How much are people giving their children for graduation?

[BerryTwister]

DS1 is graduating this week. I’m very proud of him, he’s worked hard and done well. It seems to be the done thing to give graduating kids some money, which I’m happy to do. But I’m wondering what the going rate is. Most of my friends in the same position are much richer than me, so I don’t want to ask them, because the money they can afford is crazy! Can people on here tell me how much, if anything, they’re giving their graduating kids?

Ha! I bet you thought you were RICH! Were you wise or did you rattle through it in weeks?!

There's no 'going rate' OP. If you want to give him something and can afford it then just give what you think is reasonable and can afford.

We rewarded for the study effort our children put into GCSEs and A levels, not the result.

This is definitely not a “thing”. We took our dd out for dinner.

‘Done thing’…. Maybe amongst your friends OP…. Not heard of it generally

We have funded his degree and will be funding his masters so that is his gift.

Graduation isn’t anything like a wedding. Unless you paid for all the bride and grooms dates.

I'm not pretending. It is something I have only read about on MN.

I absolutely agree people do things differently, but people are pointing out to the OP it certainly isn't 'expected'.

Oh, and it really is absolutely nothing like a wedding.

Paid for a lunch, that’s it.

A few thousand. Because when DH got made redundant he got a job and supported his self.

This really isn't the norm. Your friends are clearly very wealthy.
DD graduated the day before her birthday so we took her for a meal.

The idea of expensive graduation presents is fuelled by social media. It is getting ridiculous.

I think the difference here between some families are in England you pay for tuition fees and help pay for your children to live away from home.

in Scotland a lot of teens still live at home and have no tuition fees. Yeah there are some who live rurally and far too far from universities and need to live at home.

We have 5 universities all within 30 minutes driving/on train from our home. in DD’s friendship circle at uni all 4 girls still live at home with no tuition fees etc hence why my dd and her friends have all been given generous gifts from parents.

I payed for the photos gown and hotel for graduation and took everyone out for a meal . My girls got us a card and a gift each to thank us for our help over the years.
Each to their own , I was very proud of them but the achievement was their reward.

My dd is graduating this week and it didn’t even occur to me to give her a cash gift or any gift tbh

I didn’t get anything for graduating. We went for a drink afterwards and that was very nice, but no cash or gifts.

We’re paying for a celebratory meal out.

I’ve never heard of cash being given as a gift but it wouldn’t surprise me. DS graduates this week - I’ve booked a lovely restaurant for after the ceremony and got him some silver cufflinks with the uni crest on. I’ve also got him an engraved tie pin as he has secured a grad training role.

We paid for costs associated with graduation including a meal out but that's all, I didn't know this was a thing either. We didn't give cash gifts for GCSEs and A levels either, we felt that the outcome should be the reward for effort, same as not giving them pocket money for doing household chores that they should be doing anyway. But we supported them in many other ways and celebrated their achievements.

DD graduated just over a week ago. We paid for overnight in a hotel for DH and myself, for the photos, for a meal in the evening. Some having photos had huge bunches of flowers and they looked nice in photos so may have done that had I thought about it, but it was such a hot day and we were driving there so unless I got a bunch with those wells of water built in I don't think they would have lasted.

DD bought us tickets to her college garden party after the ceremony to say thank you for all we had done to support her. Then we packed up her room the morning after and drove her home.

It was a few years ago, it was either 500 or 1k, to help her on her way, we also took her for a nice meal, and yes supported through uni. We also gifted her when she got her GCSE’s and a levels. All sensibly saved and now in the process of buying her first house, late 20s.

i don’t know if other parents did, none of my business, I didn’t ask. Everyone’s financial situation is different and everyone treats money differently. My view was we are a family and we support her. I understand there is privalge in that for both sides.

do I think it’s necessary no. I got nothing when I graduated, not even a meal or a well done. In fact for my 18th I got a tenner shoved in a card.

When each of ours went through a graduation we took the family out for dinner.

They had also had support through studies and free board and lodging if needed when starting work.

Lunch out. No additional money

Agree. I didn't know this was a thing.

Nothing apart from congratulations and being immensely proud of them.

Nothing as DD specifically didn't want anything.