Know a special Grad? Ease him/her into the next step! Jun 16 '10    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Gifts and Collectibles Pioneer Photo Albums Pioneer Photo Albums Magnetic Page 3-Ring Photo Album, 100 Pgs. From $8 Bachmann Trains Lehigh Valley 40' Box Car-Ho Scale From $16 The Bottom Line Congratulations to all of the Graduates out there!!  You've achieved something special - best of luck on your next endeavor! A graduation: what a wonderful accomplishment!  One that certainly deserves recognition.  It doesn't matter what comes next: a first job?  More school?  Even two months of pure vacation followed by total indecision regarding the next step.  In any of those cases, the grad has just completed something awesome! Of course, deciding what to get for that person can be tricky.  In deciding an appropriate gift, I think it pays to take a look at what's next for the person. Someone going on for more schooling will likely enjoy a money gift first and foremost.  Either money or gift-cards can make the burden on today's students a little easier to bear.  Frankly, I'm a fan of good old-fashioned cash.  But I understand that some people find it "tacky", or perhaps "lazy".  In that case, go for the gift card, but make sure it's to a place that the person can easily use.   Especially if the person is headed out of town for their schooling - make sure it's a card that can be used in their new location.  A bit of research should be able to give you a list of restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations near them, when they're at school. Or, maybe they're about to enjoy two full months of vacation before headed back to school.  In that case, I recommend helping them enjoy their free time.  Depending on what that person enjoys, see if you can help with their hobbies - gift cards for a bookstore, gym, spa, or movie theater can help them enjoy their downtime. If you still can't bring yourself to give cash or gift cards, then look for something they can use during the school year.  Do they need a new laptop?  If that's too much money, then perhaps some new accessories for a laptop - a new case, or some software?  Maybe they need something for their new dorm.  A small refrigerator?  New bedding?  Microwave?  Have no idea what they might need?  Ask them! Someone about to start their first job has a different need.  They're about to be earning money, possibly for the first time ever.  In this case, I would recommend gifts that will help them settle into the working world.  Of course, it would help if you knew what type of job they're starting, and in what type of environment.  Depending on their situation, they may need a whole new wardrobe.  In that case, help them out!  Buy them appropriate attire, or give them a gift card for a store that sells the right type of clothing.  Or, perhaps they need their very first briefcase.  If they're about to start a mass transit commute, books, an MP3 player, or a smart phone can go a long way to making those hours bearable.  A graduation is a marvelous achievement, one certainly worthy of a thoughtful gift.  Depending on what the "next step" is in that person's life, you can help ease their way!

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