Gift amount for Holy Communion?

[ncbyrne]

I live in NJ and will be attending the First Holy Communion of a friend's granddaughter in Michigan. I know that I need to bring a gift. In NJ everybody gives everybody $ for everything...including weddings...and the expected amount is always higher here. I've only met the child once when she was a toddler, and her mother twice. It's the grandmother that I am friends with. Oh, and I'm not Catholic and I've never been to one of these celebrations before.
Please help me decide how much $ to give. I don't want to be cheap, but at the same time I don't want to break the bank either.

 

[girli565]

I gave my cousin $40 for his first communion this past summer. He's 11 so that was a big deal for him. lol.

 

[krcit]

I'm going to my cousin's daughters next month and will give $50. In your case I would give $25

 

[wishesuponastar]

I'm in the NY area and we gave $50 to one of DH's co-workers kids who we are friendly with for his communion. But then when his sister had communion a few years later we gave $35 for hers, times were harder then. If you are going to take the trip to Michigan to attend the party, you have that expense too, so I would suggest giving $25 to $30 for a gift would be plenty.

 

[antmaril]

I live in Michigan and I went to my friend's grandaughter's First Holy Communion last year. I gave $75. My friend and I are very close and she has always been generous to me and my family. I think $50 would be fine.

 

[scootch]

Dang, I live outside Pittsburgh(in Ohio)and have had two dd just do First Communion(the last daughter was last year) and many people gave $10. I thought that was fine. She got $20 from a few, but noone gave $40 or $50 and I surely would not have expected it. She also got gifts like frames, rosary beads, ect... and enjoyed them also.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd put that at the lowest tier and give $25. We usually give between $25 - $100, depending upon the relationship.

 

[jme829]

I think $20-25 is a good amount. When my kids made theirs, that was about the amount people gave.

 

[cmac609]

I live in NJ and will be attending the First Holy Communion of a friend's granddaughter in Michigan. I know that I need to bring a gift. In NJ everybody gives everybody $ for everything...including weddings...and the expected amount is always higher here. I've only met the child once when she was a toddler, and her mother twice. It's the grandmother that I am friends with. Oh, and I'm not Catholic and I've never been to one of these celebrations before.
Please help me decide how much $ to give. I don't want to be cheap, but at the same time I don't want to break the bank either.

I also live in NJ and my son made his Communion last year. We got all different amounts. Question? Are they having a party afterwards? Where at and are you the only one going or the family. I always take at into consideration. Partied at restaurants are always more especially if there are 4 of you going.

If a house party I would say $25-30 is good but if a restaurant then probably $40-50 depending on who is going.

 

[MPLsDad]

$50 is the max. That's what I would give. If you want to give $25. then purchase a $50 bond. Enjoy the blessed celebration in any case!

 

[DisneyDiana!]

$25 seems about right.

 

[akcire]

My husband's family is all in MI. I have attended many events in MI and we live in IL.

I would give $50.

Get yourself ready for a "great" meal, in my house we call it CBS (Chicken, Beef (and that is an overstatement), and Spagetti). Additionally if they are Polish (like my husband's family) you can expect a few additional dishes. Most of our family events are at the K of C hall--aka Knights of Columbus. If you are lucky it will be in a church basement.

Tell us where in MI you are going and we can give you some suggestions for activities.

 

[Free4Life11]

What about a nice bottle of red wine?

 

[lisaross]

the gift is for the child

What about a nice bottle of red wine?

 

[Free4Life11]

the gift is for the child

LOL, well they could let it age for a few years!

I would say $25 is enough since you aren't that close.

 

[sksjasams]

I like the savings bond idea from a PP. You would be spending $25, but it will be of $50 value down the road. Very nice idea.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Dang, I live outside Pittsburgh(in Ohio)and have had two dd just do First Communion(the last daughter was last year) and many people gave $10. I thought that was fine. She got $20 from a few, but noone gave $40 or $50 and I surely would not have expected it. She also got gifts like frames, rosary beads, ect... and enjoyed them also.

Wow really? We are in Pittsburgh, DS made his First Communion 5 years ago and most gave between $25 and $50.

DD is making hers this year. Her dress came in today and we just went to have her try it on again. She looks so beautiful.

DS didn't get many religious things for his Communion from friends or cousins. My mom bought him his rosary beads as she did for DD. DH and I bought them both crosses for their dressers in their rooms.

 

[scootch]

Wow really? We are in Pittsburgh, DS made his First Communion 5 years ago and most gave between $25 and $50.

DD is making hers this year. Her dress came in today and we just went to have her try it on again. She looks so beautiful.

DS didn't get many religious things for his Communion from friends or cousins. My mom bought him his rosary beads as she did for DD. DH and I bought them both crosses for their dressers in their rooms.

Yes, we live 30 min from the Pittsburgh airport. My kids go to a catholic school and the gifts other kids in my dd's classes were all about the same.

 

[mom2ohc]

I always give 100. but there are 5 of us, so if it is a party at a restaurant, well that doesn't come close to covering that. Also in NJ.

 

[EKW]

Hm...usually I am against the idea of giving money as a gift, but since you don't know the child well, cash would be fine. $15 or $20 would be plenty. My kids didn't get more than $25 from anyone...including family!

Still, I'd be tempted to buy something instead...a holy water font for her room, a small statue of the saint she's named after, a Chronicles of Narnia book set, or an engraved charm that she could wear on a chain or bracelet.

I still display the plastic Sacred Heart statue I got for my First Communion 43 years ago, and I have the charm bracelet with the two charms I got...one is a chalice, the other a Bible.

If I got any money, I don't remember it. I'm sure I did get money...it's just that the sacramentals meant so much more to me.