What is appropriate for graduation?

[Merandab4]

What is an appropriate graduation gift for a neighbor we don't know? Not sure why we are even invited to the graduation party.

 

[Buttercup26]

They have invited all the neighbors just to avoid anyone being upset. Especially if the party is going to be outside and potentially noisy. The best way to keep neighbors from complaining about your party is to invite all them to attend.

If you are uncomfortable going, then you shouldn't go. I would send a card, $10 seems reasonable. $50 seems high to me, for someone you don't know.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

If you attend, I think that $25 is plenty. I say go to the party - if its absolutely horrible, you don't have far to go to get home.

 

[Gillian]

I think they may have invited you just to be friendly. When we have parties it isn't to get gifts. We get so much these days! But it's hard to find time to get together with new neighbors and perhaps they thought you might have fun?

Anyhow, $50 seems like too much to me also. When in doubt, I usually go with $20.

This is a situation where it might be better to bring a gift, if you have the time. Do you know if the daughter is going away to college? Maybe a gift certificate to bed bath & beyond to buy things for school?

 

[mousey]

I usually give the $25 media play gift card that I buy at connections for $20. I think this is reasonable for a non family graduation. Perfect for a neighbor or friend of a friend.

 

[malibuconlee]

I agree with others comments that they invited you because they were inviting others in the neighborhood. It is easier to invite neighbors and let them decline than it is to let them grumble about the noise, etc.

I agree $50 is a bit much. How about a little gift basket from Bath & Body Works. Or a card with $10 in it. Or you could give a picture frame that you could find for less possibly. Grads seem to take lots of pics.

 

[christinadei]

Honestly, it would make me think that they just wanted money too. Even if it wasn't, I woudln't feel like i needed to give her money. I would just get her a card. If you want to stop by, fine, if not, just mail it or stick it in the mailbox. I don't think you should feel obligated to go or give her anything at all though.

 

[EthansMom]

50? Can I move next door to you?

Yes, $50 is too much for a girl you've never met whose parents you only know to say "hi" to.

Give $10 or $20 or a gift in that price range. If you aren't going to the party, I would just send a card with well wishes.

 

[disneysteve]

I see nothing wrong with inviting the neighbors. I agree that $50 is way too much. In that situation, we'd probably give a $20 giftcard to Barnes and Noble or Borders.

 

[CheapMom]

Considering how you feel, I would say do not attend the party.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Considering how you feel, I would say do not attend the party.

CheapMom - I think you're right

 

[tar heel]

Gee, I think inviting the neighbors is a nice gesture. They live nearby and it will be obvious there's a party, so they want you to feel included. There also may be noise, cars in the way, etc. I find it odd that you think it's just a gift request.

 

[momxx5]

A cute idea people are doing for grads are either giving cash or writing checks for $20.05 - get it "Class of 2005".

I think its a cute idea, and plenty enough as a gift.

 

[Ozymoe]

I think in the situation you described $10 and a card is plenty. That's a "friendly" amount. You build a little good will with the neighbors and it doesn't break the bank. I'd go, make some small talk, schmooze a little and enjoy myself.

Someone has probably spread a little joy your way sometime when it wasn't necessarily required too...it's called "pixie dust"...(grin)...I always think what a nice world it is when we share some of our Disney goodwill with others in everyday life. Now that's especially magical!

 

[batraylover]

I want to move next to the people who give out $50 to neighbors too, LOL. When I graduated, back in 1999, the only people I got $50 from were relatives who couldn't make the graduation. I work in the children's ministry at church, and the high school and junior high helpers in my classroom always receive little things for graduation in such. I think it's the thought that counts more than the price of the gift. I always spend $25 on close family friends, like people I hang out with and babysit their kids, and their kids and such. Of course $25 is the maximum, and sometimes I spend a lot less than that. For people from church and other casual invites, I think $10, high end of $15 is plenty. I could never afford to give everyone $20 I would be bankrupt.

I usually give out gift cards. For high school graduations Starbucks, bookstores, Target, or Wal Mart. For middle school graduations Target, bookstores, or Wal Mart. College graduations Wal Mart, Target, or Starbucks. Elementary Graduations I usually give an actual gift or a Wal Mart or Target gift card. Kindergarten Graduations something like a savings bond or other investment for the future and then a small stuffed animal or some physical gift for the child. Preschool graduations, the same thing, and they usually love the stuffed animal bears with the graduation caps. For the kids at church I usually do graduation bubble bottles, pencils, pens or some other small token, but that's because I have 48 to buy for.

 

[Kellydelly]

I would also question whether the neighbors wanted more $$ for their kid or really wanted all the neighborhood at the party . I would NOT give a kid I don't even know $50. I wouldn't even go if I didn't really feel the family were friend's of ours. Heck, if I had to give money to all the kids who've graduated on my street we'd be broke! Our neighbor who lives across the street and one house over is having her son's graduation party next weekend. I guess the Mom talked to my husband and invited us. I have never talked to this woman in 7 yrs, only waved or said hi in passing. Her husband and three sons did come over to help cut up a huge willow tree that fell down in our yard last Oct, but besides that there has never been any contact, really. My husband has an obligation the same day and I am too shy to even consider going over there without him, so we won't be going. I don't know if we should just ignore the invitation or take a card over there? I think $10 is cheap, $20 sounds a little better. Or even zero! We never gave anything to the neighbors across the street when their kids graduated so I don't want to start a trend where we are giving them all gifts, even if we've never said boo to them. I hate getting invited to parties where you really don't feel like you belong .

 

[Becky2005]

I would also question whether the neighbors wanted more $$ for their kid or really wanted all the neighborhood at the party . I would NOT give a kid I don't even know $50. I wouldn't even go if I didn't really feel the family were friend's of ours. Heck, if I had to give money to all the kids who've graduated on my street we'd be broke! Our neighbor who lives across the street and one house over is having her son's graduation party next weekend. I guess the Mom talked to my husband and invited us. I have never talked to this woman in 7 yrs, only waved or said hi in passing.

In this case, was the mom just happened to be talking to your DH and she did a "we are having the party, come on over if you want!" type of thing! I know for our graduations (and probably what I'll do for my DD) is more of an Open House type of thing, come & go as you please between X times. I know if I was talking to a neighbor that I was friendly with but not really friends with and happened to be talking to them right before the party, I would do a "Come on over, we will have plenty of food" type of thing. I wouldn't expect a gift from them.

In response to the OP, $50 is WAY too high for someone you have never met! I would think a card would be nice if you wanted to or even just decline. I have a hunch they probably either invited all the neighbors and wanted you to feel included.

 

[MKCP5]

Okay, I won't comment on you jumping to conclusions right away that they were just in it for the money LOL But what I will tell you is that my favorite hs grad gift to give ( if you go to the party)is to call the bookstore at the college they will be attending, and have them send a t shirt. It is usually under $20 and the recipient is thrilled to have their first t shirt from the school. For my niece I bought all kinds of fun stuff and she absolutely loved it!

PS You can always say no thanks to the invite

 

[ckoncurat]

My neighbor did this too. I had never met the girl. We gave her $10 in a card, and made a breif appearance at the party before ducking out. IMHO, thats enough to be a good neighbor.

 

[BostonTink85]

If you're worried about them just wanting money than I say go with the Bath and Body Works gift idea or even the frame. I graduated last year and whoever said grads take a lot of pics is sooo right! LOL I would have loved a few frames from the "distant" relatives who came last year to my party instead of the 25 bucks.