Gift Ideas for the High-School Graduate in Your Life

Do you know someone graduating from high school this spring? Are you stuck for gift ideas? If you are, you are definitely not alone. My niece is graduating from high school this year. She is a remarkable young woman, graduating as valedictorian, receiving a full scholarship to college. She is incredibly smart and incredibly hard to shop for. If you are like me, you are stuck on what to get that hard to shop for graduate in your life. Luckily, I have heard from the horse's mouth, so to speak, that there are many things the graduate in your life needs and wants.

1. Money: Who doesn't want money? Who needs money more than a broke high school student possibly going off to college? Money is the gift that keeps on giving and every student loves to get it. A monetary gift can never really go wrong.

2. Gift Cards: This is similar to giving money, but you can at least specify where the student has to spend it. Any student, especially those going off to college, can use gift cards. Students are going to need new clothes, school supplies, dorm furnishings, etc. Therefore, a gift card to Target, Old Navy, Walmart, or Kohl's would be a great idea for any graduate! Even better, how about purchasing a gift card from the college bookstore that student will be attending? Save the student money when purchasing textbooks for class! So many gift card ideas, so little time!

3. Gasoline Cards: Have you seen the price of gasoline lately? What if the graduate in your life has to drive a good distance to a new job, or to college? How on earth can a poor student afford to come home for weekend visits without constantly borrowing money from Mom and Dad? Giving a gas card can help the graduate save money on this expense and ease Mom and Dad's pocketbook a bit.

4. Supplies: How about giving the graduate in your life a gift basket filled with supplies that he or she may need for their new living situation; whether it be college, the armed forces, a new occupation or whatever the student's endeavor may be. For example: The high-school graduate in your life is going off to college. How about filling a basket full of items he or she may need for dorm life? Better yet, buy a new laundry basket and fill it with laundry detergent, new towels, plates and utensils for eating in a dorm room, sheets, and don't forget those quarters to help out on laundry expenses. There are so many things you can put into any type of gift basket you choose to do. The ideas are endless.

5. Study Aides: Okay, this is a boring gift, and many grads may not appreciate them until they actually need to utilize them. What about giving a nice dictionary or a grammar book filled with hints on how to write different types of papers correctly? I know one of my worst gifts upon graduating from high school was a Writers Inc. book. I didn't realize how great it was until I was furiously typing a term paper one night in college and needed some assistance. I pulled out that book and was amazed at the wealth of information it gave me. I still have it and still use it today, seventeen years later!

6. Calling Cards: If the graduate in your life is going away to college, you may want to give them long distance calling cards. Graduates tend to call home a lot that first year. Save on cell phone expenses for parents by giving calling cards. The student can call home from his or her dorm room, and not have to pay long distance charges. This can also alleviate excessive cell phone charges should the student have a cell phone plan that his or her parents are paying for.

There are many creative ideas you can give the high school graduate in your life. What does the graduate in your life need? What does the graduate in your life want? Not every graduate is embarking on the same journey, but many need or want the same type of gifts. Take into account where the graduate is going and what he or she is doing after graduation. Think about things that he or she may really need to help them get started in their new journey. Any gift you give with this in mind, should be a welcomed one!