$ - How Much for Grad Gift?

[scheddj]

I've been invited to a grad party for a very good friend of my daughters. How much money do you give for a graduation these days?

 

[stephbillalec]

I'd give $100

 

[21hearts]

We did $25 for my sister this year. Of course she just graduated with her AA and is going for her next degree in the fall. So in another 2 years she will graduate again so we will get her something more expensive then.

 

[GrumpyOne]

When I'm friends with the parents and kid, $100
When I'm friends with the parents but don't really know the kid $50
When I don't know either but the kid is friends with mine $20-30

 

[clh2]

Our standard gift for a non-relative is $25. I coach a high school team - so we've been to many HS grad parties. It is what makes sense for our budget. I think this year - we are going to a total of 6 parties, between team members, and acquaintences.

Now - this year, one of my team members graduated. She has been on my team for 3 years. I went a little higher - I still gave my standard $25, however also got her a Vera Bradley mini-hipster, that I got on a huge on-line sale last fall where there was free shipping. (This person loves VB purses, but I thought in college- she might want something a little smaller at times.) This young lady, IMO went above and beyond as well. Her parents were very supportive of the team in many ways as well. So - special circumstances IMO led to a "bigger" gift.

 

[phred52]

Went to a triple HS graduation party yesterday. I gave each graduate a $25 gift card.

 

[Danibelle]

25 or so is plenty unless you are very close friends.

 

[sk!mom]

When I'm friends with the parents and kid, $100
When I'm friends with the parents but don't really know the kid $50
When I don't know either but the kid is friends with mine $20-30

This is pretty close to what we do with just a couple of additions.

Close relative that are actually a part of our lives $200-250. Sometimes all cash and sometimes a combination of cash and some type of gift.

I also might base the gift a bit on whether or not we're attending a party and how elaborate the party is. I might give a bit more if we're attending and it's a fairly elaborate party.

 

[Soulsearching]

I've been invited to a grad party for a very good friend of my daughters. How much money do you give for a graduation these days?

Is this a high school graduation or a college graduation?

High School graduation: I would not give money, I would buy a gift in college colors. One gift I bought was a llbean toiletry bag - Personal Organizer. It can be hanged in the shower stall for use at college. I got their initials monogramed on it. I bought three of these. They were much appreciated.

College Graduation: I would give money. $100.00

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ds graduation party was last night. He got one visa gift card, college shirts from us and the rest cash. Smallest was 15.00 largest was 100. Most were 25.00. A few people added picture frames to their gifts.

 

[Fyrefly]

In high school I got a few money gifts ranging from $20-$30 from acquaintances, higher from relatives. I got material gifts from friends, college teddy bear, movie night gift basket, etc.

For college it was $50-$100, and pretty much no gifts, although two people who knew I was outfitting an apartment in the next state for grad school work got me Bed, Bath, and Beyond cards which were helpful.

Bear in mind that if you buy a shower tote or something for an HS grad, chances are that everyone else thought that was a cool idea too, so include a receipt or just go with a gift card for someone with nice dorm stuff so the poor kid doesn't go to school with 6 bath/laundry gifts and nothing to help buy bedding!

 

[jme829]

DD's party was last night, she got anywhere from $10-$50. Several gas cards. Most cash and cards ended being right around $20-25. She also got a nice picture frame and a photo album. Every amount was appreciated. A few didn't give anything, and she was more than fine with that. She was just grateful that she had a good turnout to celebrate with her.

Her bff gave her (on top of a money gift from her parents) a duffle bag, pillow, toothbrush, gas card and mapquest directions from our house to bff's dorm room (she is going about 40 miles away) as a "subtle" hint that dd better go visit!

These gifts were all from friends/neighbors. We are having a family party for her in our home state in a couple of weeks (all of our family lives in another state) but I'm sure it'll be around the same amounts. But again, she'll just be grateful that people come and celebrate with her.

 

[caravarela]

My sister in law just graduated college, and was getting married 2 weeks later. We gave her $50 and a Dave Ramsay book for her graduation, and $100 plus lots of other gifts for her wedding.

 

[DCbride]

I agree with the $25 for kids friends up to $100 for close relatives. Last night we gave $75 to my daughter's best friend. And this is from high school. Around here we really do not give parties for college graduation. Next year my son will graduate from a 4yr college and I hadn't even considered a party or that he would receive gifts.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

An idea I'd seen somewhere is to give a check for the grad year (eg $20.11 for someone this year.) I've done that a few times and people thought it was cute.

 

[Julia M]

DS graduated from HS last year. We gave $50 to kids whose families are close friends of ours. $25 to more casual friends.

We did the same this year.

Julia

 

[ilovejack02]

50.00 for close family friends , 25.00 for casual , 100 for family members, unless like the year I had 4 graduating at once lol ; ) they all got knocked down to 50.00 . Told my family next time space the kids out a little further haha.

 

[aprilgail2]

I agree with the $25 for kids friends up to $100 for close relatives. Last night we gave $75 to my daughter's best friend. And this is from high school. Around here we really do not give parties for college graduation. Next year my son will graduate from a 4yr college and I hadn't even considered a party or that he would receive gifts.

I don't think anyone has them here either- no one I know at least. High School graduation they all have parties but not so much for college!

 

[kimsuenew]

$50.00 for our son.

$25.00 for close family and close friends.

$20.00 all others.

 

[mom2t]

I usually give $25 but gave my nephew $100 - He is very special to me and enjoying a trip to Europe with some of his fellow classmates and his Mom right now.