Birthday party question : budget related

[MrsDoubtfire]

To one and all ...advice welcome

When your child (mine is age 12) is invited to a classmates birthday party (also 12) - and the classmate is a friend, but a school friend only (my son doesn't chum around with her outside of school, and doesn't chum around in school either, but she is a nice girl-says my son), and I know the parents by name only (just the mom), what is the appropriate monetary gift to place in a card? I would have picked up a gift card (from Claires or Limited too, etc but have no time between now and then). This event is being held at a jumpy place - which I will be traveling 1/2 to get to, just FYI.

My children are at the age (DD14, DS12) that we no longer throw big birthday parties for them (their choice) - but I allow each of them to have friends over in the summer for "birthday" pool parties, whereby we do not tell the guests that it is a b-day party, since gifts of any kind are not necessary, and I make a sundae bar and chocolate-covered strawberries rather than cake and ice cream.

TIA!

 

[shoney]

I would get a $20 gift card.

 

[scrapquitler]

to one and all ...advice welcome

when your child (mine is age 12) is invited to a classmates birthday party (also 12) - and the classmate is a friend, but a school friend only (my son doesn't chum around with her outside of school, and doesn't chum around in school either, but she is a nice girl-says my son), and i know the parents by name only (just the mom), what is the appropriate monetary gift to place in a card? I would have picked up a gift card (from claires or limited too, etc but have no time between now and then). This event is being held at a jumpy place - which i will be traveling 1/2 to get to, just fyi.

My children are at the age (dd14, ds12) that we no longer throw big birthday parties for them (their choice) - but i allow each of them to have friends over in the summer for "birthday" pool parties, whereby we do not tell the guests that it is a b-day party, since gifts of any kind are not necessary, and i make a sundae bar and chocolate-covered strawberries rather than cake and ice cream.

Tia!

$15-$20.

 

[kirstenb1]

$20

 

[iheartdisney]

Not a close friend- $10

 

[CyndiLooWho]

$15-20

 

[leebee]

Not a close friend- $10

I agree; $10 is adequate. Heck, I only give my nieces $15 or $20 for birthdays and Christmas. It's what we can afford, and honestly, but the time most kids (PLEASE note I said "most") are around this age, they already have a ton of crap, and the things that they really want are way too expensive to give as a "friend gift" for a birthday.

I prefer to give the $10 in cash over a gift card; I cannot tell you how many gift cards DD has for places we don't like, chains we don't have around here, etc.

 

[TLuvsD]

I would stop at the grocery store and get an iTunes card...about $15.

 

[irishsharon]

$20 is the norm around my area and cash is best for that age

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

Thank you so much everyone. In the end I placed $20 in a card, however if I had enough time, I would have bought a GC from Claires or ITunes for $15. I did not have and smaller bills, and DH only had a hundred dollar bill in his wallet (?).

Next week = another party. This one at a Lazergate place. Not a close friend, but a baseball teammate. I'm going to go with a $15 GC from Dick's Sporting Goods. I know $15 buys not much there - but he can add more funds of his own to get something. I know when my son has received them, they have NEVER gone to waste, lol !

 

[tasha99]

$10 cash

 

[4HppyCamprs]

15.00

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[sweetdana]

I would prolly avoid a gift c

 

[drcmk]

It depends on your area. In our area (east coast) it was be embarrassing to give less than $20, regardless of the relationship. For a very good friend (kids we've known 10+ years), I spend thirty to forty dollars.

 

[sweetdana]

[;I would prolly avoid a gift card solely do to I'd have a hard time with less than 20$.

I buy less expensive items and spend under 10$ usually for birthday parties. We have a store called 5 below and this is where we buy gifts. Usually 5$ a craft or bag or a few hair things. Boys get a 5$ foot ball/ soccer ball. Summer parties sometimes sand toys.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I try to keep a stocked birthday closet. You buy gifts on Black Friday, after holiday sales and clearances. You get 25-30$ gifts for 10-15.00 or less. Looks like you spend lots more! I am just not a "give money" person but I do sometimes give gifts cards trying to match the card well to the person. For a school only friend if I don't have anything in my closet, a 15-20.00 gift card works if I can find one. Many times in a pinch, i end up with a 25 just because that is what I can find quickly. I try hard to avoid that!