Birthday Gifts- How much do you spend?

[MamaMom]

We've been invited to a few birthday parties lately- DD is 3. What do you usually spend on birthday gifts? Does anyone give cash (how much?)- or is that inappropriate. As the kids get older, value of present goes up?

We went to one party and spent $20 on arts and craft gift...

[feminist~mama]

It probably varies greatly depending on folk's individual financial situations, no?

I generally spend $10-15 on a gift, but I try not to focus on the price and actually just get the child something they'd like- so sometimes less, sometimes more.

[Drummer's Wife]

$15-30 depending on the gift/gifts. I don't really have a set amount in mind, but take the kids shopping to pick out something for their friend.

Some kids do give cash, b/c two of my DS's got some for their birthday last month. One got $5 (it was his 5th b-day) and the other got two $20's.

[nolansmummy]

I try and keep it around 15-20$ total, including the card. The last party he went to , ds wanted to get one of those singy cards- which are five bucks! so they got a 15$ GC in it.

[eepster]

I generally get 2 books or a puzzle and a book. I tend to either get one really nice book and one off the bargain table, or 2 mid-priced books, or a puzzle (tends to cost about a mid priced book) and a mid priced book. One time I got a puzzle and 2 very inexpensive puzzle book (this particular child is really into puzzles.)

Generally, I tend to spend around $20. This seems to be inline with what DS has received in our pretty high cost of living suburb.

Cash would seem like an odd present.

[limabean]

I try to keep it under $20, usually around $15.

[sweetcheeks]

We tend to spend anywhere between $15-25, depending on how close of a friend it is.

[NYCVeg]

$15-$25. I try to get something I know the kid will like (e.g., Legos if I know s/he's a "builder," an Alex art kit if I know s/he likes crafts), rather than worrying too much about price. If the gift we like best is especially inexpensive, I'd probably throw in a coloring book or some stickers.

[4evermom]

I wouldn't do cash for kids 5 and younger. But the 7 and up kids sure think it's cool, along with gift cards. If I give a gift card, I do $20. I want a child to find something they want and be able to buy it without their parents having to chip in. Otherwise, I'll spend anywhere from $10-20ish. If I find something that is right for the birthday child for less, that's fine too.

[MJB]

My kids pick their friends' gifts and I tell them they have $15 to spend.

[pianojazzgirl]

I would say usually $15 - $20 (maybe a bit more for dd's best friend who is more like family to us). Or I make a gift (I sew and knit). I have never given money as a gift to a child or had it received by my child, but then again she is only 5. Maybe it's more common with older kids.

[mommariffic]

For a young child, I wouldn't give cash [actually, I hate giving cash or gift cards in general because I love love giving meaningful gifts..]

As far as spending, it depends on the kid. If it's someone we are close with, I try to pick out something special; I got my good friends daughter her first Waldorf doll when she turned 1 because I couldn't resist...but friends that are just from around play-dates normally get a wooden toy and a book on whatever their little interests are. I LOVE giving books, and putting name plates on the inside with the child's name + a message.

[annethcz]

Between $10 and $25, depending on the child.

[Polliwog]

Between $10 and $20 depending on sales and what we see that seems to fit the birthday child. I don't usually buy cards. The kids don't care much about them and my son likes to make them himself.

I learned on another board that some areas have a gift "policy" in which you are "supposed" to spend what the family is paying for your child to attend the party. Like some people do for weddings. That's not the way it's done in my area and I wouldn't likely do it anyway.

[just_lily]

I aim for about $15, more or less. More if it is a child that is close to us, like a kid of close friends. I figure that as DD gets older she is going to be going to more and more birthday parties, and we need to keep it in check from the beginning.

I bought a huge box of handmade cards last year at Costco and just grab one from there whenever I need a card, and I save and re-use gift bags so we usually only need to purchase a gift.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Yep, $15-20. We also don't buy cards -- my kids always make them. (I tend to stock up on stickers when there's a sale, so I usually have a stash of "special" stickers they can pick from for the card.)

DS is six, and only now would I consider a g.c. If I don't know the kid well (which is happening now that DS is in kindergarten), I email the parents to ask for suggestions and then let DS pick within that category (a Lego set, or a DVD or whatever).
-e

[ollyoxenfree]

Usually $25, although it may be higher or lower depending on what my child wants to give.

We rarely give cash at any age. I've only done it when there is a group purchase or a contribution to a larger gift. Now that my dc are teens and giving gifts using their own money, I think they have given cash occasionally because they know that's what the friend wanted. I have little input into gift giving these days, although last week I helped my dd "buy" a giraffe from the zoo through an on-line adopt-an-animal program as a gift for a friend who loves giraffes.

[Areia]

We usually keep it to around $25. My nephews all want gift cards these days so we usually end up getting them from Amazon. For toddlers and younger, I usually buy a book or toy (or sometimes one of each).

[emaye_to_2]

I always aim to spend around $10, with card between $10-15. I've never given cash or even a gift card as a children's present.

[mrspineau]

I spend 50 on a child, 100 on an adult.