When it comes to gift giving, just how cheap are you?
It’s an important question to ask if you’re trying to stick to social norms. You might be worried about offending someone by not spending enough. Or perhaps you need to save more money and are on a tight budget.
Before you buy that gift or put some cash in a card, here’s how much you should expect to give someone for every occasion.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.
Adult birthdays
Birthday gifts can vary widely depending on how much you are expected to give and the person being celebrated.
In general, around $25 is a good amount, but you may want to give more to family or good friends.
Kid birthdays
You may have young children who are constantly getting invited to a birthday party for classmates.
For kids’ parties, it’s a good idea to give a gift of around $20 to $30. Consider including a gift receipt for an easy return if needed.
Weddings
Weddings can get a bit expensive, and you’ll have to consider factors such as the cost of traveling to the ceremony when deciding how much to give.
A good rule of thumb used to be to “cover your plates” (pay as much as you estimate the bride and groom paid for your dinner).
It can be a hard number to figure out if you don’t know how much the couple spent on their wedding, so you can also consider around $100 to $200 for a gift.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Funerals
Funerals are not a celebratory gift-giving event, but you also may want to give a grieving family money to cover meals or donate to the deceased’s favorite charity.
Obituaries may say, “In lieu of flowers,” with a note on where to send cash in memory of a person, so use that as a benchmark. A nice bouquet can cost around $75, so that could be a good amount for a cash gift or donation.
Baby showers
You may get an invitation to a baby shower, which can be an exciting way to celebrate with parents-to-be.
Consider a gift of around $50 to $100. Consider practical options, such as a gift card for a baby clothing store or diapers.
Trending Stories
Gender reveal parties
Gender reveal parties can also be fun celebrations, but you generally aren’t expected to bring a gift, especially if the expecting parents haven’t put together a baby registry yet.
A small gift is fine if you don’t want to show up empty-handed, such as a book for the new baby or a little something for the expecting parents.
Holiday gifts for helpers
You may have a cleaning service that comes to your house every week, tutors that help your kids, or pet sitters who check on your pets year-round while you’re at work.
Gifts can vary depending on the type of help, but you may want to consider an “extra” payment for a job well done, such as an extra $100 for the holidays if you pay your cleaners $100 a week or an extra $50 to a dog walker for services.
Graduations
Graduations are an important milestone for students. But you may not have to give as much as you would for other milestones. A $50 gift should be sufficient for most graduates.
Teachers
The end of a school year is also a time to celebrate the teachers who helped your kids.
Teachers usually have plenty of mugs, pens, and anything decorated with apples. Instead, consider a $20-$25 gift card to a store or restaurant you know the teacher likes.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Realtors
Realtors can help you find the perfect dream house or lock in the sale of your home as you move on.
But the buying and selling process can already be expensive so you don’t have to feel obligated to add a gift to that, but a $20 to $50 option is plenty if you would like to give one.
Factor in the recipient
While these are general guidelines, you can adjust how much you give based on different factors.
For example, you may want to give a little more if it’s a wedding for a dear friend or a little less if it’s for a baby shower for a work colleague.
Factor in the occasion
Some occasions require you to have more flexibility when deciding how much to give.
You also need to factor in how big of a celebration it is. You can spend less money for a second child’s baby shower, for example, or spend more for a milestone birthday.
Factor in your budget
Only give as much as you can afford, even if that is less than the recommended amount. After all, you don’t want to go into debt trying to give someone else a gift that you can’t afford.
If you know a major celebration is coming up, it may also be a good idea to save some extra money in the months leading up to the celebration so you have the cash you need for a good gift.
Bottom line
Gift-giving can be a fun way to celebrate someone or a stressful prospect when you’re trying to save money.
Put some thought into the gift and find ways to be a savvy shopper. Start the gift-buying process sooner rather than later so you have more time to find good deals or discounts.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.
Author Details