Graduation gift for coworkers son - help

[lecach]

My office mate has a son graduating high school and heading off to college. Office mate and I call each other work wife. We're pretty close and while I wouldn't call her my bestie, it's not a typical coworker situation.

Her son is graduating next month and we've received a graduation announcement and an invite to the graduation party.

I think cash is probably the way to go for a gift but not sure how much. Not that it matters but she makes more than double what I do. She also works harder so I would rather have MY paycheck.

It's been a long time since I have given a graduation gift so I just don't know what a reasonable amount is. Any suggestions?

 

[mom2rtk]

I find this sort of thing varies a lot regionally. It's probably best to ask in your area. Did anyone else in your office get an announcement? Maybe you could ask them.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I would give $35.

 

[bbak30]

I think that is varies depending on where you live. I give $25 for friends and $50 for close family members.

 

[lecach]

We are in NC - Charlotte area. No one else got the announcement or the party invite except the boss and they were friends before they started working together (go to the same church). Can't really ask boss - besides the fact she just left the country for 5 weeks.

 

[Happy Snowman]

In our area, most cash gifts tend to be $20.15 this year (for the 2015 grads) from friends.

 

[poohfriend77]

We've gotten three grad announcements/party invitations this year. I'm giving $50-100 (haven't decided yet) to the close family friend, who was ring bearer at my wedding. I'm writing a check for $20.15 to the other two. One is my husband's co-worker, and the other is my friend's oldest daughter. We don't socialize as families in either case, so we aren't close to the kids at all. For the record, I feel these announcements were truly given in the spirit of proud parents sharing happy news, and they don't feel like a "gift grab" to me at all. Which makes me want to give them something, lol.

For reference, we are in Illinois, but not Chicago area.

 

[cleverclovers]

Since child is heading off to college, ask what kind of items they will be needing for the dorm room.

 

[Christine]

I'd give $50 if finances allowed but I think $25 is more than a good gift amount.

 

[JanaDee]

For a grad, cash is always best, unless you are very close to them.

 

[Bluestars]

I'd give $50. If it were a relative or child of a very close friend, I would give $100. I think this kind of thing varies.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I wouldn't give cash in a situation like this, I would give a college dorm related gift. You could do a laundry basket filled with detergents, dryer sheets, an iron, a roll of quarters, some basic cleaning supplies, etc. Or a shower caddy, the kind that is small enough to tote back and forth to the shower, filled with flip flops or slides for the shower, soap dish, toothbrush holder, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloths.
Another idea is a study break basket, make a basket with some study items and some snacks... Things like a desk lamp, pens, pencils, post it notes, post it flags, highlighters, red bull, popcorn, candy bars, granola bars.
Be unique by giving him a small tool kit, with hammer, screw drivers, screws, tape measure, pliers, masking tape, electrical tape, extension cord/power strip, double sided tape, poster dots (I forget what they are called, but they are tacky dots to hang posters and not damage the walls)
I have more ideas if nothing jumps out at you.
You could do any of these without breaking the bank, and your gift will be much used and appreciated by a new college freshman.

 

[gwynne]

I wouldn't do anything overly personal. I'd give a 50 dollar target gift card enclosed in a graduation card.
If finances won't allow that, then a 25 dollar gc is fine.

I try to avoid checks when I can. Some young folks deposit them right away, but a surprising number don't.

If it lingers...and lingers uncashed for months, it's awkward.
I don't understand it, it's money. But it is what it is.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I wouldn't give cash in a situation like this, I would give a college dorm related gift. You could do a laundry basket filled with detergents, dryer sheets, an iron, a roll of quarters, some basic cleaning supplies, etc. Or a shower caddy, the kind that is small enough to tote back and forth to the shower, filled with flip flops or slides for the shower, soap dish, toothbrush holder, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloths.
Another idea is a study break basket, make a basket with some study items and some snacks... Things like a desk lamp, pens, pencils, post it notes, post it flags, highlighters, red bull, popcorn, candy bars, granola bars.
Be unique by giving him a small tool kit, with hammer, screw drivers, screws, tape measure, pliers, masking tape, electrical tape, extension cord/power strip, double sided tape, poster dots (I forget what they are called, but they are tacky dots to hang posters and not damage the walls)
I have more ideas if nothing jumps out at you.
You could do any of these without breaking the bank, and your gift will be much used and appreciated by a new college freshman.

Hard part about giving dorm gifts is you don't know what they need. From your examples, most colleges have swipe cards for laundry now, so no need for quarters (or better yet, it's "free" at some schools--in the student fees but you don't have to pay each time you use the machines), a lot of dorms have a bathroom that is shared with 2 dorm rooms so no need for a shower caddy, you don't know what kind of shampoo, etc. they use. Cash or gift cards to Target, Bed, Bath, Beyond, etc. are more practical and just easier for the student.

 

[JanaDee]

I wouldn't give cash in a situation like this, I would give a college dorm related gift. You could do a laundry basket filled with detergents, dryer sheets, an iron, a roll of quarters, some basic cleaning supplies, etc. Or a shower caddy, the kind that is small enough to tote back and forth to the shower, filled with flip flops or slides for the shower, soap dish, toothbrush holder, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloths.
Another idea is a study break basket, make a basket with some study items and some snacks... Things like a desk lamp, pens, pencils, post it notes, post it flags, highlighters, red bull, popcorn, candy bars, granola bars.
Be unique by giving him a small tool kit, with hammer, screw drivers, screws, tape measure, pliers, masking tape, electrical tape, extension cord/power strip, double sided tape, poster dots (I forget what they are called, but they are tacky dots to hang posters and not damage the walls)
I have more ideas if nothing jumps out at you.
You could do any of these without breaking the bank, and your gift will be much used and appreciated by a new college freshman.

As the mother of a grad, please don't do any of the bolded. That is all stuff DS wants to (and will) pick out on his own. Due to his sensitive skin, only certain products work for him and so anything like the above gift would go to waste.

Cash is the best gift.

 

[aprilgail]

I give my co-workers kids 50.00 when they graduate. There is no way I would guess what they are going to be needing in college.

 

[Pugsly]

Amazon gift cards are very popular here. Lots to choose from.

 

[HeatherC]

I would give $50. Nobody really "needs" more stuff.

 

[Miskey]

As the mother of a child graduating this year, my suggestion is somewhere between $20.15 to $50.00, as it fits your budget, in the form of cash, check, or gift card

 

[powellrj]

I have started going with the $20.15 too. I saw the idea on the Dis a few years ago and have been doing it ever since.