How much do you spend on a classmate's B-Day gift?

[MSSANDRA]

If I have to go to the store to buy something, I try to spend around 10-15 for a generic classmate. One that he interacts with just at school. For friends that are really friends outside school and they have play dates, pool time, church etc together, I will go up to about 20.00. Most of the time, for generic classmates at least, I shop in my sales closets. I found all sorts of things on sale throughout the year, and purchase them and put away for birthdays etc. This way, the child can get a 25+ gift for less than 1/2 most times! Last weeks bday party, the little girl got a really nice Disney princess art kit I found at the Disney store 80% off. Next week the little girl is a special friend and it's a swim buddy and at a nice pool so we will pick something a little more personal.
Rightly or wrongly, I also keep the style of the party in mind as well. I may buy a slightly nicer gift when I know the parents have gone to a lot of trouble and expense to give the kids an extra special/fun party!

 

[we3travellers]

Like others, I try to keep it around $15. I personally get embarassed when parents have gone so far over. Last year DS got one gift that I know was around $60! Crazy!

I recently purchased Wilton Cake Pop kits for $7, regularly $20. It includes a pop baking pan (sort of cone shaped), sticks, recipe book, and "mats" to put the finished pops on. I picked up 3 and gave one last month. Since girls (and some boys) love to bake with mom, I just added a cake mix ($1), a bag of Wilton milk chocolate candy melts ($3 at Michaels with coupon), and 6 small containers of decorations. I had on hand coloured sugars, dragees, sprinkles, etc. and also a few small plastic containers with lids. Stacked them all in a bag with a ribbon. You can buy similar containers at the dollar store, 6 for $1, and then contents can be really cheap at a bulk store. It was a hit! Can't wait to do it again!

 

[Readerbug]

I recently purchased Wilton Cake Pop kits for $7, regularly $20. It includes a pop baking pan (sort of cone shaped), sticks, recipe book, and "mats" to put the finished pops on.

Great Gift! Very cute. Reminds me of the "chocolate frog -making kit" a friend put together for my HP devoted DD.

Just a 3 dollar candy frog mold on amazon, some chocolate chips and Oreos with a recipe for the easy Oreo truffle filling and a peanut butter one, and a printout of some Internet tips from googling "making chocolate frogs". All wrapped cute with a couple yummy samples. 8 dollar cost.

Best gift bar none that year. DD still makes them for friends. Takes under 10 min total. And could be shaped in any flexible candy mold, Easter eggs, mickeys, whatever.

My son got a 6 dollar tool box from Walmart once, with a real hammer, nails, screwdriver, measuring tape, (real tools bought separately- the.89 cent kind) some screws,and, best of all, some pre-drilled (for the screws) scrap wood in all shapes, and a brush and PAINT !

That was such a hit w/ him that we gave the same gift to a 5 yr old girl buddy. SHE loved it. DAD too.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I spend $10-$30 but make it look like I spent $50-$60. I buy toys on sale, clearance, with coupons or with buy one get one promos. My daughter went to twins birthday party and gave them each gifts but made sure they were exactly the same. And I tried to make it look like I spent about $40 per child in retail prices.

My daughter has a birthday party coming up next Saturday and I got a $69.99 Lalaloopsy doll on clearance for $20.98 at Target and will give that as the gift. I love Target clearance for stock up closet gifts

 

[meg8017]

I try and spend $10-15 on friends we don't know well and $25-30 on good friends(kids we see for playmates and such). My son has been invited to several parties where the whole class was invited and it adds up!!
While I am happy to purchase something a little nicer on sale, I would not feel comfortable giving a very expensive gift even if I paid in my price range. The receiver wouldn't know that, and it might make the other parents feel awkward. I know if a random child from school gave my son what I believed was a $50+ gift I'd think it was too much. I'd save something like that for someone we know well where I'd spend a little more anyway.

 

[trish.]

I was buying things in the $20 range, but then when you add the card, the gift bag and tissue paper, it ended up around $25. So I started giving $25 gift cards. Haha.

 

[blessedby3]

For that age I usually spend $10-$12 dollars. My 5 yr old dd is into My Little Pony or Littlest Pet shop. You can get those for a reasonable price.
Once they hit about 8...I give $10 cash or a $10 gift card. Much easier

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

If I am in a pinch and don't have a gift on hand, I will spend under $15 for a classmate. But I usually have gifts in my 'gift closet'.

I buy seriously discounted toys (usually from Targets 70 - 90% off racks) and save them. So anytime the kids get invited to a birthday party, they pick out a gift or two from the gift closet. I leave the red tag on so I am reminded of the original and discounted price. So we may give two or three small items or one big item. But this way, we end up typically spending $5-$8.

We also buy discounted cards (packs of generic happy birthday cards on clearance) or make a card and we wrap the gifts with clearance wrapping paper, old maps, or comic strip newspaper. I consider the cost of these items when I budget our gift spending.

Whether twins or being invited to a joint party, each child should get their own gift and you should spend the same amount as you would for any other child's gift (so if you normally spend $15, you would spend $30 for the 2 kids).

IN GENERAL (but every child is different!!!!), 5 year old girls like My Little Ponies, Pet shop, stuffed animals, baby dolls and accessories, arts and crafts, playdoh, fake house items to play 'kitchen', playhouses (I get those pop up Disney ones on super sale all the time at Target), musical instruments (for younger children!), dress up costumes, books (especially the ones that have the sounds), and fun clothes/shoes/pjs.

 

[1dorseer]

Since it is two I would spend 10-15 total...

 

[WantToGoNow]

When my dd9 goes to a party I usually spend $10-$15 on sale for a gift. My ds11 usually gives $20 in a card.

 

[cel_disney]

My DS is 6 but we have just done a bunch of parties....my current favorite gift item is a 15-20$ plasterfuntime gift card....or a mini-golf or fun stop gift card....my kids have LOTS of stuff and we just don't need much more - so I like to gift experiences....