Coupon Queen: Graduation gifts that won't break a budget

School is almost out for summer, and I'm just as excited as the kids! I'm counting down the days for pool parties, barbecues and days at the amusement park. Before we head off to summer bliss, it's time to celebrate seniors and the class of 2022. Here are a few unique, super-useful, and affordable graduation gift ideas they'll be sure to love and use. Create a college survival kit Grab an affordable container or hamper from the Dollar Tree and fill it with some essentials that your graduate will probably use when they go off to college. These kits can be created differently for each student, but a few lost-cost things to add could include tissues, highlighters, earplugs, sticky notes, a first aid kit, and flip flops for the shower. This low-cost gift will get a lot of use. Laundry basket gift set If the new grad is heading off to college, laundry will definitely be in their future. Grab your coupons and head to the store. Every week there are deals on laundry products. Best of all, you may even have some in your stockpile to give away. Pick up an inexpensive laundry tote or basket, and you'll have a one-of-a-kind gift. Top it off with a large bow from the dollar store to add a little flair. Stationery Planners, flair pens, journals, oh my! The possibilities are endless. A planner can set up a recent grad for success. It can help them keep track of important dates and allow them a place to write down important information. Add a few colorful flair pens to make it fun. You can never have too many colors. Grab the graduate a journal to give them a place to write down their feelings or personalized stationery to send a professional letter or to write to a family friend. These items are low-cost but are gifts that are thoughtful and will be put to use. Bathroom tote set If you know that the new graduate is heading off to college, a bathroom tote filled with goodies is a must. This tote can be filled with bathroom essentials that you can get on the cheap after sales and coupons, including toothpaste, toothbrushes and shampoo. You can also toss in a washcloth or towel if they fit. Gift cards Be on the lookout for stores or restaurants offering a perk when purchasing a gift card. These are common during May and June. You can either give the graduate the gift card or the freebie. If you buy a few gift card deals, these freebies can add up to one nice gift. This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Dollar General. Coca-Cola or Sprite 2 liters — 4/$5* *You must purchase four to get the discounted price. Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.