Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're wealthy, I wouldn't overthink this. What would you send for a birthday or Christmas? Send that. If nothing, then send a card.

What if I am wealthy?

$200, but the kid wants to know how you got wealthy. They just don't know it. Or, they want to know how they could start building wealth. I was 18 once. I saved up $100 a week from my $125 a week salary (Au Pair). Soon after, I saved up $10k in as a server.
If only someone had told me that investing exists, I would have listened.
My friend's 15-year old asked me to start him investing.

I only give grad gifts to private school students. My taxes paid for public school education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're wealthy, I wouldn't overthink this. What would you send for a birthday or Christmas? Send that. If nothing, then send a card.

What if I am wealthy?

Then give til it helps.

We are in the Midwest but just as another data point - we have hs grads across the street and next door (they also both babysit for us a lot and we know them very well). Gave them each $100.

We just gave my niece $100. We live in the Midwest so probably a little more restrained in gifts than the east coast.

I’ve only given gifts to two kids, both of whom actually talk and interact with me and I feel like I have a personal relationship with. Like they’re excited to see me when we see each other at a house party with lots of guests and we talk for 30 minutes sort of relationship. I was invited to and attended their graduation parties and I gave them each $100 gift cards to places they would like (stationery store for one, an online luxury good consignment shop for the other). I’ve never been invited to a graduation party just because I’m friends with the parents. If the parent was a best friend, but the kid and I didn’t have much of a relationship I would attend and give the kid a nominal gift, maybe a $25 gift card to like, Chipotle or Target. For a less close relationship, I likely wouldn’t attend or send a gift. Not worth the time or money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brother who is a multi-millionaire and a good guy gave my DD $250.

Did you feel that was too little?

Not at all. I was just happy he made the effort to send her something. Both DD and I thought $250 was a nice gift!

I had no idea you were supposed to give kids money for graduating. Not joking.

$250

$500 if best friends kid, close relative, etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People give money for anything these days. For a high school graduation? I won’t be giving my son anything. He gets to go to college. That is enough. High school diploma is nothing more than a participation grade nowadays.

That’s not true. Some kids work very hard and aren’t Naturally smart. My son works hard to get B’s but my niece barely studies in AP classes and gets A. She gets rewarded with scholarships and everyone thinks she earned more money and gives her more at graduation.

And I’m over here celebrating actual hard work at graduation and people don’t seem to care at all. Sigh.

I hear you. Me too. My kid is a hard worker but no glory for that.

$100

I would say $100 or $200 if you can afford it. They will be thrilled.

My own kids aren't this age yet, but I gave $100 to a close friend and $200 to my actual niece.

If I get an announcement in the mail, I send a check for $100

$0

Maybe $100, but I would give a minimum of $20. At least $20 can buy them lunch. Anything less and you are better off not giving money at all.