Like I've been saying, "depends" so PH folks, what is your average overall?

[theking]

How Much Should You Spend on a Child’s Birthday Gift When Your Kid Is Invited To Their Party?

When your young child gets invited to a classmate’s birthday party, he or she will likely be overwhelmed with excitement. Meanwhile, you can’t help but wonder, “Wow much should I spend on a gift?”

You don’t want to spend too little and have the gift reflect that you’re cheap, but you also don’t want to spend too much and risk making the birthday child’s parents (or any other parents) uncomfortable. To answer this question and find out what other points of etiquette you should brush up on before the youthful celebration, GOBankingRates consulted industry experts.

Here’s everything you need to know.

How Much You Should Logically Spend
“This is such an important question as for many years when your children are younger, this will need to be a line-item on your budget,” said nationally known etiquette expert and owner of Mannersmith, Jodi RR Smith.

“Without any information, the lazy answer is $20. But the true answer is it depends. For those with bigger budgets or in tiny social circles, the answer may be $50 or more.”

How To Discreetly Find Out How Much You Should Spend
“If you are a new parent and/or new to the school or neighborhood, ask other parents, especially those with older children,” said Smith. “The way to ask is not what they spend, but what do people usually give as gifts. If you ask a few different people, you will be able to figure out the typical spend from there and then scale up or down to match your budget. For your child’s BFF, you may spend more than for a lunchtime acquaintance.”

“When you RSVP, ask if there are any toys/gifts that are not permitted and find out what they are really into,” said Pamela Eyring, president of The Protocol School of Washington. “Think items such as Legos, bath toys or stuffed animals.”

Smith agrees that it’s a good idea to find out ahead of time what type of gift would be appropriate.

[DuMa]

$25 gift card if they still a toddler. 

Once they are older, you can increase the ante. 

Used to date a game from San jose.  Her sister gave some expensive gifts ever so she gets invited often.  One time, she was just talking out loud, she be like.... how can you gift something under $100? 

So basically for her, it's $100 min.  I got a polo brand jacket worth over $100 for that xmas.  I gave her daughter a walmart candy bundle worth $10   

To  make matter worse, I didn't even buy any wrapping paper.  I just get newspaper and twist both ends to make it look like a candy.  Can't blame me though.  Starving college life and new to san jose, the land of wealthy and flashy asian people. 

[theking]

For me, it ***depends*** on who. Is it a one time deal or someone that I'll see again next year?

Also, how close are we?

And the last factor I take into consideration is socio-eco status of that person or his/her/their child...

For example, I tend to spend more for folks that don't have much to begin with i.e., young struggling parents..

Over the years, I say my overall average is about $50.

[theking]

I gave her daughter a walmart candy bundle worth $10   

...Can't blame me though.  Starving college life and new to san jose, the land of wealthy and flashy asian people.

"$10" back in your "college" days is like "$20-25" now so you're still within the norm...

[DuMa]

"$10" back in your "college" days is like "$20-25" now so you're still within the norm...

Thinking back of them older days, we are allowed to make some newbie mistakes.  Fresh, immature, broke as hell and not too good with the ladies.  Besides, I was in the relationship with the girl and not no inlaw type of activity so I get a passing grade.  I mean if you think about it, a high class chick and gifts, I dreaded because I can not roll her lifestyle.  Her sister on the other hand was dumb.  If I tell her to jump, she would say how high.   

[NtsesHnub]

Are we talking about the hmong community?  $40 bucks for the bday kid and a case for the grown up kids

[theking]

Thinking back of them older days, we are allowed to make some newbie mistakes.

Yep, no one is perfect so everyone makes "mistakes". The important part is can you learn from it and move forward or be like THAT GUY and continue to dig your hole deeper and deeper...

[theking]

Are we talking about the hmong community?  $40 bucks for the bday kid and a case for the grown up kids

That works! 

[theking]

Thanks for your inputs...