Graduation is a day that every student dreams about. Whether you’re in high school or college, graduation marks the completion of an important milestone in your life. Once the ceremony is over, you find yourself showered with gifts, often in the form of graduation money. But, once the confetti settles, it is important to set yourself on a desk to write heartfelt thank you letters for all those cheers and graduation money gifts.
What is a Thank-You Letter For Graduation Money?
A thank you letter for graduation money is a hand-written or typed-up note of thanks to let someone know you appreciate their thoughtful gift. It can be formal or informal, based on the relationship you have with the person you’re sending it out to.
When should you send a Thank-You Letter For Graduation Money?
There is no specific time to send a thank-you note. However, it is safe to say that the sooner you send it, the better. Most commonly, a thank-you letter for graduation money is s within a few days/weeks of the receipt of a gift.
Why is a Thank-You Letter For Graduation Money Important?
In a world where words and sentences are being crunched into acronyms, writing a heartfelt thank-you letter can be an extremely powerful means to communicate your gratitude. Taking the time to express your gratitude through a thank you lets them know you appreciate their kindness.
Tips for Writing a Heartfelt Thank-You Letter For Graduation Money
When writing a Thank-You Letter For Graduation Money, finding the right words can often be a challenge. It is especially challenging if the gift is monetary because we are conditioned not to talk about money openly. But, writing a thank you note for graduation money is not hard or awkward at all. Follow these 5 simple tips to make your thank-you letter stand out –
Stay Organised
Maintain a list of names of the people who have gifted you graduation money and write the gift amount against their name. This simple bookkeeping practice will help you personalize your letters better. Imagine if an aunt gifted you $50 – telling her that you are grateful for this huge amount might make you sound ingenuine.
Personalize the Thank-You Message
When you have a long list of people to thank, it can get tempting to send a general note. But if you truly want to thank someone, you need to ensure that each letter you write is unique. This will relay to the recipients how much you value the gift and their kindness. Be sure to address each recipient by their name. Identify the correct tone and make it formal or informal based on your relationship with the recipient. Add short anecdotes, memories, or events from your life to make your letter warm and friendly.
Share your Intentions
Sharing with someone what you’d do with the graduation money can seem like a stretch, but it adds a thoughtful touch to your letter. People enjoy knowing that their gift is being put to good use, so it is important to share your intentions with them.
Timeliness
There are varying opinions on how soon after receiving the graduation money you’re expected to send the thank-you letters. To play safe, it’s best to send all letters of gratitude within 1-2 weeks.
Keep it short, but thoughtful
Your thank-you letter doesn’t have to be two pages long. Short and sweet always does the trick. You can adjust the length of your letter based on your relationship with the recipient. Stick to a 50-75 word limit for a formal letter and up to 150 words for an informal thank-you letter for graduation money. These, of course, aren’t hard-and-fast rules—but guidelines to help you get the message through concisely.
Choosing the right method of delivery
Nothing beats a hand-written thank you letter for graduation money, but if you don’t have the time to indulge in such craft, you can always send it via email or text message. It is also very popular these days to get creative and prepare a short thank-you video.
How To Structure Your Thank-You Letter
Step 1 – Open with a Greeting
You can open your letter with the standard salutation ‘Dear’ or choose to write the person’s name depending on the nature of your relationship with them.
Step 2 – Begin with a Thank You
Thanking someone seems like a straightforward thing to do, but there are myriads of ways in which you can say it. Some examples of how to express your gratitude include:
- Thanks a lot…
- Thank you so much for…
- I want to sincerely thank you for…
- Thank you for attending….
- I can’t tell you how excited…
- Thank you so much for thinking of me…
- Thank you for sending in your best wishes….
- I’m writing this quick note to tell you how much I appreciate…
Step 3 – Talk About Specifics
To make your thank-you letter unique, you must include specific details of why you are thankful. Telling them how you plan on using the graduation money is the best way to relay to the recipient how impactful or useful their gift is. Some examples of this include:
- Spend on a gadget
- Spend on professional clothes
- Spend on furniture for a new house/dorm room
- Invest the money for future use
- Give it away to charity
Step 4 – Talk about a Personal Moment or Mention Them
Make your letter warm and friendly by mentioning a personal moment that you might have shared with the recipient. You can mention a related anecdote or simply inquire what they have been up to and that you hope to meet them soon.
Step 5 – Say Thanks, Again
Close your letter with a gentle thanks and restate your reason for writing the letter.
