Gift Ideas for a College Graduate

We all dread the small envelope in the mail postmarked from across the country. What is this? Wedding? Graduation? Birth? Either way it means you need to send a gift. Don’t get me wrong, these are all grand ceremonies that deserve to be celebrated. Sometimes it’s just hard to come up with a gift idea for the milestones that are achieved by the loved ones in our life. For the purpose of this article, let’s focus on college graduates.

The first question you must ask yourself is where is this future tax payer earning her degree? Is she going to be hampered by endless student loans after graduating from a private university or is she graduating debt free from a sensible state school. If she is leaving a private university then she feels indebted to that school and will spend the first decade of her post-graduate life reliving the good old days and advertising where she is an alumnus. But, she is more mature now so rather than a tank top or faux cowboy hat, get her a nice professional work shirt or frame for her diploma.

Our new graduate will also be entering the workforce and for most newbies that means a commute. She may be spending an hour a day sitting in traffic or cruising down a highway to her first "real" job. So let’s make her ride a little more comfortable. Satellite - Sirius or XM – will let her customize her sounds on the ride. She can listen to the latest music, news, sports, stand-up comics, or political talking head. The initial installation is simple and the monthly fee is affordable on most starting salaries.

New college graduates will also likely be finding new habitation. Whether he’s moving back to his hometown or moving to the big city for a new job, he’ll most likely be finding his own place. With this move comes a greater need for fiscal responsibility. Buy him a copy of either Quicken or Microsoft Money budget management software. This could be the most valuable gift he receives as he learns what it is like to pay bills, buy insurance and pay taxes.

Perhaps his favorite gift will be something that allows him to remain part of the University community. Most major universities have alumni associations. These groups charge yearly dues and the last thing a recent graduate needs is another bill. Sponsor his first year of membership and he can still use many of the facilities on campus and get VIP tickets to campus events. He may not be able to watch the football games from the student section any more, but he can certainly still paint his chest.

Graduation gifts can become cliché. But, with some thought to long-term needs and gifts that fit the needs of your individual graduate you will give a gift that he or she remembers when they make their first million and start thinking about sharing the wealth with their family and friends.

Visit Another Perfect Gift to discover more great gifts for guys and/or girls to compliment any occasion.