 30% off to really revamp your work setup and motivate you to move more. It comes with a remote control so you can easily adjust the speed without getting off or bending down. The brushless motor ensures quiet operation so it won't make a ton of noise and disturb those around you. It has a max speed of 4 mph, a max weight capacity of 265 lbs, and a low-noise design. There's also a shock-absorbing deck and a high-performance cushioning pad to help reduce impact on the knees and ankles. Promising review:"I bought this walking pad and we are obsessed! It was already set up when we took it out of the box so there was not much to do. Super easy to work with. The size is perfect. We have it in our bedroom but can definitely move it around between rooms. It marks down the distance you walk as well as the calories and the time. We also really like that is not bulky or anything like that. It's a super sleek and aesthetic model and really think it's a great product for its price. I can totally see us working out (walking long times) on there and no need to be going to the gym anymore." — Cynthia Locke Get it from Amazon for $119.98 (originally $171.84). 6. A wonderfully plush six-piece cotton towel set for 47% off when your bathroom linens could use a major upgrade. Reviewers love how soft and absorbent these are, and that they hold up really well in the wash! Joss & Main It comes with two washcloths, two hand towels, and two bath towels. Promising review: "Excellent quality towels. They are very soft, plush, and absorbent. The color is exactly as described. These are NOT skimpy towels." — Rosemary Get the six-piece set from Joss & Main for $44+ (originally $83; available in six colors). Shop all of Joss & Main's Presidents' Day Sale here. 7. A Shark 2-in-1 Pet Pro cordless vacuum for 33% off when it just makes sense to have a powerful transformer-esque vac that can handle all your mundane cleaning tasks. Use it as a stick vac OR a hand vac depending on the mess you're dealing with. Plus, no pesky cords to worry about!! It includes a docking station with upright storage, a removable, washable filter, and a crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas. You also get an XL dust cup with a CleanTouch dirt ejection system for easy debris disposal! Promising review:" Listen! I rarely write reviews but this little charming machine deserves 10 stars! Both myself and baby have very bad allergies. This vacuum is amazing. It gets under all of my furniture, picks up every piece of dog hair or crumbs. It works very well on area rugs and even better on the mat in my dog's kennel. I vacuum her kennel every morning and every piece of hair is picked up. I wish the battery lasted longer than 20 minutes but I'm able to vacuum the first floor of my house with no problem. If you have kids or pets, this is a must. Dog hair is no longer an issue. This vacuum gets used several times a day. You won't regret buying this!" — Leah Get it from Amazon for $99.99 (originally $149.99) 8. Or a basic Roomba robot vac for a whopping 48% off (that's $120 off, the lowest price EVER for this model!) if you're officially fed up with manually vacuuming dust, hair, and crumbs every dang day. *Hundreds* of reviewers with pets swear by it! Amazon, This one even works with Alexa! Compared to the older 600 series, this Roomba has 18x the suction, 33% more battery life (up to 120 minutes on a single charge!), and map reports so they can see where Roomba cleaned! Promising review:"I always said I would never ask for an appliance as a Christmas gift. Now that my life includes a crumb-laden toddler, I'm learning, in a very hands-on manner, why the 'never say never' phrase exists. When my husband brought up the idea, I enthusiastically and immediately auto-ordered our new Roomba. Initially, upon opening Rosie, I immediately noticed her quality and seeming durability. In the past week, she has endured toy vegetable wars with the toddler, who feels that Rosie is the new space-invading pet and is adamant to stand her ground and make her dominance known. She has only been stuck twice, once on my sliding glass door, and once her wheel became stuck in my romantic, low-hanging sheer curtains that I forgot to pull up before starting the session. I was pleasantly surprised that my delicate curtains were not damaged and that when Rosie realized her wheel was entangled, she *immediately* stopped and called for help. My floors are immaculately clean at all times. I can plan cleaning sessions for late morning and at night after everyone is in bed and wake up to clean floors again instead of a growing to-do list. And if my messy husband and child create a disaster in the afternoon, I no longer have the 'I just did this' meltdown and merely press the 'clean' button on my phone with zero stress. No more crumbs and dirt sticking to my feet and no more sweeping the floors five times a day. No more feeling that I can't catch up on basic cleaning because of the tiny tornado that follows me around. I'm currently looking for new hobbies to occupy all of my spare time. I HIGHLY recommend this product to any[one] on a budget. It is purely LIFE CHANGING! I've never been so happy with an appliance!" — Ashley Makan Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (originally $249.99). 