How Much for Cash HS Graduation Gift?

[PrincessPerky]

IMO this whole graduation present thing is often overinflatedt, sure you managed to survive 12 years, but so did most of America..Not that playing the game for 12 years is totally easy, but graduation is just the beginning of something useful, these days you can graduate without knowing how to read, much less anything useful for life. Not that all kids wasted the whole time, plenty know lots of facts plenty played the game well enough to earn honor cords and other awards. but the whole idea of congratulating someone on finally being able to begin their life, when the time frame is forced by American gov't...I just don't get it. (though I do keep my opinions to myself at graduation parties)

As to how much money..maybe I am just poorer than the rest of you, but I give/receive gifts in the $20 range not the hundreds.

10 if I am just doing it cause the in laws think I aught to.

Now for the girl we really like, we made her a card all cut out and glued and had some fun, she thought it was adorable, and it was perfectly free. (with a 20 plus 'gold' coins inside..if I had 9 of them I would have for the 09 grad)

[PrincessPerky]

BTW saw a cool grad gift last night..not clutter and pretty personal.

A border for a photo that the guests can sign, maybe a double mat frame so that one side is a baby picture of grad, one is the graduation photo (of course sign it yourself first and leave it out at party not wrapped).

[disneysteve]

maybe I am just poorer than the rest of you, but I give/receive gifts in the $20 range not the hundreds.

I think you make an important point. Everyone's gift-giving needs to fit in their own budget. Just because I might think $50 is appropriate for an occasion doesn't mean someone else can afford $50. I've been on both ends of that. When we go to NY weddings, typical gifts are much higher than we are comfortable giving. They think nothing of giving $250 for a wedding while we give $100 usually.

Things also vary geographically so it is important to remember that also when having a discussion at an online forum.

[simchabucks]

Check out our "how much money to bring to as a graduation" gift calculator at simchabucks.com

[feh]

Here in the midwest, $20-30 would be normal for HS graduation. For a special person, I'd say $50, but I wouldn't go higher than that.

[boomeyers]

Totally agree. $20-30 for "friends" kids, $50 for close friends, and $100 for family. I stick to this for just about everything from weddings, to babies, to graduations. Little less for birthdays.

[walnutgrove]

I know this is an old thread, but this is how I got here and my question isn't answered in it yet. If you aren't sure how much cash to give as a hs graduation gift, should you error high? For example, I was going to give $25, but after reading this I think maybe I should do $50 just to be safe and not offend anyone. Thoughts?

[Mesem]

How much is an appropriate amount to give to a HS grad as a cash gift? The girl in question is the daughter of one of my best friends, someone I have been friends with for 40 almost years. Since we live in different states, the girl & I are not close, but I have kept track of her life happenings and her mom is very dear to me, so I want the amount to be more than I would give to a casual acquaintance's child but certainly less than I would give to a niece or nephew.

This is the first time this situation has come up for me, as this friend is the first one to have a child graduate HS among my close friends.

How much would you give?

Parents of teen or college age children, how much would you feel was an appropriate amount for your friend to give in this situation?

Feel free to throw out any reasonable amount; it will fit in our budget seamlessly.

Be generous. Give her $100. I mean she is most likely heading off to college now and I see no harm in doing so.

[FrugalSensei]

I know this is an old thread, but this is how I got here and my question isn't answered in it yet. If you aren't sure how much cash to give as a hs graduation gift, should you error high? For example, I was going to give $25, but after reading this I think maybe I should do $50 just to be safe and not offend anyone. Thoughts?

If you can handle potential damage to your pocket book easier than you can handle potential damage to your friendship then I would say to err on the high side.

I think it's interesting that this post started in 2009 yet the dollar amounts are still the same. Though I would agree - something close to $20 is on the low side but perfectly appropriate for people you hardly know while something around $50 is erring on the high side and good for those close to you. Family is closer to $100. I would also say, though, as DisneySteve pointed out, geography can play a part.

[scfr]

Funny that this thread has been "resuscitated" 4 years after I originally posted. I did wind up giving $50, not only to the young woman I originally posted about but also to her younger brother who just graduated this past June. No adjustment for inflation ... sorry, kiddo.

P.S. - Both recipients sent prompt thank you notes. My friend raised them right!

[ua_guy]

Edit: Just realized this thread is 4 years old.

Sounds like a good outcome, regardless!

[daledale]

OK, I know this is an old post, but it's that time of year again. Since this six years old, does everyone still feel the amount are accurate? I would say $50 - $100 where the consensus years back was $35 - $50. Thoughts?

[SavingSteve]

I think it really depends on your budget and the relationship. But for me $50-$100 sounds like a normal range.

[Drake3287]

Since this isn't a relative, for Junior High $20., High School $50, College $100. I have siblings that don't even send a Congratulations Card let alone money. Just yesterday I sent $20.00 to a Niece graduating from Jr. High. This family has never even acknowledged any of my kids High School or College Graduations.

I half sent her the money just so the parents would feel like cr*p!

[Thrif-t]

My DD graduated last year and I'd say the majority of friends/neighbors gave her $25. Family anywhere from 50-100. I personally give $30 for kids we aren't too close to and $40 for friends of my children we are close to. For nieces and nephews I give 100. We are in Ohio.