i'm sure this has been posted before-how much to spend on gift

catwine · July 2012

i'm going to a shower and wedding this summer but have no idea what to get the couple and how much to spend! i always go to weddings with my mom and she looks afte rthe gifts, but this is a friend of mine and my fiance is my guest. the couple didn't register and the MOH said they will be happy with any gift.

so, how much should i spend and what should i get?! the bride and i have known each other since grade 1 but have not remained close.

cosmogirlWed144626 · July 2012

There's really only one rule: spend what you are comfortable with. Base your decision on your budget and how close you are to the couple.

If you need a dollar amount, think about what you would spend on a friend's important birthday gift -- it would be what you can afford, and how much you care about the person, right? Do the same when choosing what to spend on the shower and wedding gifts.

Best wishes!

artbyallie · July 2012

Spend what you are comfortable spending. That is all that matters.

aragx6 · July 2012

If they didn't register, I'd bet that what they really want is cash. You should give whatever you're comfortable spending, but if you're asking what FI and I personally spend it's about $50 for a coworker, $100 for a family member and up to a couple hundred for a dear friend. For my friend's wedding last November I gave her a pretty expensive shower gift off her registry ($150-ish) so I only gave her $100 at the wedding. People I know spend less and others I know spend more.

rlavach · July 2012

No one can answer that for you. Only you know how much you're comfortable spending. You can ask those on your local board (if you have one) what the common gift amount is in your area, but even that won't really help. Give what you can & like PP said, if there is no registry, they are likely hoping for cash.

hoffse · July 2012

I agree you should spend what you are comfortable spending. We do more than for birthdays/holidays because a wedding doesn't happen every year for that couple. For acquaintances and distant family members we do ~$100 and for close friends we do ~$250-~$300, depending on what they register for and what kind of deals I can get.

jessicabessica · July 2012

Definitely get a boxed gift for the shower. Spend what you're comfortable spending--I would probably aim for $40-50 for a close friend, but that's me. If there's no registry, I would get something I think the couple would like with a gift receipt--maybe a nice pitcher, cookbook and baking stuff, etc.

catwine · July 2012

there is no registry...probelm is: i don't know the couple very well so I'm not even sure why I'm invited!! my fiance and i talked about what to get and i think we will do a little popcron maker, some kernals and some cute snacking bowls. they have a couple kids together and i know they are into family stuff.

jessicabessica · July 2012

If you don't know them very well, it's fine to decline the shower and/or wedding invitation. I wouldn't go to the shower of someone I didn't know very well.

catwine · July 2012

i want to go! i've known her for about 15 years or so but we aren't really friends. we wnet to school together for 8 years but never hung out outside class.

hoffse · July 2012

I like the popcorn idea. I would make sure to give them a gift receipt for the maker and snack bowls just in case they already have one or they would prefer something else.