s/o How much for a graduate that we do know?

[audette]

I think I asked earlier about the appropriateness of offering a grad gift when it was uncertain the family did that sort of thing.  Well, it turns out things have clarified - we should be receiving a graduation invitation in the mail, and when my friend let me know, I asked if it was normal to give a gift in response to it.  She said yes, but gave no indication of how much.  I wasn't able to figure that part out.


So, what is the going rate for a grad gift?  We will have to mail it, so are thinking of just sending a card and a check.  We've known the family for a while, and enjoy each other's company, including the company of their kids - thru three bases, which is quite a while for a pair of military families...


If it matters at all, the kid will not be going to college.  Right now it sounds like his plan is to enlist in the military and use that time to figure out what he wants to do and earn a GI Bill...  So, chances are that he will soon be heading off to Basic Training.  We like all of the kids in this family (there are three, this is the eldest), as well as the parents, and happily spend time with any/all of them.

[turkletsmom]

I vote for $50 for a non-relative graduating HS.

[smiley]

I also vote for $50 for a non relative.

[6fsn]

I'm cheap apparently. HS graduation gets $25.

[soozy87]

$20-$25

[KaraOrNot]

$25-$50

[M]

$50-100 depending on how close we are.

[Deleted]

For HS, $25 for someone we're not so close to, $50 for someone close to us. For college, double.

[sporky]

Holy crap! $50?! I got a couple of $50 checks from close relatives when I graduated high school, but certainly not that much from anyone who wasn't an aunt or uncle. Wow.

For a non-relative, honestly, I'd do $25 and call it a day. Most graduates would be thankful for anything they received.

[audette]

DH and I had been thinking in the $50-$100 range, but weren't sure what was appropriate. We're in a pretty good place financially ourselves (DINKs with no debt and decent savings), and these friends are pretty close - not quite as close as family, but I'd put them at about as close as non-family can be.

Gauging from the posts here, we probably should aim closer to $50 (it looks like most of those recommending higher are from HCOL areas, but maybe I'm confused).