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Community Chat: Going High School Grad Monetary gift
Bonaire Talk: Community Chat: Archives: Archives 2008: Archives -2008-05-01 to 2008-05-31: Going High School Grad Monetary gift
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gail T. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2940) on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 9:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

So we have three good friends that have high school grads this year. These gals have been in my Bunko group for 16 or 17 years..... and I've know all 3 of these kids since birth.

What's your personal opinion for a high school graduate gift. Not to sound snooty, but I was thinking of $50.00, but one friend gave my son $40.00 for his wedding gift. Four years ago. I think of giving her son $50 for high school graduation, when she gave my son $40 for a wedding gift.... Am I being too picky?

Especially when I live in a house that is 1500 sq feet, and she lives in one that is 3400 sq feet.

Go ahead - Give me your opinion..... I have thick skin! (By nature, with 10 siblings!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10264) on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 9:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think a nice gift certificate to Barnes and Nobel or Borders Books or Amazon.com for that matter would be enough I would probably do the $40 myself.. for a wedding $40. geeze she would be hung up here in the NE.. we try to do at the very least what the dinner will cost the bridge and groom.. so it is usually around $200 plus George always stitches a cross stitch for them,,

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gail T. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2941) on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 10:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yep, Freddie, that's where I'm coming from! I was thinking check, but gift card may be that much better. Yep - for wedding for a family of five, full buffet and open bar - I was thinking $40 was pretty chinchy - glad to have it confirmed by another BT expert!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10265) on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 10:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I know that we in the NE tend to over do stuff but $40 for the family of 5 to eat and drink all they could.. not nice at all.. maybe a $25 Gift cert. to Mickey D's

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5288) on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 11:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Gail, Freddie, kids want cash IMHO. I'd say give what you can afford. If you can give 50, give 50, if you can afford 30, give 30. It's the thought that counts. Most of Dylon's were 50. Some friends couldn't afford much, so he appreciated all he received.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7250) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 12:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Gail, a few years ago, my daughter got anywhere from $30 to $40 to $50 the highest from relatives, non relatives did not give $50.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By La Reina de la Salsa (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2950) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 8:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

$25, $30, $40 or whatever you can give, the gift certificate is a good idea.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna in the Poconos (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1898) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 1:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I give what I can afford, wedding, graduation, whatever...my kids have gotten anything from $20 to $100 from various people...some people just give a token gift and card. It truly SHOULD be the thought that counts IMHO. If I am going somewhere that I cannot afford to give what I think is appropriate, I buy a US savings bond and then my cost is 1/2 the eventual value...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A rose by any other name..aka RosAnne (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2425) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 5:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am with everyone else here, give what you are comfortable giving. I also will agree $40.00 for a wedding gift seems quite frugal given the current cost of a wedding reception!

Donna, brought up a good point, savings bonds mature over time and the gift doubles if they hold onto it. So if they need the cash right away they can get it and if not they'll have twice as much in 7-10 years in theory. (there is that horrible thing called inflation!)

The way I was brought up it truly was the thought that counted but nowadays it doesn't always go that way.
On Rianna's last birthday (she turned 10) a neighbor gave her a hundred dollars, I had her write a lovely thank you and return the money, I felt it was too much for a child her age and Rianna agreed, to her $20.00 is a fortune. The neighbor said I was being ridiculous and refused to take it back!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5301) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 6:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Rosanne, have Rianna open a savings account with the money:-) A hundred bucks for a 10 year old..from a neighbor, that is generous, now that's a giver!

RE gift certificates, we used to give sarah and dylon them, and my brother (when he gave them presents, but for some reason he no longer does so, we still send my neice, and my SIL's son 50 bucks each year regardless)....

but I digress...they would lose them, forget about them, and most of the time never cashed them in. Dylon had a $50 itunes card I put in his Christmas stocking this year. When he asked us to send his Ipod to him in Mississippi, he said "i don't know where it is, but if you can find it, can you send it."...so some kids just don't do well with them. For some reason, they like cold...hard...cash...lol...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy - Bonaire Bound in September (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5421) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 7:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's a really good point Cynde - I'm not real excited about giving or receiving gift cards - Got a $50.00 gift card for Christmas from Lowe's and when I went to use it they told me there was no money on it!! :-(

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy - Bonaire Bound in September (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5422) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 8:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

oops

(Message edited by muddysoapfish on May 24, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5304) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 8:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Timmmy...WTF? Now that's a bit depressing. Do you think they gave you a used card? Regifting a gift card? how wude!
WHAT THE F?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Spring is BOOMing! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7035) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 8:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

There was a big alert about gift cards being scammed.... if they were the ones that hung on a rack people would just copy down the #s and use them online (or something like that). Kind of like virtual shoplifting.

My two cents is that gifts are just that and should not be expected.... they should be given from the heart not because of obligation. I think we've gotten too far away from the meaning of gift giving.

Also, as far as the $40 for a wedding gift being too frugal --- I'm going to go out on a limb here and say - Shame on You!!! Again, I don't think gifts should be obligated and especially a dollar amount. Besides, one never truly knows what lies behind the doors of the giver - financial circumstances aren't always what they appear, emotional stress, any host of unseen problems can be hiding behind neighborly smiles.

When we were married we asked for people to not give gifts and if they MUST to please give to certain charities. It was astonishing to me when a couple of people were upset with me for not registering anywhere.

IMHO, gifts and inheritances are not expectations -- they are blessings.

sorry if that offends anyone, not my intention

(Message edited by taranguy on May 24, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy - Bonaire Bound in September (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5426) on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 9:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

No ... it was a brand new card in the little folder - I think the cashier kept the money and did not activate the card or it was just a mistake ??? and unless you have to receipt they just say sorry nothing we can do.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Innkeeper Linda (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1371) on Monday, May 26, 2008 - 12:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Gail,
Megan received various amounts in her cards. Special friends gave $50, friends - $20, relatives $50 to $200. Some cards had special writings. All of these were very special and appreciated. We were 'blown away' by some of the gifts.....an underwater camera.

We only gave cards with $$ to those that we, as parents, were given an announcement or invitation. And it adds up quick. I think the kids appreciated ALL the cards. I know Megan did. She was just happy to be remembered. :-)
Yea, I made it! The graduate
Next stop UH-Hilo

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5319) on Monday, May 26, 2008 - 1:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda, Megan has turned out to be such a beautiful girl, wow. I bet she's excited about HU in the fall. Job well done!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gail T. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2944) on Monday, May 26, 2008 - 2:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. It helps me to remember that not everyone is in the same place in life!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen - going somewhere... eventually.. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #12641) on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 5:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

She's beautiful Linda!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Innkeeper Linda (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1372) on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 7:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Ladies !
I buried her pics in this thread but I thought Gail would like to know EXACTLY what was being received this year. I have a priest from Denver that stays with us regularly...a get-away for him. This morning he gave Megan $100 to take us out to dinner when we take her to Hilo! :-)

Megan is lovely inside and out. I will really miss her. I've had children in my home for 40 years! We bought her a computer for her gift and it has a built-in webcam. Plus Hilo has several cams located around campus. I sure hope she lets me spy on her life! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1297) on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 8:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda, Congratulations on Megan's graduation and being accepted to HU. I can't imagine going to school there. I would be sneaking out of class to go diving. Hehehe!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Innkeeper Linda (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1373) on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 6:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Megan won't have to sneak....she's a Marine Science major and will likely be in the water, IN CLASS, within the first two weeks! :-)

 


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