The College Survival Guide and the Graduation Survival Guide: Make the perfect graduation gift even better

A downshot of two graduation gift books, one titled

The College Survival Guide and the Graduation Survival Guide were created to turn the most-requested high school graduation present (money) into a deeply personal one that earns the coveted “No, Seriously, Favorite Gift Ever” label.

Don’t believe us? Get an inside look at both below!

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The premise of both the College Survival Guide and the Graduation Survival Guide is simple: On every page, you’ll find a bit of helpful information and a place to stash the appropriate currency. For example:

  • Family birthdays and postage stamps
  • Laundry tips and quarters
  • Local restaurant ideas and gift cards
  • Must-see local attractions and ride sharing gift cards

It’s a creative way to present advice (everyone’s favorite thing to give) and money (everyone’s favorite thing to get).

How to make your College Survival Guide or Graduation Survival Guide even more memorable  

An inside spread of the College Survival Guide book; the left page includes a place to tuck money into, while the right page offers tips for how to spend that money on food, including trying a new recipe, dining out, or getting delivery.

 

Fill in the blanks 

There are spaces throughout the book to add specific information—birthdays, local restaurants and more. You can let the new freshman do the work, or you can do a little research and add your info:

  • Add family birthdays and addresses they might not keep handy.
  • Check online reviews for cheap eats and handy services near campus or their new apartment.
  • Add your own tips and notes you think they’ll find handy as they flip through the pages.

Customize the currency 

Honestly, you can just stuff the whole book with cash. But if you’re convinced your young giftee will freak out the first week of school and blow it all on a single, really excellent dorm-room party or concert, you can put in a little legwork to fix that.

Add different gift cards for different situations: food, gas, ride sharing, food delivery, cards for family birthdays, etc. You can order them online or grab some from one of those giant displays at your local big-box store.

An inside spread of the Graduation Survival Guide book, with slots to place eight quarters on the lefthand page; on the righthand page are tips for spending those quarters on parking meters and laundry machines.

 

Go digital 

If the graduate is most comfortable in a cashless society, you could send all the money through an app like Venmo—one payment at a time, using emojis to match up to the different pages in the College Survival Guide or Graduation Survival Guide.

Or instead of plastic gift cards, go the electronic route, and write in the promo codes on each page. You could even fill the book with Hallmark + Venmo cards, with an encouraging message written inside each one.

Make it personal 

Your knowledge of the grad and handwritten notes can make this a gift they’ll hold onto long after they’ve spent the last quarter. Include encouraging words, sincere compliments, memorable anecdotes about their oh-so-far-away youth and a heartfelt congratulations note—and maybe tuck in a tissue or too, as well.

Make it part of a care package

New grads (especially high school grads) have little concept of just how much stuff is needed to function as an adult in the real world. Stuff that, up until now, they’ve enjoyed thanks to you.

Like laundry detergent. And utensils. And clothes hangers.

Help them hit the ground running with a laundry basket full of small, practical items they’ll need to stay clean and fed, along with the College Survival Guide or Graduation Survival Guide for some emotional support.

 

Looking for more graduation celebration and survival ideas? We have some!