more grad gift questions
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| Wed, 05-24-2006 - 1:41pm |
What do you feel is an appropriate amount to give a hs graduate? Does this vary if it's a family friend, or family or your own kid?
I was thinking that $100 cash for my niece would be just about right. I don't know if that's too high or too low. She graduated tomorrow and I haven't seen the annoucement yet. If I don't get an annoucment, she doesn't get a gift from me. I don't know if she is going on to college or is going into the military or is just gonna work some crappy job some place.
But then, does that set us up to always give a grad gift of that size? My other neice and a nephew will graduate the same year in 4 years. Does the gift have to be in line with what the grad is going to do next?
How about for my own kid? He doesn't have a plan for after graduation. He does, however, have a great deal of debt already. I've been really crappy this year. He graduated in 3 weeks and we still don't even have his senior pictures done. He never got a class ring. I feel totally bad. I feel like I need to make this up to him, but I can't break the bank, either.
Editted to add: what about gifts for MY kids friends. Kids that I know that he is graduating with?
I'd love to hear how other are handling this, or have in the past.
Leslie
Edited 5/24/2006 1:46 pm ET by momtb4

I agree. We typically give what we can and in most cases $50 is the going rate. My niece is graduating with my dd this year and I am planning on giving her $50 and a charm bracelet so total it will be around $100. She has money and her parents are paying for her entire tuition so she doesn't really need the cash, that's why I split it (a little for her pocket and something sentimental). I am relatively certain that they will likely give my dd at least $100 if not more. But they are big gift givers.
I think if you write a thoughtful, heartfelt card along with a check for what you can afford, that's all that matters. If you feel that you're being excluded or neglected in some way, I certainly would not feel obligated to break the bank for this neice.
I gave all my nephews cheques for $100. I gave it freely, as their aunt. No announcement required because, as their aunt, I already knew they were graduating. I gave them a gift because I was proud of them, no strings or conditions attached. I had the money so $100 was no hardship to us and they could use the money. I would not give a graduation gift to the child of a friend. Nor do I expect gifts for my DD from any of my friends. A verbal "nice going and congrats" next time we see them is more than sufficient and very honest.
My DD is graduating in a month. She will not receive any gifts (except from us) nor does she expect any. Her aunt has sent her a card which was very nice and well-received.
How much you spend on a gift to your own child depends on your circumstances. One can show how proud you are without giving gifts. I would NOT give gifts to friends of my DD.
That's not call for. They are all graduating. One's graduation is no more significant than another. And a hug and a heart felt wish for the future will be remember and cherished for much longer than some cheque in a card.
My nephew is also 'supposed' to graduated next month. As far as I know, it is still not quite a certainty, and I won't actually believe it until he is seen walking across the stage and recieving his diploma.
I plan on sending him $100. Actually, since the 'graduating' part is still uncertain and I will be unable to attend the graduation (have the announcement, tho) I am sending a card and the $$ to my mother, who IS attending the ceremony and she will give it to him when SHE sees him actually graduate at the ceremony. He has 4 years of university tuition sitting in a bank waiting for him, so paying for a class, books, etc.for him didn't make much sense to me. Since his grades are pretty crummy, he'll probably end up at a community college at first anyway and fees will be fairly reasonable. I'm pretty sure the $$ I send will be p****d away partying, but whatever, this IS an occassion for him to celebrate.
I only have two other nephews and neither one is even in school yet, so I'll worry about their graduation gifts when the time comes in 12-15 years!
As far as my own kids graduation, we'll probably get them a notebook PC or something along those lines for their college years.