Yahoo Finanzen 9 Useful Graduation Gifts That Don't Cost a Fortune
Support your college grad's new career path and show you care with a practical but thoughtful graduation gift. Any grad will appreciate a gift they can use at the new office or during the job search. The good news is you don't have to spend a fortune to give them a gift they will remember forever.
Pick up any of these affordable college graduation gifts, and welcome your grad to the working world.
1. Gas Gift Card
Whether new grads are venturing out to a job interview or just getting settled in a new apartment, they're going to need to cover the cost of gas. Help them out for the summer with a gas gift card. Savings tip: Some grocery stores and retailers offer free gas gift cards as a bonus for making a certain purchase during a promotional period.
Average price: $25 to $50+
2. USB Drive
Even though school is no longer a priority for new grads, they're still going to need some tech gadgets and tools to stay organized. Consider giving a stylish USB drive as a graduation gift. You can pick up one in their favorite color or even have one customized with their name.
Average price: $15 to $40+
3. Laptop Case
They're going to need a stylish and sturdy case to take their laptop to the coffee shop during the job search or to the job itself. Give a leather or well-constructed laptop case as a graduation gift. Slip a gift card to their favorite bookstore or electronics store into one of the pockets as an extra gift.
Average price: $20 to $50+
4. Phone Charger Case
Give them the freedom to use their smartphone all day and all night without worrying about battery power with a phone charger case. The built-in charger will ensure the owner never runs out of battery power for those all-important phone calls and text messages. These cases are available in a variety of styles and colors for different types of phones.
Average price: $30 to $150+
5. Cookbook
Now that graduates are no longer limited to last-minute meals in the dorm, cafeteria food or food delivery, they may be inclined to prepare some tasty meals from scratch. Give them a cookbook as a graduation gift. Seek out specialty cookbooks that appeal to their tastes, such as gluten-free cooking, vegan cookbooks or slow cooker meal ideas. Shop online for the best price, and have it delivered directly to the grad as a surprise.
Average price: $15 to $30+
6. Toolkit
A good set of tools is a must for a new home so make sure your grad is well-equipped to handle small repairs and minor fixes with his or her own toolkit. A complete kit with a toolbox will be a welcome addition to the new home or garage. Even something as simple as a screwdriver set or electric drill set will come in handy.
Average price: $40 to $75+
7. Luggage Set
They may not be jet-setting around the country just yet, but they can make use of the cases and weekender bag in a luggage set. Whether you want to splurge on a designer luggage set or keep things simple with a basic and more practical set, they will make use of a large suitcase, carry-on bag and weekender bag at some point in their career.
Average price: $75 to $150+
8. Audiobook or Digital Book Subscription
Subscription services such as Audible from Amazon and Scribd make it easier than ever to access hundreds and thousands of popular books, journals and magazines. Give the gift of an annual subscription to these service providers so recent grads can indulge in their reading or audiobook habit on the way to work or when they have some free time.
Average price: $90 to $110+ per year
9. Professional Photography Session
Many local photographers run graduation and summer specials on photo shoot packages. Seek out some of these special deals so your grad can schedule a photo shoot shortly after graduation or get professional head shots taken for a future job. Today's grads need to be able to market themselves online and may need a professional photo for their social networking profiles.
Average price: $100 to $250+
Sabah Karimi is a columnist for the blog Wise Bread, where you can find consumer tips like how to select the best balance transfer credit cards.
More From US News & World Report
