15 Gift Ideas for the High School Graduate Headed Off to College: All for $20.00 Or Less

If you know someone who is about to graduate from high school and then is headed off to college, here are some perfect gift ideas to get them, all for $20.00 or under.

One: Most college-bound students have families at home who would love to hear from them. Why not purchase the graduate a gift basket with note cards and stamps so they can keep in touch with loved ones. You can put a nice note in the card you put with this to let them know that while you are happy for them to be heading off to college, they will be missed while they are gone.

Two: Get them a coffee cup with their college monogram, insignia or mascot on it.

Three: Get them a coffee or drinking cup that has graduation wishes and the year they graduate on it.

Four: A snack basket will come in handy once they get settled into their dorm room (or even while they are settling). Include items such as their favorite sweet treats, nuts, microwave popcorn, or trail mix.

Five: Get them a book about investing. Now is the perfect time for them to consider how they will invest in their future.

Six: Get them a photo album that is personalized with a graduation cover. This will come in handy and be appreciated for years to come once they have printed out or ordered the pictures that were taken during this special time for them.

Eight: A health and beauty basket will be welcome once they get to their new place. You can include items such as toothbrush, tooth paste, scented lotion, indulgent soap, relaxing bath bubbles, cologne, perfume, etc., whatever you think they will like and need that they may not think of initially upon moving.

Nine: Make them a CD with all of their favorite songs from their high school years. This will be a great way to take them down memory lane as time passes.

Ten: Purchase them a book on resume and cover letter techniques. This can only come in handy for them and will most likely be used time and again.

Eleven: A portable dictionary and thesaurus is a great gift idea for the graduate who is soon to be in college.

Twelve: Get together with his or her friends and create a memory book for them. This gift is great because it is very cost effective (the price of the album you will be writing in) , personalized, unique and very special. Have each person they cared about in school write a note to them. Don't forget to include teachers and coaches. If you add pictures, even better.

Thirteen: Now may be the time to upgrade to a nice book bag or other item to carry their books in. No doubt the one they have been using is no longer in great condition and they may not have thought to get a new one. You may want to consider getting one from their college bookstore that has their school letters or saying on it. You can, if you opt for the latter, purchase online at most college bookstores.

Fourteen: Now is the perfect time for you to encourage their choice of a college or show them that you respect where they are going by purchasing them notebooks, pencils, pens, t-shirts, etc. that have their college letters, sayings, mascots, etc. on them. Again you can find items online at their college book store's website or you could even do an ebay search for new items.

Fifteen: You can get them a personalized gift that they can put on their desk to remind them that you love them. Maybe a paper weight with a saying on it, a pen set with their name on it, or even a set of note cards with their own name on it.

These fifteen suggestions are sure to get you on the right track for finding the perfect gift for the high school graduate in your life who is headed off to college, and to do so for $20.00 or less.