How much for high school graduation gift?

[catgirl]

It's been a while since I've been invited to a high school grad party. Not sure how much to give as a gift? I don't want to be cheap, but not exactly rolling in dough and I've been invited to 3 partys. Two are for co-workers kids and another for a friend's granddaughter. Hubby said he heard $100 dollars is typical gift, seems high to me, but looking for input.

Thank you so much!

 

[pixiechick]

maybe I'm a cheapo, but in those situations, I'd head closer to $20.

 

[MSSANDRA]

That is too much for me and for our area. I did not send invitations for DS's graduation to my or DH co-workers and would be surprised to receive one from a co-worker. Unless you know the child himself well, I think 25 is all I would give. The friend depends on the relationship, a great friend whom you know and think a lot of the child....,maybe 50.00. Less for a casual friend. DS only received one 100.00 gift and that was from a couple at our church that has taken a special interest in DS from the day he was born. Most close family he got 40-50, and friends 20-25, a few up to 50. Very few gifts, a few gift cards and mostly money. I gave 25 to two friend's children this year, BFF's child is getting 40.00 and DN 50.00

 

[catgirl]

Thanks pixiechick & mssandra for your quick responses. I'm felling more comfortable with the $25 range for co-workers kids & $50 for friend. Just didn't want to look like a real cheapskate, but also don't want to break the bank thinking the range these days is $100 and looking like I have money to burn.

 

[clh2]

Seriously,$100 would be an extremely generous gift. If these are the kids of co-workers, and if you don't know the kids all that well-a$20 or $25 gift is fine!

And if you write out a check for that, make it for a fun amount: $20.13

Now if I had any sort of relationship with the kids, I would "up" the amount. Ie if they babysat your kids, watched your pets while on vacation etc, my answer would be $40 or $50.

 

[scrapquitler]

It's been a while since I've been invited to a high school grad party. Not sure how much to give as a gift? I don't want to be cheap, but not exactly rolling in dough and I've been invited to 3 partys. Two are for co-workers kids and another for a friend's granddaughter. Hubby said he heard $100 dollars is typical gift, seems high to me, but looking for input.

Thank you so much!

Honestly, I wouldn't give a high school graduation gift to a coworkers child or a friends grandchild.

For those people I *do* give gifts to, it wouldn't be as much as $100! I gave my nephew $50.

 

[Eureka]

We give our nieces and nephews $100 for high school and college graduation. Our kids are not old enough yet to get invitations to friends' grad parties. But I imagine it would be in the $25 range, probably in the form of a gift card to somewhere they like.

 

[aprilgail2]

I just gave my friends son 100.00 yesterday and Monday I am giving a co-workers daughter 50.00. Neither are having a party but they both are graduating. Those are pretty typical gifts in my area.

 

[DebMcDonald]

My DD graduated last year and she got anywhere from $30 from neighbors to $100 from other's, I think her average was around $50, for kids that my daughter graduated with that we know very well we did $75-$100 I think that $50 is more than enough for co-workers children.

 

[marthachick]

And if you write out a check for that, make it for a fun amount: $20.13

I like this idea!

 

[stsomewhere]

Honestly, I wouldn't give a high school graduation gift to a coworkers child or a friends grandchild.

For those people I *do* give gifts to, it wouldn't be as much as $100! I gave my nephew $50.

I agree.

 

[Darcy03231]

We do $100 for close family, $50 for distant family that we hear from all the time and close friends, $25 for neighbor/co-workers and distant family that we only hear from every now and then, and a nice card for the announcements that we get and we have no idea who the person is.

 

[disykat]

My standard "stopping by the party" gift is a card with two movie tickets, a book, or a towel set, or a set of nice hangers etc. depending on the kid - something for the summer or for the dorm. If I know the kids well, then I add a check or gift card as well - $25 to $30.

I have one that graduated two years ago and one that graduates this year. They got stuff that was in line with this.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

Everyone is different, but I try to get the graduate a gift (s)he can use in college.
My favorite gift to give is this:
http://shop.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_ls.asp

It's a 3 compartment laundry sorter bag.
compartments are labeled Darks, Whites, Colors
It's black so even guys like it.
Heck, guys LOVE it.
It's made out of heavy duty canvas with sturdy handles, it holds tons of laundry, and it's easy to carry to the dorm laundry room.

My son loved his so much I bought one for our home.

My kids have all graduated from HS and never did we have any expectation of expensive gifts.
For that matter, the fact that folks cared enough to come all the way out here and visit and congratulate the graduate was enough.

Another idea is to buy them a college t-shirt or sweatshirt for their new school... all the college bookstores are online.

 

[angierae]

My daughter has gotten $20 from friends' parents, and $50 from family members so far (her party isn't for another two weeks, but invites went out, and cards are coming in from people who can't make it.)

 

[lovin'fl]

We give our nieces and nephews $100 for high school and college graduation. Our kids are not old enough yet to get invitations to friends' grad parties. But I imagine it would be in the $25 range, probably in the form of a gift card to somewhere they like.

Glad to see your reply. We're also in MD and I just gave my nephew $100 for graduating from Spalding High School (gave his brother the same, 2 years ago). I felt like I was being a cheapo when I heard MIL/FIL gave him $1000....really that's what grands give for graduation gifts these days? I think I got $100 from my grands in 1991 and about $50 from Aunts and Uncles.

 

[SC Minnie]

It's been a while since I've been invited to a high school grad party. Not sure how much to give as a gift? I don't want to be cheap, but not exactly rolling in dough and I've been invited to 3 partys. Two are for co-workers kids and another for a friend's granddaughter. Hubby said he heard $100 dollars is typical gift, seems high to me, but looking for input.

Thank you so much!

DD graduated last year, she appreciated anything she got as a gift. Most of the monetary gifts she got were between $20 and $100, with the larger amounts being from people she regulary babysat for or were very close to. A Target GC or BB&B GC were appreciated as well.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I give $25 to friends children and that is what my kids received from friends parents also. I give $100 to nieces and nephews. My parents gave my kids $1000. My MIL did not give my kids anything.

I always say give what you are comfortable giving. My kids did not care at all and neither do I. We had a party to celebrate the big change in their life of heading off to college and the opportunity to do it with people who were important to my kids. . I would not have cared if they had not gotten a cent.

 

[wishesuponastar]

maybe I'm a cheapo, but in those situations, I'd head closer to $20.

I would give $25. Now if it was my niece or nephew I would give $50 to $75.

 

[MomRN]

We do $100 for close family, $50 for distant family that we hear from all the time and close friends, $25 for neighbor/co-workers and distant family that we only hear from every now and then, and a nice card for the announcements that we get and we have no idea who the person is.

We just had a round of several graduations, and is pretty much what we did.