"It's that tome of year, when the world falls in love. . ."" oh no, wrong song, not that holiday. But it is that time of year -- graduation season. Who knew graduates would get a whole season? Eons ago, when I graduated high school, we got a day and a night. Then it was off to our summer jobs the following day. Now, according to Yahoo!, MSN, Fox News, etc, graduation is a season. In some ways, that's a good thing. In theory, a season gives me more time to figure out my response to the announcements that come in the mail.
I'm really honored when a friend from years past counts me among those that they want to share this news about their child's major milestone. I do enjoy seeing the photos, and I want to offer my congratulations for their hard work and achievements. Deciding on how best to respond takes me a while, though. And I'm not the only one who is thinking through how to respond -- whether or not to send a gift, and if so, what seems to be the going amount to spend? A friend emailed over the weekend with just such a quandary. So I told her that I'd put the question to you, friends.
When you receive a graduation announcement, how do you respond?
- if you haven't seen the graduate in many years, nor kept an active friendship with the parents vs if the graduate is the child of a close, current friend
- or if the graduate is an extended family member (niece, nephew, grandchild)
- if the graduation is high school vs. university
What do you prefer to give a graduate?
- what's your budget for the above different scenarios?
- do you like to give cash? (How much is too much, how little is too little?)
- or small package by mail?
- or hand delivered gift?
- just a card?
- do you give handmade gifts?
- is there a difference if you're invited to the graduation, or to a party, or just received an announcement?
Some ideas that I've used in the past or that have been given to my own kids:
- cash in the amount that corresponds to the current graduation year -- some friends of ours gave one daughter $20.19 in cash, because this daughter graduated in 2019.
- if the graduate will be going on to university in the fall, I've given gift cards to restaurants or stores in their future university town, along with a small map showing the proximity of the restaurant or store to their campus.
- I've also given merchandise purchased from the future university book store, such as socks and ball caps, with the uni's logo.
- One university had electronic dollars that could be purchased by parents or friends for the students to use on campus and at some local eateries. This made a handy high school graduation gift for my nephew. Once on campus, he had some spending money to do things with roomies and new friends.
- For an inexpensive gift, I've given M & M's in school colors.
- For a graduate who won't be going on to further education but instead will be entering the work world, I've given practical gifts.
Now, over to you, friends -- do you have a go-to graduation gift idea?
