My parents were able to and got my kids new laptops for college when they graduated high school. We purchased them though the college as a deal because they included a 4 year bumper to bumper warranty on them while enrolled in school.
For my kids and my nephews, my dad gave them all the same offer while in high school. He would match any money they made for the years (up to $5,500 total) but his money had to be invested in a Roth IRA in their name. He wanted them to learn and see the the value of even small investing and letting it ride. They could keep and use the money they earned. Since then both of my kids have put at least $1k per year into those accounts.
Before my dad passed he gave all 4 grandkids $10k. My kids invested most of it and paid for some other school stuff. I'm not sure what my nephews (sisters 2 kids) did with theirs.
As college graduation we got my son a Colt Python, my daughter will get some version she likes. Currently that will be a NIB King Cobra that I got because the Python's were not available until a week before graduation. I was on 3 waiting lists, King Cobra would have been the consolation version.
Both my kids have older, higher mileage, but what I consider reliable vehicles. They get them to work and school and they are happy and appreciative. I take care of maintenance on them and fill them up when ever they are home.
My mom got my son a new Macbook, I-pad and accessories when he graduated college and started PA school. They all sync/link so he can study in between on Ipad, take tests with laptop etc.
Daughter will be going to grad school next year for Occupational Therapy at same college she is in now. We are paying for her spring break trip as part of graduation present.
I'm very fortunate that my parents were able to help my sister and I. We got some scholarships for school and my parents covered the rest. We worked when home, saved it for money to live on at school, drove older cars. They also took us and our spouses on family vacations because they knew we didn't have enough funds starting out. They continued that with the grandkids. They wanted to make sure everyone had the family experiences and memories. They would tell us, plan vacation for X week next year. Dad planned and setup accordingly. He was retired for 23 years before he passed. Mom gets his work pension, military pension, social security and her own social security from Germany (born/raised/worked) there until she married dad and moved to USA. At 87 she is comfortable, not worried about making ends meet. She has moved most of her assets and house to an irrevocable trust with my sister and I as trustees.
She also sends money a couple times per year to her sister to help her.
@Jdeere562 - keep helping as best you think, you are doing a great job. If you can do vacations as a family, the memories will always be there. Setup an investment account like Roth IRA with her and help her understand it. Let her pick the funds she researches. My dad was big on just doing a lot of S&P things but had a lot invested in Fidelity Growth and some individual dividend re-investment stocks. Keep it going with the market and leave it long term. My kids are shocked at how much their stuff has grown over the years. As long as they earn money, you can fund that IRA up to that amount or the yearly limit if they earn more than that. With a Roth she could always touch the principle if needed for an emergency (not that you want her to and explain that).