How much do you give for HS graduation?

**porembam** · 05-05-2010, 09:57 PM

This was a really good question and I enjoyed reading everyone's point of view.
I will be dealing with alot of graduations in the next few years.

**frugalfranny** · 05-06-2010, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by sunshine

I like to do checks for graduation . . in the amount of the year. . . so this year's grad's will get a check for $20.10 - not a huge difference in cost to me, but kinda cute for the receiver.

That is a cute idea sunshine. Might have to think about that. Though I do money orders.......not quite the same effect.

**Darlene** · 05-06-2010, 08:37 AM

For nieces & nephews, $50.
For just about everyone else I like Sunshine's answer and have also given gas cards, everyone can use those.

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-06-2010, 09:05 AM

DD went to many last year. Casual friends got a piece of jewelry made specifically for them. GC were big but $25. is a maximum. If I knew the family was poor I tried to give more but few families are here were hurting previously to last year.

I like joke gifts for grads from my kids too. A friend of Ds's will go to Africa to work w/ kids. We may make a kit w/ toilet paper in it or something.

**pita1213** · 05-27-2010, 09:08 AM

So far I have only had to go to one graduation. That was for a friend's daughter last year. I crocheted her a blanket since at the time she was supposed to be going to college. She is also a big candy freak so I bought some plastic graduation cups and filled them with 3 or 4 different types of candy. one bag of candy filled 2 cups so it looked like there was a lot of candy but didn't cost a ton of money.
Since then she hasn't gone to school, but everyone can use a blanket even if it's not in a drafty dorm room. I received gifts that were specific to going to college, and while i enjoyed them, I'm hesitant to give gifts like that in case they don't end up going.
For out of state grads, I'd just send a card and a max of $20 in a check or gift card.

**McD** · 05-27-2010, 09:22 AM

The only graduation I attended this year was my younger brother's. I let Wesley pick out the card (he picked out a "bawack obama' card because he is the president and he is Wesley's favorite and he wants his hair cut just like his, etc. etc.) and we gave him a check for $50.00.

**lparker** · 05-27-2010, 10:29 AM

My grand-daughter's getting $50 tomorrow. I think we sent $20 each to my nieces and nephew. Friends- nada. I don't do cards - ever; but my wife does to relatives only. (no holiday cards)

**krbshappy71** · 05-27-2010, 12:26 PM

A rant on this topic, hahaha:
My mom called asking how much so&so (some cousins son's kid, cousin, I don't even know!) gave to my daughter last year for graduation because that's how much she planned to give their kid this year. (it screamed tacky to me)
Um, no clue. I told her, "Sorry, don't know. We received, we sent a thank you, that's all I know." She asked, "you didn't write it down somewhere?" no, mom. Why would I? Other than to write the thank you, which we did immediately the next day before cashing any checks, why on earth would I have recorded that information? Why would you only give based on what you received previous years? I was really annoyed by it all and told her to give what she felt she wanted to give. I just feel giving should be from the heart. If you don't feel it, a simple card is fine. If you don't even want to do that, that's your choice. You have a generous heart and wallet? By all means give as your heart desires and wallet provides. I just didn't like it being based on what my child received.

End rant, thanks for listening and for the guidelines in case I do choose to give. (by the way I was tempted to say $100 just to freak my mom out but I was nice and didn't.) hahahaa I have a mean sense of humor I know.

**Liane** · 05-27-2010, 01:21 PM

My daughter is graduating from 8th grade this year. She has a few parties to go to for friends. As for gifts, she likes to make things. I know she will probably make some jewelry for friends and get or make a card. Depending on the party or friend depends on what I contibute to the gift. For my sister's 2nd husband's children from his first marriage I got them gifts under $10.00. They were nice and thoughtful but we do not see them much and they are not involved in our lives much at all. Oriental Trading has adorable stuffed things to sign for graduates. They are selling them for $4.99. I may buy some or make some. Niece's and Nephew's probably will get cash and a gift. The cash depends on how much I have at the time. They are younger than my daughter, so I won't have graduations for them for awhile. I try to gear gifts to personal interests and personal meaning. For bil kids the one son got a book on finance. He went to college for hotel mgm and he was into making money. For bil daughters I bought them graduation frames. They love to take pictures and the frames I got could hold several. My daughter loves to read, so I am either getting her the bookworm to sign or making her one. It is really cute and she will love it.

**thesightofoneself** · 05-27-2010, 01:31 PM

i go with $100

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 05-27-2010, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

I would send a card only. If that. You don't know this kid and he probably doesn't know who you are either. Your social obligation is to your friend.

I completely agree and was actually in the same boat this year. I was invited to a kid's college graduation despite the fact that I haven't seen or spoken to this guy in at least four years (other than the occasional "hello" when he's come to visit his mom at our office). I sent a simple congratulatory card but nothing else. I figure 47 cents worth of social etiquette is just fine for the "relationship" I have with this guy.

Otherwise, I would spend about $10 on other graduates or more, depending on our relationship to them. We spent around $20 on DS's babysitter but she's pretty special to us!