How Much Do I Spend on a Graduation Gift for a Family Friend?
- A family friend who is considered an acquaintance has occasional contact with most members of the family. If a family friend is an acquaintance of yours, a simple verbal wish of congratulations is sufficient. However, if you'd like to buy this person a graduation gift, you can choose an impersonal option that is functional and costs less than $25. Examples of such gifts include a graduation-year stamped teddy bear, photo frame, mug, memory box, paper weight, pillowcase or key chain.
- To establish a family friend as a casual friend of yours, you should at least be able to think of one interest you have in common. A casual family friend may be someone you enjoy isolated events with usually in the company of others. For instance, you probably only see your casual friend at girls'-night-out gatherings, social lunches or monthly reading-club events. Your gift can be personalized based on the little you have gathered about this person. Depending on how much you admire this person, your gift can cost up to $50. Personal graduation gifts for a casual family friend can include a favorite store gift certificate, an inspirational rite-of-passage book or a celebratory bottle of wine.
- When a close family friend graduates, it inspires a sense of pride. Your familiarity gave you a bird's-eye view of the time and sacrifices made by your friend. You may share your friend's success vicariously. Based on your budget, there may be no price limit on the graduation gift that adequately evokes your feelings. If you do not have a lot of money, you may do something for your friend, such as babysitting free or taking him out to dinner. If money is not an issue, an appropriate gift can cost hundreds of dollars and include a day at a spa or a short vacation.
- An intimate family friend is special. A graduation gift for this person may reflect a personal interest in your friend's career mission. Specialized gifts may cost up to $500, but these are not inappropriate in intimate relationships. You can give a medical-school graduate her first stethoscope, or you can give a college graduate a designer suit to bolster self-confidence during the job-interview process.