Hi,
I'd thought I'd post to see what people are doing these days.
Giftcards have a place but they say Cash is King.
What $ value do you do for kids birthdays and separately weddings?
I'm sure there are very extravagant gifts for your best mates and family. But this is Oz Bargain and I want to see what is considered a nice amount.
Remember there is no bargain when your giving cash, so there is no re gifting or stacking in this question!
Keen to hear some sensible responses please.
Thanks
Wedding - My general rule is to gift cash (and red envelope) and the amount should be enough to cover the reception cost per head, so it may vary depending on the venue. Like you said, the amount also varies considerably for best mates and close family members.
Birthday - with kids' birthdays, I normally shop during toy sale or re-gift if I have duplicates. Adults - unless they can tell me exactly what they want and I can afford it, I tend to go for gift cards or a bottle of wine.
Close family children like nephews/nieces, godchildren/grandchildren at least $100, cousins/2nd cousins and such $50 or less.
Weddings i would give at least their cost per head if its just an acquaintance which is $100-150, if its a good friend, at least $200-250. For family, like your brother/sister getting married, there really is no limit especially if you are the best man or bridesmaid.
Thanks for the replies so far.
It's good to know the wedding gifts amount inline with my thoughts.
How about kids.
-upto 6
-upto 10
-upto 15
Etc
Your family's societal culture makes a difference and for weddings the cultural background of the married couple makes a difference.
I'm not Vietnamese but an example is that its very common to give several hundred dollars at weddings but that's because their wedding reception dinners cost the married couple so much. eg. 200+ guests, 7-12 course meals.
$50 for wedding, no more than $25 for child birthday. I know I will be called cheap. A gift should come from the heart, it is not about value. We received money for our wedding, but whatever we received we were grateful for, from the $10 items that I requested on our gift registry, to the $100 gifts that we didn't ask for. There is no place for people judging someone else on the money spent on their gifts.
Weddings I'll give what they gave at our wedding. Otherwise usually $100-$150 pp.
Kid's birthdays, I will never give cash (for my nieces/nephews anyway). None of my friends have kids yet and I don't think they'd like us giving their cash kids if they did anyway.