Graduation Season

Graduation Season is just around the corner. For those of you who did not stock up on towels and toasters during the winter clearances here are a few ideas for inexpensive gifts.

1. Postcards stamped and addressed to the giver that the giver writes things like: Please send cookies. I need chocolate. Study nights require snacks. etc. The graduate can send these back to the giver over the school year and the giver can mail back the requested item. You can limit the items on your postcards and how many postcards you give to what you will be able to afford. And this will spread the cost out over the year so you don't get sticker shock while buying all the graduation gifts.

2. This isn't necessarily inexpensive but gift cards to eating establishments on or near campus are very nice.

3. Graduates who are moving out on their own are really easy. They need everything. Whatever your last great clearance deal was this is a great chance to use it.

4. Gift baskets are always one of my favorite gifts. Depending on what the graduate is planning to do after graduation and what you have in your stockpile a vast variety of themes would be appropriate: snack foods, toiletries, cleaning supplies, laundry items, groceries, school supplies, movie night, first aid, etc.

5. If you enjoy any crafty hobbies a memory book that just needs pictures inserted would be nice. Or a blanket or tote might be appreciated. You really need to know the graduate to know whether this kind of gift would be enjoyed.

6. A roll of quarters and a bottle of laundry detergent is fun and practical.

7. A coupon binder with coupons and information on how to coupon.

8. A small tool kit. If you watch at Menards there will often be tools for free, or almost free, after store rebate. Even living in a dorm sometimes you really need a screwdriver.

9. Encourage "mints" jar. Get a variety of mint candies (whatever you can get a deal on). Print out encouraging scriptures or quotes or just personal messages and cut them out. Wrap one around each mint and put them all in a pretty jar or bowl. You could label the jar or just make a nice little card telling the graduate to have a mint each time he/she needs a little encourage "mint". Cute, cheap, and personal.

Be creative and think outside the box. Graduation season doesn't have to break you :)