1. A New Car

A new car is one of the best gifts to give college graduates. If your graduate plans to move and start a career in a new state, you want to make sure they have reliable transportation. If they don’t have a car, or have the same car they’ve had since they got their license, it might be time for an upgrade. You want to make sure they can get back and forth between interviews for their future job, plus be able to come visit you! You’d be surprised at how many inexpensive, top-notch cars there are.

2. Home Appliances

Home appliances are always great gifts, but to a graduate who plans to move into their first apartment or home, appliances will be much more appreciated. It will be one less thing they have to worry about getting when there are so many other things to buy. The good thing about appliances is that they fit with any budget. You can go expensive buying a refrigerator, washer or dryer, or inexpensive investing in a toaster or a waffle maker. Either way the appliances will come in handy and make those first months in a new city and life a little easier to handle.

3. Student Loan Payment

It won’t take long for the government to start sending out letters about the student loans your graduate has taken out. Making a payment or two would really help them out, especially since they are expected to start making payments only 6 months after they graduate. It barely gives them time to get adjusted to life on their own, so I’m sure they would appreciate a little help in that department. Taking a little debt off their list of things to cope with can be great relief.

4. A New Career Wardrobe

Put your new graduate in some clothing that will help them look the part for their future career. You want them to look professional and classy while out job hunting. If they have already found themselves a job, you want them to look good while doing it. Appearance is important; employers are going to want them to look as good as they can perform. Plus, who doesn’t love new clothes?

5. A Gift Card

Everyone has a favorite store, so if you’re dealing with a picky graduate get them a gift card. They can buy whatever it is that they want, and in a sense it will still be from you. If you’re feeling really generous get them a gift card for more than one store. Maybe a Target or Wal-Mart gift card, where they can find things they will need, and an Old Navy or Bath and Body works gift card where they can splurge. You can’t go wrong with a gift card.

6. A Tablet

Everything seems to be turning digital, and we all want to keep up with the movement. Buy your graduate a tablet so they can keep up with the times. I’m sure the tablet will be useful for some aspect of their new job. They can do work on the go or just pass time playing a game or two. Help them stay up to date. There are several tablets to choose from, so buy them one and load it with helpful apps and games.

7. Money

I guess if all else fails you can resort to what’s always been the best gift: Money! Of course all of the gifts I’ve listed already involve money, but it’s just better to receive money. And it’s better than a gift card because you don’t have to use it all in one store. Above anything else I’m sure your graduate will appreciate money they can use anywhere.

It can be hard picking out a thoughtful gift, but for a graduate I think it may be more important to give gifts you know they will need. Something they can really use for the life they have ahead of them. What have you bought, or plan to buy your college graduate?