High School Graduation Gift Amount?

[aprilvaca04]

how much do you give if you are invited to a graduation party for a girl you never knew and just met her once about 10 years ago?

I used to work with her mom and we are casual friends when I see her. I was shocked to get an invitation, but we did, and our names were m is-spelled.

How much should we put in her card? (we are not going to the party)

You have got to be kidding This really happened??? Yikes!!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I always love these threads because it's such a varied amount throughout the country...I wouldn't give less than $50 for graduation but I think it's more about where you live that "what is appropriate" We typically spend $30 for kids birthday parties and $100-$250 on weddings (depending on how close we are to the couple)...but again, that is quite the norm here in NE.

 

[Alesia]

how much do you give if you are invited to a graduation party for a girl you never knew and just met her once about 10 years ago?

I used to work with her mom and we are casual friends when I see her. I was shocked to get an invitation, but we did, and our names were m is-spelled.

How much should we put in her card? (we are not going to the party)

If you're not going to the party, you don't send a gift. This is obviously an attempt to get as much as she can, and it shouldn't be rewarded. Treat it like you do all of the other junk mail you get asking for money and throw it in the trash.

 

[abeyst]

I received an announcement for my cousin's graduation - no note as to a party happening. I see him about once every 2 or 3 years a family functions, but that's about it. I don't even know if he's going away to school or not. I'm sending him a book and a $25 gift card. It totals about $50. (I think I"d be giving more if I'd been invited to a party, and not just having to send it blindly in the mail.) You need to send what you're comfortable sending and what you can afford.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Agree with some PP's, being from Michigan or East Coast like some others, we typically give $50-$100 for graduations, more for weddings!!! I wonder why that is? Then again, ceremonies just seemed like a bigger deal back there than they do out here. It was not uncommon to end up with over $2000 after graduation!

Andrea

 

[madge]

our DS graduation & open house was last weekend - I'd say 95% of the non-family gifts were $25.

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

You said her grad party is tommorrow, I assume that means you are going to it. Is your whole family going? I would think if you're family is all going to the party than about $50 would be good. $100 is too much for someone who babysat for you for only 6 months and you're just casual friends with the parents. I would think $100 is more for a family member. If you want to give her a gift, I'm sure a gas card would come in handy. Linda

 

[MickeyP]

Way OT, I know, but my neighbor got over 1200.00 for his First Communion.

 

[grlzmom]

Our dd just graduated and most of her non family gifts were $50 (a few higher and a few lower). Grandparents were very generous as were a few others. She ended up with over 5k for high school graduation which I think is INSANE.

She got a full academic scholarship for four years, including books, board, etc.. So of course we threw her a huge bash for graduation. She is adding the cash to her nest egg which has been building since birth.

We of course had several of her close friends to buy for and a few cousins all total 14 high school graduation gifts to give. Since we knew the kids all well enough they got 25 dollar gas cards, lol. Most of the kids are going to the local community college and will be commuting, the ones that were going away to school got amazon gift cards, figure they will find something small they need later online. Wanted to be more generous, but there were just too many this year.

Jeanne

 

[abby5]

I don't mean this to sound harsh but I think $20 is an appropriate gift for high school. What if you have 10 parties to go to each year. It's ONLY high school!!!

 

[canwegosoon]

To answer OP I would say 25 is sufficent(you want to remember the person) but not make the relationship change(IMO-giving someone a lot of money for a graduation when they are not a personal friend or relation is changing that dynamic).

 

[MI mom of 3]

A common check amount for graduates that are not a family member or close family friend is the graduation year...when DD graduated she got quite a few checks for $20.06. This year I will be writing a few for $20.08. Just adds a little smile to the check

 

[RichieTruxillo]

Having just graduated medical school, I must say that I really appreciated the Wal-Mart gift cards people gave me. If they only knew how far 30 bucks went toward buying diet sodas, ramen, deli meats and bread, I think their hearts would be warm.

But for high schoolers, you can never go wrong with a 20 dollar bill

 

[MickeyP]

I think I would be embarassed by giving 20.00. I'd make it 50.00

 

[Dancemom03]

Way OT, I know, but my neighbor got over 1200.00 for his First Communion.

Wow! DD7 will make hers next year. The big thing for her was the dress and veil - which we already bought on sale because she fell in love with it. That sure seems like a hefty amount for a second grade sacrament.
How big a party did he have? DD's dress may looks like a miniature wedding dress but I sure don't anticipate wedding size gifts. Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong and should start planning now...

Our church advises that whatever you do for first communion you also do to recognize the first reconcilliation, as they take place six months apart now instead of together like mine, way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Somehow I just can't imagine sending an invite for a first reconcilliation party though... LOL - "come join in our happy moment and celebrate with us, Bobby just shared all his sins with Father Ken..."

Now Back to Topic About Graduation gifts... We usually give between $50 and $75 though I'd be tempted to do a $25 gas or prepaid Am-Ex card if I wasn't close to the family and I love the idea of 20.08 but that just doesn't seem like enough for our neighborhood.
DH's nephew graduates tomorrow too. We're invited to the ceremony but the heat index is supposed to be around 110. We've decided that whatever it costs to keep us out of a hot, and very crowded auditorium, is money well spent. We'll drop by the party later and plan to give him $100 to celebrate. He's a good kid and it's a big occassion for him, even if they didn't send a gift for our DD18's graduation last year.

 

[abby5]

I suppose it depends where you live. We live in a smaller, close knit town that isn't even middle class. I hope the graduates and their parents don't compare the gifts and only remain friends with the ones who gave more than $20.

 

[hentob]

how much do you give if you are invited to a graduation party for a girl you never knew and just met her once about 10 years ago?

I used to work with her mom and we are casual friends when I see her. I was shocked to get an invitation, but we did, and our names were m is-spelled.

How much should we put in her card? (we are not going to the party)

I would RSVP that I will not be able to make it and leave it at that.

They were begging for money.

As for the babysitter, I would give her at least $50, $100 is you have it

 

[christa112]

I would say $20-$25 for a babysitter. Close friends or family I would give $50, I can't really afford much mor than than.

 

[java]

For my Niece I wanted to do a college "prep" kind of basket. But we are not going to be able to get to her party since we are going to be in Disney!! (my sil is having the party 2 weeks after she graduates- and she knew we were going to be away.......whatever)

Now I am thinking of just sending her $100. Maybe I'll be able to figure out a way to do a basket around $50 and then put $50 in there as well. (*shipping is the issue for me-they are about 2 hours away)

 

[MichelleinMaine]

A common check amount for graduates that are not a family member or close family friend is the graduation year...when DD graduated she got quite a few checks for $20.06. This year I will be writing a few for $20.08. Just adds a little smile to the check

This is what I've always done.

The other gift that I've seen others get (if going to college) is a laundry basket with a box of detergent, a stain stick, fabric softener sheets and a roll of quarters. You could even add 409, Windex... some cleaning stuff too. All those sorts of things they have always assumed mom would have on hand, lol. (And if they get duplicates- not like they won't use them up!)