http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620 It's nearly graduation time. Know a grad? What are you spending to say &quot;hey, good job!&quot; Some numbers to ponder: &bull; The average American who is buying grad gifts this year will have two lucky recipients. &bull; The givers are spending an average of $55.12 on each gift. That's from the National Retail Federation's graduation survey done by BIGresearch. What are you spending? &mdash; Christine Peterson It's nearly graduation time. Know a grad? What are you spending to say &quot;hey, good job!&quot; Some numbers to ponder: &bull; The average American who is buying grad gifts this year will have two lucky recipients. &bull; The givers are spending an average of $55.12 on each gift. That's from the National Retail Federation's graduation survey done by BIGresearch. What are you spending? &mdash; Christine Peterson en-us <p>Too much already. Our kid is luckier than alot of grad students. We are not an affulent household. Most of her goodies are coming from family members who sincerely want to see her realize her ambition to go the extra four years of college, get her teaching creditials and have a professional career. In our family there is a certain pride when one of our own &quot;makes it.&quot;</p> <p>The kid has made quite a haul for gifts. As one indulgent aunt told me when she took our kid prom shopping, &quot;What's an old bitch like me going to do with her money? Let her have memories. Let her be beautiful.&quot;&nbsp; Family relations are a pain in the buttocks, but they are family.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237864 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237864 <p>Too much already. Our kid is luckier than alot of grad students. We are not an affulent household. Most of her goodies are coming from family members who sincerely want to see her realize her ambition to go the extra four years of college, get her teaching creditials and have a professional career. In our family there is a certain pride when one of our own &quot;makes it.&quot;</p> <p>The kid has made quite a haul for gifts. As one indulgent aunt told me when she took our kid prom shopping, &quot;What's an old bitch like me going to do with her money? Let her have memories. Let her be beautiful.&quot;&nbsp; Family relations are a pain in the buttocks, but they are family.</p> <p>Auntie gives $40 to 8th grade graduates and $100 to high school graduates.  Grammy decided whats good for nieces and nephews is good for grand kids.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237870 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237870 <p>Auntie gives $40 to 8th grade graduates and $100 to high school graduates.  Grammy decided whats good for nieces and nephews is good for grand kids.</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">&nbsp;Ditto DG&nbsp; :-)&nbsp; </span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237873 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237873 <p><span style="font-size: small">&nbsp;Ditto DG&nbsp; :-)&nbsp; </span></p> <p>So would you think $200 from mom and dad is acceptable? We have a HUGE family and I think they may rake it in that way.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237907 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237907 <p>So would you think $200 from mom and dad is acceptable? We have a HUGE family and I think they may rake it in that way.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff0000"><b><span style="font-size: small">edmomom</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small">........what are YOU smokin' !!!!! $200 ???&nbsp; Is this for high school or college graduation?&nbsp; HS grad = $50-$100.&nbsp; College grad maybe $200 IF it is a 4-year college!</span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237915 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237915 <p><span style="color: #ff0000"><b><span style="font-size: small">edmomom</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small">........what are YOU smokin' !!!!! $200 ???&nbsp; Is this for high school or college graduation?&nbsp; HS grad = $50-$100.&nbsp; College grad maybe $200 IF it is a 4-year college!</span></p> <p>Some kids get new computers, some get cars, some get trips abroad, some get whatever cash parents can afford.&nbsp; It's a shame that some feel the need to spend a lot of money of gifts for other peoples kids when they can't afford it.&nbsp;</p> <p>I give grandkids $50 for 8th grade grad and $100 to High school grads.&nbsp; I don't give to nieces and nephews as they have grandkids of their own.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(I'm oooold)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Cash gifts are great but my guess is most kids won't save it for college..after all, summer is just starting.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237916 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237916 <p>Some kids get new computers, some get cars, some get trips abroad, some get whatever cash parents can afford.&nbsp; It's a shame that some feel the need to spend a lot of money of gifts for other peoples kids when they can't afford it.&nbsp;</p> <p>I give grandkids $50 for 8th grade grad and $100 to High school grads.&nbsp; I don't give to nieces and nephews as they have grandkids of their own.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(I'm oooold)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Cash gifts are great but my guess is most kids won't save it for college..after all, summer is just starting.</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">I didn't have grandparents (all deceased when I came along!) but my mom got me a new binder and pen for 8th grad graduation and a new outfit for HS graduation!!!!!</span>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237932 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237932 <p><span style="font-size: small">I didn't have grandparents (all deceased when I came along!) but my mom got me a new binder and pen for 8th grad graduation and a new outfit for HS graduation!!!!!</span>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sounds about right.....but then some parents pay for their child to go off to some ' island ' and are never seen or heard from again....nope, my child stays right here and if he or she wants to go partying abroad, then he or she can pay for their way....</p> <br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237948 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237948 <p>Sounds about right.....but then some parents pay for their child to go off to some ' island ' and are never seen or heard from again....nope, my child stays right here and if he or she wants to go partying abroad, then he or she can pay for their way....</p> <br /> <p>Not smokin' nothing! Just putting the question out there to see the response. Thanks for the input.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237962 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_237962 <p>Not smokin' nothing! Just putting the question out there to see the response. Thanks for the input.</p> <p>When I graduated college, my dad gave me a lift to a dealership so I could by myself a new car.  Oh, that and he gave me the stubs to the parent plus loans so I could start making the payments myself.  