Grad Gifts for Neighbors

Hmmm. As a mom of a graduate from high school last week....

She did not send announcements to neighbors or her top families she regularly babysits for on weekends. We are close with these friends but we felt uncomfortable sending announcements when they already knew she was graduating.

She only sent announcements to family and very close friends.

I have received a couple of announcements from relatives. Depending on his close I am depends on the $$ I send. I sent $500 to my nephew and $50 to a cousin I hardly know.

I think doing something is a good idea per business relations... Maybe $36 for high school and $75 for the sitter!

Speaking from experience... My daughter LOVES Starbucks. She's also very busy with dorm decor and she loves to read.

I ignore announcements for local kids if we don't have a strong connection, and if there's no invitation to the party. You say "thank God" you weren't invited - is that because there would be more pressure to solve the gift problem? I thought it might be because you don't like them all that much, but you say you like and are friendly with the mom.

If you think they are trolling for gifts and you give in, that just encourages them. I resent being shaken down for gifts. I'm sort of baffled about you not being invited to the party unless by "friends" you mean only friends of the kids and no neighbors or other adults outside the family.

Your situation is more complicated because of the business referrals and the fact that one kid was your sitter.

I don't think the "graduating with honors" makes any difference - but your relationship with the older girl DOES make a difference. I think giving $50 to both is too much - if my son were in that situation and someone gave him $50 when he didn't know or speak to them, I'd be uncomfortable.

I'd give more to the one who was your sitter, frankly - you can make it from your children if that helps. If you feel the younger one needs something, why not give $20.13 since she graduated in 2013? It keeps the gift closer to $20 but makes it sort of "significant" due to the digits - it's a way to sort of justify the amount. Since the older one is going out on her own, you could give a gift plus cash - something for her house? Another option for the younger one, if she's going to college, is a gift card for her college bookstore or some sort of small gift from there - ID card holder, key chain, t-shirt, coffee mug, etc.

To me, this is easy. Your husband is right. The girl who babysat for you gets the real graduation gift. A couple of years babysitting is important, and deserves a nice gift. I would give her $50. The one who rarely speaks to you? $20. ONLY because her mother has referred business to your husband. The nod is to the mother. Not the girl.

If you're going to err, you need to err on the side of generosity. What would you think of $25 and $15 (if not $25 and $25)? Put them in a card or a nice note saying that you're delighted that a neighbor is graduating.

My situation is a bit different from yours: I end up knowing a lot of high school and college graduates every spring. They are children or grandchildren of friends, or young people whom I know (and like) from church. I could just send them each a card, but I like to add a little something. However, we're talking about as many as ten graduates every year! Last year, I enclosed $10 gifts cards to Target, with a note that the card was for college dorm or new apartment supplies. This year my budget is tighter, so I sent each graduate a $5 card to Starbucks - just a little coffee money. I don't know if $5 will even buy anything at Starbucks, but the graduates were very kind and wrote me thank-you notes just the same! :^)

Eh... I would get both a card and since the parents are friends of yours and have done many kindnesses, then you honor the friendship by giving their daughters each $25 in a card. If you feel uncomfortable about cash, then a gift card to someplace like Target would be great.

I agree with Jessica . . . a nice card and $25 to each of the neighbor girls would be more than acceptable.

I think that $50 to your friend's daughter who had a party (and invited you) is perfectly fine and gracious too.

If you want to give a gift, I think $25 each is enough. You aren't that close to them and weren't invited to the party, so there's no need to spend more. It's ok to give less than you are giving to your friend's daughter.

Neighbors aren't "forever" but...they ARE neighbors until O. of you moves.
I can't imagine receiving an announcement and NOT giving something.
How old are your kids? That day is coming.
I try to put myselff in the other guys shoes in situations where I'm not sure how to react.
What would you think if you sent them graf announcements and your kids didn't get a card, at least?
Good luck!

Updated

Neighbors aren't "forever" but...they ARE neighbors until O. of you moves.
I can't imagine receiving an announcement and NOT giving something.
How old are your kids? That day is coming.
I try to put myselff in the other guys shoes in situations where I'm not sure how to react.
What would you think if you sent them graf announcements and your kids didn't get a card, at least?
Good luck!

Due to the referrals yep you gotta give.

Since you are friendly with the parents, I would do something. A gift card to that can be used to set up a dorm/apartment would be appropriate for both girls. I would think $25 would be okay for both.

Were they your neighbors when the college student graduated from high school? If so, do you remember how you acknowledged her at that time? What about a cash gift for the college grad and a gift card for the high school senior? I would make the college check for more than the high school acknowledgement (it is more of an accomplishment!

Since one of them used to be your baby sitter, yup, they both get $!

I say the actual sitter, who is graduating from college gets more, whatever you can afford. $50?... & the younger one that you don't know, $20??

My daughter just graduated and we are all absolutely blown away by the generosity of our friends and neighbors. Most gave her $25, many gave her $50, and a few gave more.
My usual graduation gift is a "bathroom" tote complete with towel, face cloth, soap, toothbrush, nail file and clippers, and any other little goodies I can find. Last year I had trouble finding the totes, so I resorted to the laundry basket filled with laundry supplies.
The kids look forward to graduating and they all love the gift I give. They look forward to it if their older siblings got one. :)
If I were you, I'd give a gift card - Walmart, Target, or even Macy's.