Great Gifts for Grads

May 31, 2009

June is graduation time, an important rite of passage for young high school and college graduates. One-third of all Americans typically give at least one graduation gift at this time of year. Sometimes it can be difficult to find just the right gift to mark the occasion, but the Virginia Society of CPAs recommends these money-savvy options. 

Assist with tuition and loans

Cash is the most popular graduation gift, but there are many creative ways to give it. The average college graduate leaves school with roughly $21,000 in student loan balances, according to the Project on Student Debt. That means they will appreciate any help in cutting that debt load. To ensure your gift gets used for this purpose, find out if it’s possible to write a check directly to their college or student loan company. That way you help whittle down their debt and remove the temptation to spend a cash gift on an impulse purchase.

Give to retirement plan

The years after college are a great time to begin saving for retirement, but few young people do it because there are so many expenses associated with beginning their adult lives. In addition, it’s often tough to take retirement seriously when it’s so far away. You can do a new graduate a favor by making the first deposit in a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for them. Earnings on a Roth IRA are tax free and the withdrawals are tax free if they are made after age 59½. Even if the graduate doesn’t begin chipping in right away, you’ve started him or her on the right path and begun a nest egg that will grow as the years pass.

Get the right gift card

It’s hard to go wrong giving a gift card, since the graduate can then pick out the item he or she really wants. In fact, gift cards are the second most popular type of graduation gift, after cash. To make yours special, think ahead to what your graduate will need in the coming months, including linens for a dorm room or first apartment or new electronics or books for classes, and decide which store or online option will best meet their needs. Remember, though, to be aware of the potential drawbacks to gift cards when you buy one. Find out whether there are any restrictions on how or where the recipient can use the card and if it has an expiration date. Ask also if there are any fees that will be deducted from the card’s value. Some merchants charge purchase fees, transaction fees, inactivity fees and shipping and handling costs,

Improve their financial savvy

Whether they are graduating from high school or college, young people are facing a new wave of financial responsibilities at they enter this stage of life. To educate them on how money works, consider buying your graduates subscriptions to your favorite personal finance magazine.

Consult a CPA

No matter what financial questions you have, remember that your local CPA can provide the answers you need. Be sure to turn to your CPA with all the money issues facing your family.

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing the success of CPAs. Founded in 1909, the VSCPA has 8,300 members who work in public accounting, industry, government and education. The VSCPA is celebrating its Centennial anniversary this year — 100 years of an organized CPA profession and a strong organization uniting and representing CPAs across the Commonwealth. Visit www.vscpa.com/Centennial to learn more about the VSCPA’s Centennial Celebration. For general information, please visit the Press Room on the VSCPA website at /, e-mail vscpa@vscpa.com or call (800) 733-8272. To search for a CPA in your geographic region, visit http://www.financialfitness.org/ and click on “Find a CPA.”

© 2009 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants