Graduation: Standard Gift Level

[Sumacaroni]

I'm trying to get an idea of what others have done for gifting in the Graduation party arena. Is it always cash? How much? Do you have a standard monetary amount or are there a variety of levels based on who it is or how close you are? Are there other practical gift ideas that might be less impersonal than cash or is cash always the best idea for a graduate?

All ideas are welcome! I had a high school grad a year ago and was actually surprised that so many gave $50-$75, grandparents gave $100 each. We have many nephews and nieces graduating in the next several years and I am curious to know the FV family's thoughts.

[nodmicks]

My nieces and nephews are $50. All others have been $20 well of course not counting my own kids

[ncarr]

I usually give giftcards to bed bath and beyond- $25 for non-family members

[Momto5RN]

i give 20 - 25 to neice or nephew . if it was one that was our godchild also i might give a little more .

i have never seen people open presents at a graduation party before - . usually dont after guests leave and thank you notes with copy of grad picture are sent out

[sunshine]

It depends. . . on who, and how well I know the graduate.

For my dd's boyfriend's brother - I gave him a stuffed bear, holding a balloon bouquet. . . in each balloon I put various inspirational quotes in the balloons before blowing it up - a few balloons , I put money, in various denominations ($1, $5, etc.) Then I the bear was also holding a small package, with a safety pin, and a message that said "Let the party begin" He had loads of fun popping all the balloons, reading the sayings and collecting the money.

If it's someone I'm closer to - I give checks in the amount of the year -- like this year's graduates got checks for $20.11. . unique, without costing me a ton.

I've also given small "token" gifts for various graduates that I don't know well. . . Hershey bars with home printed wrappers that say "Congratulation Class of 2011", or $1 gold coins, etc.

[Sophia]

I normally give 15 to 20 . My close friends I gave there son 50.00 as I will another friend's daughter that is graduating this year. My cousins I'm 16 years older than the oldest (they are really like my neice and nephew's) I gave 100.00 each. My ds we bought a laptop. he got a good bit of money over 2000.00 . There are some really neat throw's from CBD that you can get. I gave them in the past to some of the girls. they have the year you grad with a nice verse on them and you can get names on them. I think they are around 25 to 30 dollars. TC

[MaryCarney]

Lots of kids here go to Purdue and Indiana (natch). I google local gas stations and fast food places within a short distance of the residence halls, and then buy gift cards from those places.

Kids from church and neighbors>> $25
IF any of my sisters' kids EVER went to college >> $50

[Libby]

Wow. Our certificate was the prize/gift for graduating. And bragging rights. Certainly no money, no gift cards and definitely no gift. If you were lucky, a lil something special was cooked for you at dinner. No party to celebrate either.

[lisaflex]

$100 - $150 depending

[LuvMyHubby]

Nieces and newphews get 20-25 in cash and my daughter we made her a scrapbook of her life up to her college graduation and included some items with a small gift card to AC Moore so she could personalize her own page(s) of her college graduation or what not, with 50 dollars. High school, we gave a cameo pendant that she had seen and again 50 dollars.

She likes the cash because she can use it but, she showed everyone and their mother the scrapbook, she loved it, which to be honest I knew she would like but I didn't think she would love it that much.

[wanderlusting]

When I graduated from high school, one of the partners in the office I worked at gave me a nice box with 20 Sakajaweha dollars. The dollar coins were something unique and special and he didn't have to spend a lot.