Step 6 – Give them your Regards
Depending on your relationship with the recipient, choose a sign-off between the personal to formal. The most common example of an informal sign-off is “Love” and a formal sign-off is “Best Regards” or “Regards”.
Examples of Thank You Letters for Graduation Money
Template #1 – Informal Thank you Letters for Graduation money
This sample letter is ideal to be sent to close relatives and/or family members.
Dear Aunty (Name),
Thank you for attending my graduation ceremony and the party after. It was a very special day for me and I’m glad I could share it with you and the rest of the family.
I wanted to write this letter to express my gratitude for that whooping graduation check. I haven’t decided what I am going to do with it yet, but I promise I shall certainly put it to good use and make you proud.
Thank you for always rooting for my success and celebrating this special day with me.
Looking forward to seeing you again.
Love,
(Your Name)
Template #2 – Informal Thank you Letters for Graduation Money
This sample letter is ideal to be sent to an elderly family member or someone you look up to.
Dear Grandma (Name),
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see you at my graduation. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life, and I am so blessed to have shared it with you.
Your presence at my graduation ceremony was all the gift I needed. Thank you for topping it with a beautiful note and that generous envelope of cash. I am taking a gap year and traveling for the next 3 months. Your gift is going to be very useful to support my travel as I learn about new cultures and experiences. (Write what you plan to use the money for)
You’ve always inspired me to push the limits and achieve my targets. I hope seeing me on the stage with my degree made you proud.
I loved the time we spent together during my graduation week. You’re a wonderful grandma, and I am so blessed to be your grandson.
Hugs,
(Your Name)
Template # 3 – Formal Thank you Letters for Graduation money
This sample letter is ideal to be sent to teachers, professors, or people who aren’t part of the family.
Dear Mr. (Name>),
Hope you’re well.
I want to sincerely thank you for attending my graduation ceremony. It was a proud day for me, and I was honored to have shared this milestone with you.
I am very thankful to you for the generous graduation gift and the note. You’ve always been a great inspiration for me and I hope that I can put the money you’ve gifted me to good use.
I was delighted to spend some time with you at my party and hope we can meet again soon.
Best Regards,
(Your Name)
Template #4 – High School Thank you Letters for Graduation money
This sample letter is ideal for high-school graduates who want to mention the specifics about how they plan to use the graduation money.
Dear (Person 1) and (Person 2),
Thanks a lot for thinking of me as I graduate from high school and of course for that generous graduation money. As you already know, I’m stoked to start college and will use your gift to decorate my dorm room with a collection of photos from our many family trips together. (Write what you plan to use the money for).
I look forward to meeting you guys for Thanksgiving in November unless you decide to make a trip sooner to Boston. (Write about a future family event). Again, I’d like to send in a big hug and thank you for the cash. I will send you a picture of my decked-up room once I’m all settled in.
Love you guys,
(Your Name)
Sample # 5 – Short Informal Thank you Letters for Graduation money
This is ideal to be sent to anyone you have an informal relationship with.
Dear (Name),
I was thrilled to see you at the graduation party. It was wonderful of you to share this occasion with me.
Thank you so much for cheering for me today and for the graduation money. I’ve been saving up to buy a laptop for college or the past few months, but have been falling short. With your generous graduation check, I’m hoping to finally buy one. I will send you a picture of it and you can tell me what you think of it. (Write what you plan to use the money for)
Hope we can meet again soon.
Lots of love,
(Your Name)
Sample #6 – Short Formal Thank you Letters for Graduation money
Dear Mrs. (Name),
Thank you for sending in your best wishes for my graduation, along with such a generous graduation gift. I’m hoping to use it wisely as I step into my new life and career.
I thank you for your guidance and continued support, it has made a lasting impact in my life. Thanks again for thinking of me and sending in your wishes.”
Best Regards,
(Your Name)
Sample # 7 – Group Thank you Letters for Graduation money Sample
Dear All,
Thank you so much for being a part of my graduation. My friends tell me that I had the loudest cheer at the ceremony. I had a wonderful time with you this weekend.
I wanted to write this note to thank you for pooling in with the rest of the family and giving me that very generous amount of graduation money. I am touched by your kindness and your love.
As I start this new phase of my life, (Write what you plan to use the money for) <I intend to invest some part of the money in securing my future. I’m also planning to use some of it to furnish my new place, so it’s habitable when you guys visit >.
I look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Thanks again for keeping me in your thoughts and for the wonderful gift.
Lots of love.(Your Name)
