High School Graduation Gift - Going Rate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think $100 to friends daughter, $150 normally and $250 from aunts/uncles. Each grandparent gave $1000-1500.

This is just insane. Probably same poster on money forum who feels poor at 500k hhi. This is not what us real 'middle classers' gift. I'd say more like $25 for a non-relative, 50 for relative, maaaybe 100 for a really special person such as goddaughter etc.

No way. I'm middle class and graduated college 10 years ago and that's what I got. $50 from cousins.

[Anonymous]

I think sometimes this gets way out of hand. Any gift in sure would be appreciated. I don't feel the need to keep up with the Jones just because. I do t consider is cheap by all means but we do have 4 nieces and nephews getting married this year and two nieces graduating high school. So I have to be realistic. If say 50-75 for close relative graduation is plenty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy cow. I'd give $100 for a wedding.

I give $200 for weddings.

Me too. I got $100 from aunts and uncles when I graduated HS in 1993.

[Anonymous]

$100 for relatives. (If we thought the child was needy, we would give more b/c we feel well off -- though, by DCUM standards, we are not.) We don't know of any other kids who are graduating. I cannot imagine that we would give gifts to our friends' kids or that they would give graduation gifts to ours.

[Anonymous]

I don't do cash, I do practical gifts. The only time I've done cash was actually a check sent directly to the college, because she needed $150 more for freshman year tuition.

[Anonymous]

Wow!! on most of the responses. I am on a limited income and I thought $25. was on my 'high' side. Yikes. That's what I can afford for my friends son. I was considering going down to $20. but I am glad I asked. I'll stand at $25.

[Anonymous]

$100 for neighbor kids and kids of friends. More money for family and kids of close friends.

[Anonymous]

I'm giving my cousin $100 (me and my aunt are only 3 years apart in age so my cousins kids are my kids age) and I'm giving a good friends daughter $50.

[Anonymous]

I gave $50 to neighbor and $250 to nephew this year. I don't consider myself cheap, it's a gift and what I could afford.

As for the person who has 18 grad parties to go to, can't parents of grads get together and decide not to give to each other's kids? It seems odd that you'll each exchange checks over and over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave $500 to close family, $200 to son of best friend, $100 for neighbors.

Weddings are $200 minimum.

This is what I do, and maybe $50 for random people I don't know well. I spend $50 on my friend's kids' birthday gifts. Graduation is much bigger than that.
We aren't middle class though and neither are our friends.

[Anonymous]

To the posters who don't have large budgets- Give what you are comfortable with and don't worry about others. $25 is generous if that's an amount you are comfortable with. For those who have a lot of extra $, give what you are comfortable with as well. I don't think a thing about the value of received gifts, all are a nice gesture.

[Anonymous]

My mom gave $25 to my cousins when they graduated. I think that's plenty. Graduating high school isn't really a huge accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

Buy them a watch or necklace