High School Graduation Gifts for 2010: 10 Great Gifts for Less Than $50

The 2010 graduation season is fast approaching. If you are looking for great graduation gifts for your 2010 high school graduate and you are on a strict budget, here are 10 gift ideas for less than $50.

Gift cards are always a great option. If your high school graduate is heading off to college or going to start in the workforce immediately, they can certainly use a gas card. If you don't think gas is up their alley, find out what restaurant, fast food place or local coffee shop the graduate likes and get a gift card or certificate from that business. Personally, the one thing I needed the most during my freshman year of college, was gas money or a gas card!

Price range: $20-$50.

Bed sheets are a terrific graduation present for the high school graduate who will be moving into a dorm when they head off to college. You can buy 1 or 2 sets of sheets to help the graduate start their dorm life off right. You can find comfy linens for cheap prices at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, JC Penney's or any number of department stores.

Price range: $20-$50.

A Digital Photo Frame is another graduation gift that is affordable but sure to please. The Pandigital 7 inchphoto frame can be found at the Google store for $48. Your graduate can upload clear digital photos to be displayed in the frame. A photo album would also make a nice graduation gift for the high school graduate who is about to make college memories. Hundreds of photo albums can be found at target.com.

Price range: $15-$50.

The Moshi Voice Activated Digital Alarm Clock is voice responsive and a cool gift for the high school graduate who will soon have to get their selves up for school or work! You can find this alarm clock at Amazon.com for a relatively cheap price!

Price Range: $39-$49.

Journal(s) are terrific high school graduation gifts. It gives the graduate somewhere to express their feelings about the excitement of graduation and the anticipation of what comes next. Journals can be found at any bookstore, such as Borders , jennibick.com or even your local Target.

Price range: $5-$30.

Magazine subscriptions can be just the right graduation gift if you know what type of magazines your graduate reads. Seventeen Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Rolling Stone, are a few of the popular magazines for teens and young adults. A 1 year subscription can be as cheap as $12 a year for Seventeen or $39 a year for SI.

Price range: $12-$39.

An Embroidered Collegiate Throw blanket would be a great graduation gift for the high school graduate heading to college. You can order them online at Keepsakes Etc. and have them personalize it for your graduate. It's a cheap price for a thoughtful 2010 graduation gift.

Price range: $25-$40.

USB Flash Drives will come in handy for your 2010 graduate and they will appreciate it as a gift. The flash drives are 1GB to 8GB at mimoco.com and they have a clever designer variety to choose from. The graduate can use them for downloading and uploading their computer information such as music, research, and homework.

Price Range: $19.95-$$49.95.

A Pocket Compass is a graduation gift that says to the graduate "You'll find your way." It's a unique gift and depending on the type you get, you could have an engraving put on of the graduates' name or graduation date. The Compass Store has a wide variety of choices.

Price range: $14.95-$50.

The College Survival Kit from chinaberry.com is a brilliant affordable gift for the high school graduate preparing for college life. It contains 15 different items including a foldable clothes hamper, first aid kit, book light, ear plugs, shower tote and a $5 Domino's pizza certificate. The graduate will appreciate a gift that helps prepare them for their next step. If you made a kit on your own, you could end up spending $100 or more!

Price range: $49.95

Sources:Target.com
Shell.com
Borders.com
mimoco.com
amazon.com
JC Penneys.com
Thecompassstore.com
mimoco.com
chinaberry.com
jennibick.com
The authors personal experience of buying and receiving high school graduation gifts.