If you have friends or mentors who are graduating seniors of our May 2015 class, you may be thinking of a small gift or token of appreciation to wish them well. Though many believe money or gift cards to be a cop-out when gift giving because it lacks thought, it may be exactly what a graduating senior needs as he or she prepares to transition to adulthood. Practicality is completely appropriate and considerate when gifting money or gift cards to a graduating senior. Here are a couple of ideas any graduating senior will appreciate:
·      Cash, it’s really that simple. Even if you can only give them a $10 or $20 bill, cash can be used anywhere for anything he or she might need. If you want to make it more thoughtful, give the cash in a creative way. For example, rolled up with a ribbon to look like a diploma. You know how happy you are to receive cash for any occasion, this gift just might be the most considerate item you can give them.Â
·      Take him or her out for dinner or dessert. In these last few weeks of school find a time that works for both of you to sit down and enjoy a meal together. It does not have to be anywhere fancy; there are plenty of local Clemson eats that are student budget friendly. Dessert is usually cheaper than dinner but just as appreciated when you take them to get a scoop of ice cream at 55 Exchange or Spill the Beans.
·      If he or she has a car, a gas gift card is gold. Gas is an expense in and of itself, so it is always nice to be able to save your gas money one week to use towards something else. With gas priced around $2 recently, a gift card as little as $10 is already almost 5 gallons of gas. (image courtesy of )
·      As a post graduate, he or she will at some point have to cook for his or herself. The days of Harcombe and Schilletter will be gone, so cooking is a skill a graduated senior is bound to pick up. We all need to eat at some point, so a grocery gift hard is helpful when the need to go grab some essentials pops up. Â