9. A four-pack of Apple AirTags for 29% off because you probably know the dreaded feeling of losing something and *wishing* you'd stuck one of these on it. Whether you struggle to keep track of your keys, luggage, or pet, these will save the day time and time again. To track your item, simply use your Find My iPhone app! The AirTag will even make noise if you select "Play Sound" in the app. While you're at it, grab a four-pack of AirTag holders for just $8.99 — also on sale for Presidents' Day! Promising reviews: "AirTags are a game changer for anyone. I have ADHD and these have probably saved me hundreds of hours of worry and useless searching for things I lost. To give you an example, my ADHD is so bad that when I bought a new car last month, I managed to lose both sets of keys in three days. Now each set had an AirTag and will never be lost again. I have tags on my luggage and I even bought a new wallet with a stitched on air tag holder. These have changed the way I live my life. Everyone should have these." — Kent Soulek " These AirTags are great for locating a wandering kitty, lost luggage, keys, etc. You look up locations through the Find My iPhone app, and you can even keep it for easy searching. Highly recommend and Amazon always delivers with fast and friendly drivers." — pmkr88 Get a four-pack from Amazon for $69.99 (originally $99). 10. A KitchenAid 5.5-quart stand mixer for 22% off so you can give your arms a break next time you want to bake something from scratch. This is one of those things you'll buy once and enjoy forever. Target It comes with a flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip attachments. Promising review:"Get it! I've been wanting one of these for years and I finally pulled the trigger when they had a sale. I've used it for baking and for making our own ground meats using an attachment. We've started to clean up our diets and this definitely helps when we decide to make things from scratch rather than 'ready to go' from stores. It looks beautiful on my countertop and I know will last for years to come. It's well made!" — MamaKate Get it from Target for $349.99 (originally $449.99; available in three colors). Shop all of Target's Presidents' Day sale here. 11. Casper's Dream Hybrid mattress for 30% off, which is made with responsive foam and zoned support that provides proper ergonomic alignment. You'll fall asleep effortlessly thanks to the softer foam around the shoulders and firmer foam under the hips, waist, and lower back. Good luck ever getting out of bed again — don't say I didn't warn ya!! Casper Promising review:"Writing this review from bed, I might stay here forever. They say it takes weeks to adjust to a new mattress, but after only a few nights I could honestly cry with relief. Only now, waking up pain free, do I realize how much my previous mattress was hurting me. If you're a side sleeper, if you toss and turn or wake up from lower back pain, do yourself a favor and get the Dream. The firmer center band keeps you from sinking in, keeping your spine aligned and eliminates lower back pain. I may never get out of bed again." — Cat Get it from Casper for $1,045+ (originally $1,495+; available in two styles and in sizes Twin–Split King). Shop all of Casper's Presidents' Day sale here. 12. OR a Tuft & Needle mattress for 20% off. It's got a medium firmness, motion control so your tossing and turning partner won't disturb you too much, cooling gel, and a 100-night trial period. Better sleep is just around the corner! Tuft & Needle Promising review: "I am so happy with my new mattress! I was a little worried because I'd never gotten a mattress in a box but the whole process was super easy and fun to watch it decompress. It's true that it gets better with each night and not only am I sleeping more soundly, but even the dogs and my cat are sleeping in!" — Kellogg Get it from Tuft & Needle for $516+ (originally $645+; available in sizes Twin–California King). Shop all of Tuft & Needle's Presidents' Day Sale here. 13. A TRIO of Blink outdoor security cameras for 40% off so you can watch over your yard with easy-to-install tech that's wire-free and connects with the Blink app on your phone. Amazon You get 1080p HD live view, infrared night vision, enhanced motion detection, and crisp two-way audio. Plus, the included AA lithium batteries offer up to two years of battery life! Promising review:"These have been amazing. Really easy to set up, and the app is simple to use. A great option for home security. The video quality is superb and the motion detection can be set to only certain areas in the camera field! Perfect for our home and yard." — Brandon Griffin Get it from Amazon for $155.99 (originally $259.99). 14. A Cosori air fryer that's 25% off — it dehydrates, roasts, broils and more! You'll be able to get dinner on the table in no time flat, recrisp leftovers so they're wayyyy more delicious, and try your hand at all those viral air fryer recipes. Promising review:"I just didn't want to buy another kitchen appliance that I would use for a week, and then it would just end up sitting there, taking up precious counter worse, get shoved into the pantry or attic. Anyway, been trying to cook more, eat out less, and I have to say that this air fryer is so easy to use, convenient, easy to clean, and really does make delicious food. So far, I have had it for about a week, and have literally used it every day. I have made chicken thighs, breasts, and wings in delicious and super juicy, plus crispy on the outside. I've tried veggies -- again, easy and pretty fast. I'm using it to cook for myself, my husband, and my to make multiple batches usually, but I'll cook the protein in the air fryer, and veggies on the stove. Anyway, really great price right now with the Prime sale. I f you're on the fence, think no further, order one now. You won't regret it!" — IKE Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (originally $119.99). 15. A Cybex Balios S Lux Stroller for 27% off with all-terrain wheels *and* multiple recline positions to keep your little one perfectly comfy no matter where the day takes you. Bonus: The reversible seat unit be positioned parent-facing OR forward-facing. It also sits at table height so there's no need for a high chair when dining out! The one-hand fold design lets you convert it to a self-standing position for easy storage on the go. The adjustable leatherette handlebar even extends to accommodate parents of varying heights. The extendable sun canopy and rain cover has a UPF 50+ rating *and* includes a mesh window for ventilation. Promising review:"I spent so much time looking for a stroller for my little one and this stroller was it! It's lightweight, easy to maneuver one-handed, and simple to set up/put away. We use it almost daily for walks, the zoo, and through grass/gravel without an issue. And it's held up amazing over 2+ years of adventures." — Vic W. Get it from Amazon for $399 (originally $549.95). 