10 Great Gifts for College Grads

Some college seniors may be hoping Mom and Dad will spring for an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe so they can go "find themselves" or just take time off before starting the daily grind of 9-to-5 life. Aside from the fact that most parents can't afford this sort of gift, it won't help new grads get a head start in the real world.

If you're looking for practical graduation gift ideas, consider these:

Interview attire. It's crucial to project the right image if you want to get a job and get ahead. But college seniors are more likely to have closets filled with shorts, jeans and t-shirts than work-appropriate attire. So take your grad shopping for a good suit. For families on a budget, give a nice tie, dress shirt and perhaps some sensible shoes. And share these ten tips with your grad so he or she can ace an interview.

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Financial advice. If your child knows little about the basics of investing or personal finance, help her learn with a few good books. For easy-to-read primers, see 4 Great Financial Books for Recent Grads. Or get her a subscription to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine for just $12.

Gym membership. Help your grad release steam after a long day of work at a new job with a gym membership, the price of which tends to drop in spring and summer (so you'll get a deal).

Kitchenware. This is a gift people often think of for newlyweds. But college grads can benefit from having pots and pans to cook meals at home and save money. Plus, kitchenware tends to go on sale in May, so you should be able to find deals.

Grocery gift card. Encourage your grad to cook at home with a gift card to a grocery store. Hopefully, she'll be less tempted to dine out if she can stock her refrigerator for free. You can find discount grocery gift cards at Gift Card Granny.

A mattress. Everyone has to sleep. So your college student will surely appreciate a real bed -- rather than that worn-out futon he was sleeping on in his college apartment. And May is a good time to buy mattresses, which can be marked down by as much as 50% as retailers try to make way for newer models.

Security deposit for an apartment. For grads just starting out, coming up with the first month's rent and a security deposit can be tough if their first paycheck won't show up until the end of the month. And you don't want them to have to rely on a credit card to make these payments. So consider chipping in by offering to write a check for the security deposit or one month's rent.

Renter's insurance. First-time renters often don't realize that they'll have to pay to replace their stuff if it's stolen or damaged by fire or another disaster -- unless they have renter's insurance. You can help them protect their belongings and finances by purchasing them a policy, which usually costs $200 to $300 a year.

Help with student-loan payments. Students with loans usually get a six-month grace period before they have to start making payments. If your grad doesn't have a job by that point, he might need help footing the monthly bill because you don't want him to default (see The Dark Side of Student Loans). Consider pitching in until he gets a steady paycheck or can find relief through a loan-deferment program.

A head start on retirement savings. If your grad will have earned income from a job, you can open and fund a Roth IRA for her. Even if she has a workplace retirement account, she'll benefit from a Roth because she'll be able to withdraw the money tax-free in retirement. She also can withdraw contributions (not earnings) at any time tax- and penalty-free. To learn more, see The Basics of Roth IRAs.

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