Whether you're one of the lucky grads yourself, or some of your friends are throwing their grad caps in the air, grad season is upon us.

While buying a car for a grad gift to your friend may be out of the question, the number of ideas for good grad gifts can be limitless! Here are some low cashideas to get you thinking.

• Millions of books to choose from
  Any book that will help the new grad get started in living would be useful. Some ideas: a cookbook, job hunting guide, inspirational books... or make a book of quotes for the graduate to use through the next stage of their life. Quoteland.com has a ton of quotes to do the job. You could also give them a journal to record their thoughts and experiences as they adjust into their next phase of life.
  
  
• Bucket of Stuff
  For the high school grad, make them a College Survival Kit. Use some sort of re-usable container like an ice cream bucket or a bin. Fill it with everyday needs which you should be able to easily find at your local close-out or discount store. Items to consider including:
  
  • toiletries - toothbrush, trial size toothpaste, shampoo
  • stationary - pens, pencils, paperclips, hi-lighters, letter paper, envelopes
  • a little mirror
  • fun items like bubbles - great for dorm life!
  • stamps
  • washcloths
  • food - instant ramen noodles, mac & cheese, snacks
  • AA batteries
  • coupons

  Have fun with it and decorate the container to suit the grad.
  
  

• Kitchen Starter Set
  Make a kitchen starter set. Two ideas:

  • Buy an oven mitt and then fill it with cooking utensils from a dollar store - wooden spoons, spatula, rubber scrapers, etc. Wrap it by simply putting a piece of tissue paper in the oven mitt with the utensils in the tissue paper and top it off with a big bow.
    
  • Buy a large bowl and some plastic glasses from a dollar store and fill the bowl with the glasses, several bags of microwave popcorn (or even regular popcorn) and then a deck of cards or an inexpensive video. Cover with large piece of cellophane or tissue paper and add a bow if you wish.
    
    
• Photo album or photo frame collage
  If the grad is a friend you grew up with or if you share a decent history of photos with them, a progressive photo album with stories you remember about them growing up for each photo or set of photos can be a hit and a keepsake.
  
  If you have not known the graduate long enough to have enough pictures, you can get an inexpensive photo album, decorate it, and let them collect pictures from their next life stage, (whether that be college or career). At the least, everyone has graduation pictures that need to be stored.
  
  
• Prepaid anything
  You as a student or recent grad should know this: students will take anything that's already paid for!
  
  Consider giving a gift certificate related to their interests. It can be inexpensive and it is one that is more likely to be used and appreciated. Bookstores, movie theatres, coffee shops, water parks, and many others offer gift certificates.
  Everyone can use free phone time, so why not give a prepaid phone card? Remember to attach a personal note card to the gift.
  
  
• Personalized gifts
  Thanks to technology, making a personalized gift isn't too difficult, and it's fun and reasonable on the wallet.
  
  Make the grad personalized stationary with your computer. Get yourself or a friend to draw images, or download images from the web. Choose items that are personal to the grad: school logo, favorite band logo. Remember to add their new address! Top it off with envelopes, stamps, and a sheet of return labels.
  
  Burn a CD or make an audio tape of their favourite songs and make the CD/tape jacket yourself.
  
  Most print shops offer the service of putting a photo on mugs, mousepads, posters, calendars, just to name a few items. Or buy some transfer paper and use it to iron a photo onto a T-shirt or pillow case.
  Be creative!
  
  
• Agenda or planner
  A daytimer can be a much appreciated gift and put to good use for the high school grad needing to get a grip on college life or for the college grad getting ready to hit the career path.

The ideas in this article were compiled from the reader's tips at the Dollar Stretcher where you'll find hundreds of free articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar. Gary Foreman, who edits the publication, is a former purchasing manager.

Article text copyright © 2002 iamnext.com May not be reprinted without permission.

Related reading:

• Humourous memoirs of a boring grad ceremony
• 5 simple ways to stretch your dollar
• Searching for the perfect gift