Graduation Gift?

[Bowen9475]

My son is a junior in high school. He has been invited to a graduation party for a friend. What do high school kids, especially guys, give as graduation gifts? I had bought some graduation picture frames, not year specific. I was thinking he could put movie tickets or a gift card inside a frame. Any other suggestions or ideas? Thanks!

 

[aprescher]

A gift card is a wonderful idea!! If he is headed to college one thing you can never have enough of is money. Money for supplies, books, food it's all appreciated!

 

[Hannathy]

Depends on your area. Around here the kids get invited to so many parties. and so many are just open invitations like on facebook that they don't take gifts except for their closest friend or two. They may take a card but to most they don't take anything.

My DD probably went to 25 or so parties senior yr and 10 Jr year and she only took a card to maybe 10 at most and a gift only to her best friend.

From a boy to a boy I would think he would be more comfortable with just a card and a gift card. I'd save the frames for either a close girl who is a friend or for when you are going to a party and use it for the gift card idea.

 

[clh2]

In our area, from a kid-to-graduate perspective, gift giving only happens amongst the closest of friends. And - from the friends that my DD got gifts from - they were well thought out gifts, not just a GC.

If you do feel the need to give something - a GC for the movies is a great idea, or a GC for gas. If you are more of a present person - a really inexpensive idea is a cheap tool kit that they can take to college - can be found for about $10 or so.

Seriously - it isn't necessary. Put this in the context of next year when he graduates, and will be invited to a hundred parties. You will be glad that you don't need to buy gifts for a hundred grads.

Parents don't get off that easy - if they get invited, it is appropriate to bring a gift, in our area, it is typically around $25 for a casual friend of the family, and we usually do cash, as that is what is needed the most. Goes up from their for closer friends and more for nieces and nephews. A fun gift to give is a check that represents the year - i.e. $20.14. Next year, we will have a couple of graduation parties, and I am going to be making cards that have a $20, $1 and a $5 bill in it, with the bills folded so that it spells out 2015.

 

[usd2bmd]

In our area, from a kid-to-graduate perspective, gift giving only happens amongst the closest of friends. And - from the friends that my DD got gifts from - they were well thought out gifts, not just a GC.

If you do feel the need to give something - a GC for the movies is a great idea, or a GC for gas. If you are more of a present person - a really inexpensive idea is a cheap tool kit that they can take to college - can be found for about $10 or so.

Seriously - it isn't necessary. Put this in the context of next year when he graduates, and will be invited to a hundred parties. You will be glad that you don't need to buy gifts for a hundred grads.

Parents don't get off that easy - if they get invited, it is appropriate to bring a gift, in our area, it is typically around $25 for a casual friend of the family, and we usually do cash, as that is what is needed the most. Goes up from their for closer friends and more for nieces and nephews. A fun gift to give is a check that represents the year - i.e. $20.14. Next year, we will have a couple of graduation parties, and I am going to be making cards that have a $20, $1 and a $5 bill in it, with the bills folded so that it spells out 2015.

I agree with this...except that part about the parents. The group of friends that my husband and I spend the most time with are all parents of seniors (about ten sets of parents) and we have already spoken about it and all decided not to give the kids money. Mostly because even at $25/kid we could easily go broke. So we have all decided that we will do something small but well thought out. Shower caddy and a pair of flip flops in their school colors for the kids going away and a journal for the kids staying at home. We all know that there are so many expenses coming up and don't want to add anymore to it.

 

[sk!mom]

DD is graduating this year and is going to lots of parties. Most of these parties are elaborate group celebrations and no one takes gifts. For instance, a Casino Night hosted by 10 seniors and their parents, a Barn dance and barbecue by another group of parents, a Lake House party by another group, and on and on. Now if she is invited to small receptions for a single student a gift would be taken. Right now she has gifts for her 3 best girlfriends and her boyfriend. These are well thought out personal gifts from her to each of them. If she needs last minute gifts for others, we have a stock of $20's on standby.

From a guy to another guy, I would just send a card with a $20 in it if I was sure that gifts were being given.