Gift
ide
Gift-giving
Dollars and Sense
Some experts share guidelines on the going
rates for special-occasion gifts.
of the parents.
If you are about to
throw up your hands in
utter frustration,
hen a
whether you think
thick,
these ranges are too
over-
high or too low, just
s ized
remember there are
envelope with neatly
numerous factors that
written calligraphy
need to be considered
and hand-stamped
when
giving a gift,
postmark arrives in
including
closeness to
the mail, it can only
the
family,
financial situ-
mean one thing — an
ation
and
personal
pref-
invitation to a simcha
erence.
and another opportunity
"It's really what you're
to ponder the question,
comfortable with," says party
"How much should I
planner Cynthia Ziegelman.
spend on a gift?"
"Circumstances
should be your
Ranking up there with
guide.
There
is
no
reason to sec-
makinc, the crucial decision of
ond-mortgage
your
house
to save
what to wear, we as guests repeat-
face
with
friends.
You
should
give
edly wonder how much to spend. We
because it makes you feel good."
may ask our friends their opinions or
Still, some people are most comfortable
base amounts on what we or our children
with
knowing
what they should spend. They
previously received. Still, time and time again
want
to
know
what
others are spending or what the
Illustration
by:
Natalya
Lemberskaya
the question is asked: "What is the going rate for a
recipient
might
be
expecting.
gift?"
Wedding and b'not mitzvah gifts are unique in that guests often give
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as the question. Local
money or buy a gift off the bridal registry. This means that the recipient typ-
party planners and retailers give a range of what partygoers typically
ically knows how much was spent. This is obviously not the case with birth-
spend:
day or graduation gifts.
$30-$100
for
a
shower
gift;
the
average
tends
to
be
$50.
•
Of course, there will always be those who do not want their recipient,
• $50- $200 for a wedding gift; the average tends to be $100.
particularly
a bride and groom, to know how much a gift cost. These are the
• $18 - 5200 for a bar or bat mitzvah gift; the average tends to
individuals
who
give what is known as a "white elephant" gift; According to
be $25 from friends of the teen and $100 from relatives and friends
BY JENNIFER LOVY
11/30
2001
G15