If you are looking for the perfect gift for a high school or college graduate and have searched high and low without success, there is an excellent gift that you can make that will be both unique and personal for the graduate you have in mind. Put away the money envelopes and gift cards. A graduation emergency kit to help the high school and college graduate get through everyday life will be a gift that keeps on giving.

Before you start collecting items for your graduation emergency kit, you need to take yourself back to the world of the high school graduate entering college or the college graduate starting a new job. What kind of things did you find helpful then? What would have made your life easier? What did you miss the most when you went away to college? What could you have used when you were finally out on your own after college? A graduation emergency kit should be filled with things that will make their life easier and items that are necessary for the college student or someone entering the "real world"

One of the most important things that you need to put in the kit is food related items. A college student or someone who is just starting a job is typically low on money and is on a ramen noodle diet. Give them gift certificates to their favorite restaurants and for pizza. Pack the basket with their favorite snack foods. If they love coffee, a gift card to their local coffee shop can fill their caffeine needs as well as give them a pastry treat. Gum and mints can easily be tossed in the kit as well.

A pack of quarters for the Laundromat and a personalized laundry bag will make laundry days more bearable. A first aid kit filled with band aids, creams, gauze and other emergency items is good for a graduate to have on hand. They also need an emergency household kit that include such things as batteries, screwdrivers, a tape measure and masking tape that will help them be prepared for whatever comes their way.

Give them some pampering gifts as well such as shower gels, lotions, after shave or cologne. These items will help them get a good start to the day. A gift certificate for a manicure or pedicure or a massage will be great to reserve for finals week or a hectic work week when they need to relax after all the stress.

When packing the graduation emergency kit, keep your recipient in mind. What kind of things to they like to do? What kinds of things will they miss if they are moving away from home? What will make them happy? If you can keep the answers to these questions in mind then the graduation emergency kit will probably be the best graduation gift they receive and it will be a gift that they can continue to use for many months or even years to follow.