How much do you spend on gifts for 13 year-old's friends' birthday parties?

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1

I know it varies for everyone, but I'm curious how much others feel is an appropriate amount to spend on birthday gifts for my 13 year-old's friends' parties? As an adult, I generally budget $10 or so for gifts for younger children and about $25 for friends of my own. For milestone birthdays or occassions, it's definitely more. If I want it to be really special, I put time, rather than money, into it, sewing or crafting something.

Based on that, I feel like around $20 should be fine for these parties, but I wonder if I am being too frugal?

I'd love to hear what others think, what your number is for these events, or how you arrive at a budget.

Thank you!

2

I usually do a $25 gift card plus $5-10 on small items to put in a gift bag with the card and gift card like candy, cool pens or jewelry/accessories.

3

Okay, I have a 10 year old daughter.
I have a personal idea/budget per kids’ friends, gifts.

However, my daughter, likes to buy her friends, a gift for her friends, with her own money. ie: allowance. And SHE budgets how much she can… spend. She does so. And she is rational and realistic about it.
So at that point, a “gift” for her friend(s) for a Birthday, is NOT going to cost, much. Say $10 max. or even less sometimes. And it is never a problem.
Because, a kid/her friends, know, that my daughter bought their gift with her “own” money. And many of her friends do the same.
It is not expensive gifts. But “thoughtful” type gifts. Things that my daughter, KNOWS her friend will, like. And it is not throw-away type junky gifts. But does not cost much. I go with my daughter to a store, and “help” her decide, since she likes my thoughts. But she is a savvy shopper and knows prices and sales and what is a good buy or not. She knows. But she likes my input. But she makes the final decision. And she pays with her own money.
I don’t make her… pay with her own money. She wants to. It is for her friend. But, if something costs a little more than she can or wants to spend, I may put in the balance. Say like $3-5 or so. If need be. I don’t mind. Because in the end, my daughter “decides” on the gift for her friend, and she is a smart shopper, and shops for what her friend, will like and she always gets a gift receipt with it.

Me personally, I don’t care if it is a milestone B-day or not, I get gifts that are in my budget. And that is with thoughtfulness, hopefully, of the person to whom we will gift a gift.
I don’t spend, $25. But less. That is what I can do.
Everyone is different.
And it is also, regional or per a community and all that.

Now with my son who is only 7, I buy the gift for his friend’s B-day. But he will tell me “he” can buy it. He tries and is willing. But he is only 7, and though he will tell me “here Mommy, here is $2, for Tommy’s gift…” I can’t take it from him! LOL
Anyway, I don’t spend more than $10-15.
But my son has a good friend, who (his Mom) routinely will give him things that are like $30, and this is for X-mas and birthdays. But well I cannot spend that much, in kind. But with his friend and the Mom, they are never nit-picky about it at all. They know we can’t give $30 gifts to everyone in kind. Even if they can.

The bottom-line is: go according to what YOU can afford.

4

We usually do $20 gifts, on average. I think it depends on your budget, not on society.

5

$20 is the limit on almost all birthdays until probably 16 years of age. Family and very close friends (like family) are the exception but most of these kids are getting a ton of stuff already so spending more really isn’t necessary. 1-2 gifts from 10+ party guests. That’s a lot so my 1 - $20 gift is enough. At the big milestones - 16, 28, 21 as they get older I will usually increase that amount but in those cases it is usually coming in the form of a gift card or cash.

6

I think $20 is fine. I typically give $25 though but I do not think $20 is cheap.

7

I agree with your budget.

8

I used to have a gift closet.
I’d find games, puzzles, and items at their friends would like on sale and keep them until they had a party. I did that for Christmas, too.
It worked well…
It was much cheaper to buy a $30 gift for $10 or less… The kids got great gifts for little cash.

9

Our kiddos aren’t 13 yet but we have a standing rule. IIf they are invited to a birthday party & want to go then they must purchase the gift themselves. My oldest (8) has been doing this for about 3 years, my middle (5) for almost a year now, we still buy for the youngest (3). They work & make commission and we believe this is one way of teaching responsibility & thinking of others. Plus it helps us not feel pressure to keep up with everyone else’s idea of spending crazy money on gifts.

10

First of all, whatever you are comfortable with and what fits your budget’.

I always spent $25-$30 on gifts for parties my daughter was invited to and for relatives, I spend more.

11

Ten dollars inside of a card.

12

yup. $20 is perfect.
khairete
suz

13

Oh good- I was afraid I was going to find out I was cheap!!

I spend $20-25 (and my DD is 13).

Whew.

14

I don’t :wink:

My son gets an allowance. Each year his allowance increases on his half birthday. At age 9.5 part of that increase was to cover presents (birthdays and holidays).

What he spends varies. But it’s usually around $25.

15

My budget was usually $15. That would be about $20 in today’s dollars.

I think $20 is fine. Teens don’t need you to go broke over buying stuff for them.

16

My kids are 13 and 10 and we have always spent between $20-25 on their friends bday presents. If we don’t have an idea on what they want, I have stuck a $20 bill in a card for them or a $20 gift card. Good luck.

17

$10-20 in cash in a card.

18

$20

19

$15 for kids. . $20-25 for adults.