Graduation is cause for celebration—it’s also typically a time of transition.  After I graduated from high school, I packed for my senior trip to Hawaii and shortly after that packed my bags for college. When I graduated from BYU, I unloaded much of the dorm-life stuff I’d collected and packed everything else into my 1965 Mustang for the drive back to California.  My mom recently graduated from college herself.  Though she earned her degree through home study, achieving the goal still brought about the close of one chapter and the start of another.  Graduation is a time of transition.

As you think about gift carding for this important occasion, consider where your graduate is headed—physically and emotionally—then pick something to help him or her on the journey.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

• Smart Start. Buy a gift card for anything your graduate enjoys (music, sporting event, movies, etc.) and attach it to one of many products with the word, “Smart” on the label. Then add a congratulatory note like, “Way to go Smarty Pants!”
• Safe Travel.  A gift card for gasoline and the telephone number for roadside emergency services will ease mom’s mind as her precious pulls out of the driveway.  Add some road trip snacks and a music mix (or book) on CD to liven up the jaunt. 


Congrats Smarty Pants!

• Buy-ology. I saw a reusable shopping bag at Kohl’s with the word, “Buy-ology” on it and had to turn it into a graduation gift card holder. Most stores carry both gift cards and reusable shopping bags so it should be easy to get the perfect combination for your graduate.
• Books for Fun. I remember looking longingly at novels I wanted to read in lieu of the textbooks I had to read while in school.  Get the graduate a gift card to the bookstore so he can pick out a book to read for fun rather than for a grade. To make the gift more personal, make bookmarks, laminate photo bookmarks, or pass on one of your favorite books.


Buy-ology: reusable bag and gift card

• Climate Change. My clothing budget took a big hit when I moved from California to Utah to go to school. I needed a warm coat, boots, thermal underwear, and gloves just to get through October. Don’t even ask me about January. I imagine kids traveling in the opposite direction needed new flip flops and swim suits instead. Package a gift card to an appropriate clothing store with a fluffy pair of socks or reusable hand warmer for those headed North or a bottle of sunscreen for the lucky ones going the other way.
• New Job.  If your college graduate is looking for a job, he’ll need proper clothes for the interview.  Get him a gift card to an appropriate clothing store and pair it up with an interview notepad, resume quality paper, or a pack of breath mints.  You might also include your best interview tips or a list of questions he’ll likely be asked.  It’s much easier to stride in the room with confidence when you look good and are prepared.


Gift Pizza Dough instead of Christmas Cookies

• Groceries.  The starving college student is no joke.  Send your graduate to the grocery store with a gift card to be sure she has enough food to survive.  Pair the gift card with vitamins, some three-ingredient recipes, spices, or a basic cookbook.  You could even take the time to clip out coupons she can use to get even more for her money.
• Pizza Dough.  I can’t take credit for this one, but love love love the idea.  My sister attended a bridal shower where someone gifted the bride with “Pizza dough.”  Inside a pizza box she found a pizza cutter and several dollar bills splayed out in a circle.  Of course, I’d change the cash into a gift card to a pizza parlor.  Great idea.

If you have an idea of your own, please share it with me.