How much do you spend on a HS graduation gift?

[Anonymous]

Our family is invited to the graduation party of a friend's son. Son goes to a private school (as do our kids), but our kids are a little younger. We don't exactly know what the norm is to spend for a gift for this occasion. We were thinking about $100. Is that standard? We are not super close with the family.

[Anonymous]

Which school do they go to? That matters to the question imho. Each school has its own culture. In general I would say 75-100.

[Anonymous]

one of the "Big 3"

[Anonymous]

I gave $100 to children of close friends.
When there are a lot of "pop in" parties going on at the same time, something more like a $25 gift card.

Some people give the amount of the graduation year to be cute, so $26.

My 2 songs received a lot of Amazon, DoorDash, & Visa gift cards in envelopes.

[Anonymous]

*sons

not songs.

[Anonymous]

We gave $100 to each of our nieces and nephews. I'd give $75 to a close friend and $50 to a not-close friend.

The school isn't what matters. Your level of relationship to the family/kid is what matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave $100 to children of close friends.
When there are a lot of "pop in" parties going on at the same time, something more like a $25 gift card.

Some people give the amount of the graduation year to be cute, so $26.

My 2 songs received a lot of Amazon, DoorDash, & Visa gift cards in envelopes.

I cannot imagine spending $60,000 to send my kid to private school and then showing up to a graduation party with a $25 gift card. That won't even cover a meal at chipolte these days. I think you can get by with $100, but even that feels low to me these days. I guess it depends on the party too. Catered party with bartender and good wine = more than a backyard BBQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave $100 to children of close friends.
When there are a lot of "pop in" parties going on at the same time, something more like a $25 gift card.

Some people give the amount of the graduation year to be cute, so $26.

My 2 songs received a lot of Amazon, DoorDash, & Visa gift cards in envelopes.

I cannot imagine spending $60,000 to send my kid to private school and then showing up to a graduation party with a $25 gift card. That won't even cover a meal at chipolte these days. I think you can get by with $100, but even that feels low to me these days. I guess it depends on the party too. Catered party with bartender and good wine = more than a backyard BBQ.

It shouldn't depend on the party. Just because I choose to spend a lot of money on my kids' parties doesn't mean I expect nicer gifts for them as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave $100 to children of close friends.
When there are a lot of "pop in" parties going on at the same time, something more like a $25 gift card.

Some people give the amount of the graduation year to be cute, so $26.

My 2 songs received a lot of Amazon, DoorDash, & Visa gift cards in envelopes.

I cannot imagine spending $60,000 to send my kid to private school and then showing up to a graduation party with a $25 gift card. That won't even cover a meal at chipolte these days. I think you can get by with $100, but even that feels low to me these days. I guess it depends on the party too. Catered party with bartender and good wine = more than a backyard BBQ.

Absolutely hard disagree. What you paid for your child’s education has nothing to do with how much a friend should give as a gift. Get real. Graduation isn’t a wedding. OP, since four of you are going to the party, do $75.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave $100 to children of close friends.
When there are a lot of "pop in" parties going on at the same time, something more like a $25 gift card.

Some people give the amount of the graduation year to be cute, so $26.

My 2 songs received a lot of Amazon, DoorDash, & Visa gift cards in envelopes.

I cannot imagine spending $60,000 to send my kid to private school and then showing up to a graduation party with a $25 gift card. That won't even cover a meal at chipolte these days. I think you can get by with $100, but even that feels low to me these days. I guess it depends on the party too. Catered party with bartender and good wine = more than a backyard BBQ.

I wonder if pp was really talking about gifts from the graduate's student friends. It seems pretty common to me that graduates (or younger students) are giving each other gifts cards or cash in the $25 range. As an adult, I would give $50-$100 to the children of my adult friends depending on the closeness of the relationship. I wouldn't give anything to my kid's graduating friends if I wasn't actually going to the party; that's my kid's responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I cannot imagine spending $60,000 to send my kid to private school and then showing up to a graduation party with a $25 gift card. That won't even cover a meal at chipolte these days. I think you can get by with $100, but even that feels low to me these days. I guess it depends on the party too. Catered party with bartender and good wine = more than a backyard BBQ.

I cannot imagine spending $60,000 to send my kid to private school and then expecting my/their friends to fund my kids chipotle.

[Anonymous]

I give $300 to nieces/nephews, and $100 to close friends’ kids. It’s definitely about the relationship with the kid (or their parents) and not where they go to school.