Grad Gifts

This time of year, there are a lot of graduations, both High School and College. Gifts for grads are often times on the boring side, usually gift certificates or cash. While these are safe gifts, here are some ideas to give your graduate what they really want on this life-changing day.

- Personalized Gifts: These can really only be successfully done if you've known the graduate for at least a few years, but most likely if you are going to their graduation, you've known them for a while. Personalized gifts would include anything with personal photos, engraved names/messages (like in jewelry), or even video montages.

- Vacations: This is more for the parents, who generally spend a LOT more money on graduation gifts. Vacations to your grad's favorite city is an excellent gift, especially after the stress of completing school. There can't really be an element of surprise for this one; be sure to ask your grad where they'd like to go!

- Tech Gifts: I don't know a single grad that wouldn't love to get a laptop, a new iPod, or that hot new cellular phone. The great thing about these gifts is that they are useful for both work and play, so aside from being cool gadgets, they can help your young adult excel in the real world.

- The Essentials: As boring as it sounds, if your grad is moving into a dorm or their first apartment, there are several essential things that graduates might not have the dough for right away. While they may not be extravagant, buying things like microwaves, bedsheet sets, bookshelves, and small TVs can be very useful to a new grad.

- Sentimental Letter: This costs no money at all (well, except for maybe the paper), and can make the biggest impact of all. Writing a sentimental letter to the grad about your years spent together, how proud you are of them, and how well you wish them in the future can be the most treasured gift out of the whole pile.