Ideas for the right gift for a college or high school grad

In the next few weeks, a lot of people will be moving on to the next big phase of their life. Whether they are graduating from high school and heading to college or getting their degree and looking for work, there are few achievements that are as fulfilling.

Chances are you know someone who is about to reach this milestone. Invitations to parties - and the requisite gift-buying that goes along with them - are coming in fast and furious. But what do you buy a soon-to-be new grad? Do you go with practical gifts, or have they earned the right to get something that they really want?

Here are five items you may not have considered but that would make excellent gifts for new grads.

Amazon Kindle - Here is a device that is equal parts hot new gadget and practical tool. If you have never heard of it, think of it as an iPod for books.

Kindle owners can buy digital versions of books from Amazon, connect wirelessly to the Internet to get newspaper and blog updates, and carry them around in a device not much bigger than a paperback book. Imagine being able to carry your entire library and newspaper with you at all times.

Amazon recently announced a newer version of the Kindle with a larger screen, so expect them to be in high demand in the near future.

Health insurance - It might not sound exciting, but this is a great gift idea, especially for new college grads.

Most likely, they no longer will be covered by insurance they were able to get through their university, and they may not find a job with benefits immediately after graduation. Pay for a year's worth of insurance for them and they will be extremely grateful.

Look online when shopping. Sites such as ehealthinsurance.com can help you navigate the insurance landscape, and many insurers have started providing online coupons that wave startup fees or provide a free month or two.

Résumé service - New grads, both at the high school and college level, can benefit from some help writing or polishing their résumé, which can be crucial to employment success.

There are lots of great professional services that can help them. Résumé Edge and Résumé Rabbit often provide coupons for new customers (often for $20 or more in savings).

Small refrigerator - For new high school grads, this is often the most often overlooked item, but it is a necessity for navigating dorm life. These can be found for $75 to $100 in most places, and they help college freshmen save money by holding a few staples (such as sandwich ingredients) while doubling as a small piece of furniture - I used mine as a printer stand.

Sentimental items - If you are particularly close to the grad, don't be afraid to put together something that will serve as a personal reminder.

Photo albums of times you spent together, scrapbooks of items you have collected over the years - these items can provide moments of comfort when the new grad is far away from home. Many will be in new cities, either for college or for new jobs, and it can get lonely. Taking a little time to let them know how much you care will mean a lot to them for a long time.

Mostly, just make sure new grads know you are proud of them. Your gift can let them know you wish them well as they move to the next stage of life.

Dylan Biles is a moderator and bargain-hunter for DealTaker.com, an online shopping Web site owned by Media General. E-mail or follow him on Twitter @dylanbiles.