Birthday Presents For DD14’s Friends

[SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows]

Finding this a bit of a minefield. When DD was younger, I would pay for a present & card for any friends that were having a party. Now DD is older I’m unsure how to play it as she has a lot of friends. Sometimes she will tell me they’re having an official party so I’ll pay for a present but it can turn out that there wasn’t a party. DD gets £10 a week pocket money. Should she be buying a small present & a card out of that, whether there’s an official party or not?

My DD is 13 and gets €50 allowance monthly. The agreement is she saves €10 of this and if she wants to buy birthday gifts for friends she can use some of what she’s saved. I think by the time they are in their teens (and receiving a regular allowance) then it’s for them to pay for their friends presents if they want to give one.

I would say though that it’s easier for them to plan and budget if they get their allowance monthly rather than weekly so that might be something to consider?

How many is a lot of friends?
What's the usual budget for a gift ?
If the party is an activity like going to the cinema who pays ?
What is your DD's allowance expected to cover ?

I bought a selection of birthday cards at Card Factory and expected dd to pay for gifts. She attended a handful of parties per year and I gave her cash for the activity or to buy sweets if it was a sleepover.

Once at high school by about year 8 DS was expected to cover birthday gifts for friends out of his pocket money.

It seems odd to only want to buy a gift if there is a party, tbh. DD buys all her group a gift, party or not (usually not). I usually pay, but I can understand you might not want to if there are lots of them. Could you suggest they all club together to buy one really nice thing? Would be cheaper, and probably nicer.

DD is very into arts and crafts, she will usually make her friends something, if it’s a proper party she’ll also buy them a big bar of chocolate and a card.

£10 primark / boba / Starbucks voucher and a bag of sweets.

Should have added, Dts get £40 a month pocket Mooney but it doesn't go far so I will pay for the presents for close friends for now.

Depends how close the friend is but generally a bar of chocolate would do if no party where we are.

We pay for presents for really good friends (4), we spend lots of time together and the presents are a bit more expensive.

For all other school friends DD pays for the present which is often chocolates or something really small. Or if she is lucky she can convince me to add something to our shopping list if she tells me early enough.