Those were my gifts :)</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238045 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238045 <p>When I graduated college, my dad gave me a lift to a dealership so I could by myself a new car.  Oh, that and he gave me the stubs to the parent plus loans so I could start making the payments myself.  Those were my gifts :)</p> <p>I got my wedding dress for HS graduation.&nbsp; It cost $100.&nbsp; I still have it.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238049 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238049 <p>I got my wedding dress for HS graduation.&nbsp; It cost $100.&nbsp; I still have it.</p> <p>I got a saddle.&nbsp; By request.&nbsp; Cedar chests were usual in those days since it could be a hope chest and parents were sure hoping...lol. &nbsp; I told them I'd rather have a saddle since I was already married and had horses.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238061 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238061 <p>I got a saddle.&nbsp; By request.&nbsp; Cedar chests were usual in those days since it could be a hope chest and parents were sure hoping...lol. &nbsp; I told them I'd rather have a saddle since I was already married and had horses.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff00ff">&nbsp;I got picture frames/photo album and a congrats 05' teddy bear. i thought it was great because i got to keep all my memories</span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238105 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238105 <p><span style="color: #ff00ff">&nbsp;I got picture frames/photo album and a congrats 05' teddy bear. i thought it was great because i got to keep all my memories</span></p> <p>It's funny, I got quite a bit of loot for my high school graduation, slightly less loot for my undergrad graduation and only a present from my parents for my grad school graduation. The difference between those? Well, besides age, I sent out less and less announcements at each level. In high school, I was the standard greedy teen and sent announcements out to anyone who was even slightly related. I didn't send out annoucements at all for grad school because I wasn't going to be attending the ceremony (I graduated and left town well before the June event). It seems people are guilted into sending cash or buying a fancy gift when they receive an announcement. Social conditioning maybe?</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238196 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238196 <p>It's funny, I got quite a bit of loot for my high school graduation, slightly less loot for my undergrad graduation and only a present from my parents for my grad school graduation. The difference between those? Well, besides age, I sent out less and less announcements at each level. In high school, I was the standard greedy teen and sent announcements out to anyone who was even slightly related. I didn't send out annoucements at all for grad school because I wasn't going to be attending the ceremony (I graduated and left town well before the June event). It seems people are guilted into sending cash or buying a fancy gift when they receive an announcement. Social conditioning maybe?</p> <p>Last year when I graduated from high school, my parents bought me a new camera, and I'm quite thankful for that, because my photography skills have gotten much better since they bought it for me. It was no more than $300, but I can't remember exactly how much it was. I was slightly disappointed that they had waited until after the graduation, though, because I snuck my tiny point-and-shoot (against the rules! And I totally lied to the security lady!) in under my skirt and planned on taking a picture of the students while they were throwing their caps in the air. But because I didn't have control over shutter speed at the time, I didn't come out with very good pictures, unfortunately. Sigh.</p> <p>Some of my friends received laptops last year, and another one did this year. I'll admit that I was a bit jealous, but I REALLY love my camera, so it's OK. I tend to think those particular friends are spoiled. I wouldn't expect my parents to get me a laptop anyhow, because I wouldn't want them to spend that much money on me for just one thing. I just don't want to feel like I'm being spoiled, and I don't want people to think I'm spoiled. I wouldn't deserve something worth that much money.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238307 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238307 <p>Last year when I graduated from high school, my parents bought me a new camera, and I'm quite thankful for that, because my photography skills have gotten much better since they bought it for me. It was no more than $300, but I can't remember exactly how much it was. I was slightly disappointed that they had waited until after the graduation, though, because I snuck my tiny point-and-shoot (against the rules! And I totally lied to the security lady!) in under my skirt and planned on taking a picture of the students while they were throwing their caps in the air. But because I didn't have control over shutter speed at the time, I didn't come out with very good pictures, unfortunately. Sigh.</p> <p>Some of my friends received laptops last year, and another one did this year. I'll admit that I was a bit jealous, but I REALLY love my camera, so it's OK. I tend to think those particular friends are spoiled. I wouldn't expect my parents to get me a laptop anyhow, because I wouldn't want them to spend that much money on me for just one thing. I just don't want to feel like I'm being spoiled, and I don't want people to think I'm spoiled. I wouldn't deserve something worth that much money.</p> <p>I received a TOTAL of $35 for 8th grade and $100 for HS. But it was nearly 30 years ago and I'd already been working for 6 years when I left HS...and $100 bought a lot more than a tank of gas!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238310 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238310 <p>I received a TOTAL of $35 for 8th grade and $100 for HS. But it was nearly 30 years ago and I'd already been working for 6 years when I left HS...and $100 bought a lot more than a tank of gas!</p> <p>I didn't get anything for graduating high school but a bunch of hugs and congratulations. When I graduated college my mother paid off some of my loans. I graduate (from grad school) and commission today and have no idea what I getting. I'm not expecting much but a lot of hugs. Everytime I graduate, my mother always says, &quot;give me my diploma!&quot;, and she keeps them. I took a copy of my last&nbsp;diploma&nbsp;and put it above my toilet in the bathroom. That seems like the most appropriate place.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238944 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26620/#c_238944 <p>I didn't get anything for graduating high school but a bunch of hugs and congratulations. When I graduated college my mother paid off some of my loans. I graduate (from grad school) and commission today and have no idea what I getting. I'm not expecting much but a lot of hugs. Everytime I graduate, my mother always says, &quot;give me my diploma!&quot;, and she keeps them. I took a copy of my last&nbsp;diploma&nbsp;and put it above my toilet in the bathroom. That seems like the most appropriate place.</p>