16. A set of Brooklinen's luxe sateen sheets for 25% off so you can slide into bed at the end of a long day and descend into a peaceful, cozy slumber. You'll sleep *extra* well knowing you scored these luxurious sheets for way less $$$. Brooklinen It includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. They're made of 100% long-staple cotton with a 480 thread count *and* they're machine washable. Promising review: "The luxe sateen sheets are great sheets. They are soft and actually fit my pillow top mattress. Best of all, the fitted sheet stays in place. You can actually slide into the bed without the sheets bunching up and the fabric weight is great for cooler climates." — Dennis M. Get it from Brooklinen for $111.75+ (originally $149+; available in sizes Twin–California King and in 25 colors — not all colors available in all sizes). Shop all of Brooklinen's Presidents' Day Sale here. 17. An eco-friendly Stasher reusable silicone bags bundle for 26% off to help reduce your plastic waste. Unlike regular plastic sandwich bags, these are dishwasher-safe so you can use them over and over again. Amazon This bundle comes with one-half gallon bag (64 fl. oz.), one Stand-Up Mid (56 fl. oz.), one sandwich bag (18 fl. oz.), and one snack bag (12 fl. oz.). Promising review:" I've tried a LOT of reusable bags as there are a lot of options out there all using a variety of materials. The fabric ones just get gross over time. The vinyl ones are hard to clean and aren't usually dishwasher-safe. There are other silicone ones that need a separate rod to close them that you can easily lose. This one is the most simple and easy to use. No separate pieces to lose. Can withstand any temperature/microwave/dishwasher/whatever. And if they get gunky they are very easy to clean." — Megan A. Get a four-pack from Amazon for $49.02 (originally $65.99; available in four colors). 18. An oscillating Dyson air purifying heater and fan for 25% off for anyone who wants warm *and* clean air without having to buy an expensive air purifier and heater separately. This does the job of both devices plus it's a fan so you're really getting your money's worth! Amazon It comes with a curved, magnetic remote control that conveniently stores right on the device. You can program it to turn off after preset intervals of 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours. It also has a night mode that monitors and purifies the air using the quietest settings and a dimmed display. Promising review:"I had the Dyson heater/fan for years and when the heating element expired, I decided to replace it with the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10. I use my purifier in my home office. Wherever I am so are my pets, two cats and two Basset Hounds. The Dyson Purifier is perfect for keeping the air at the perfect temperature plus making it smell fresh. It is a great investment!!!" — Susan Woodward Get it from Amazon for $399.99 (originally $529.99). 19. A Baby Brezza for 21% off — it's like a Keurig for baby formula, and my fellow BuzzFeed editors with kids have said it's "the number one item I simply could not live without" and "one of my best investments for year one (and beyond) in Babyland". If you're about to have a baby and plan to use formula, you probably want one of these. Tap to play GIF Choose from 1-ounce increments between 2–10 ounces, three temperature settings, and formula/water OR water-only dispensing. My coworker Heather Braga says:"Literally I would happily spend my last penny on this product because it has made that much of a difference in my life. It's essentially a Keurig for baby bottles. It has the capability of mixing formula with the proper amount of water and dispensing it at the *perfect* temperature for baby. It has a button on it so I can easily choose how many ounces I want for my son's bottle, depending on how recently he's eaten sometimes we needed only need 2 ounces instead of 4 ounces, etc. The bottle settings stayed in place so when my baby was screaming (he used to get very hangry!) I just had to place a bottle under the dispenser and hit the 'start' button. It was so easy I was literally able to do it with one hand while holding him. The spout has to be cleaned every four bottles, which I used to do with hot water and a paper towel, and the water needed to be refilled once a day (like a Keurig). Other than that, all I had to do was ensure the formula container is filled. My husband set it up like a baby bar cart in the nursery so we didn't have to stumble down our stairs to the kitchen while bleary-eyed and half asleep in the middle of the night. It really is a godsend and I don't know what I would have done without it!" Get it from Baby Brezza for $181.70 (originally $229; available in five colors). 20. A Nutribullet Pro single-serve blender for 37% off so you can whip up a delicious smoothie or snack whenever you please! Plus, it's dishwasher safe (on the top rack) for what just might be the easiest cleanup ever. Now that's practical. Walmart It comes with a 900-watt motor base, extractor blade, 32-oz cup, and to-go-lid. Promising review: "I used this machine when at my cousin's last July. I made smoothies, salad dressings, and chopped walnuts. It was very easy to use, produced great results, and was easy to clean! I like it so much, I bought one for home and use it often throughout the week. Love that it works as well as a bigger blender and takes half the space!"— Maggie J. Get it from Walmart for $49 (originally $78; available in four colors).
