How much do you spend on your child's friends birthday gift?
The title says it all.
My daughter gets invited to a lot of birthday parties. We're not rich, we can't afford to buy elaborate gifts for our own kids, much less their friends. So how much to spend?
I normally get a gift card to their favorite store, so what I spent is very obvious. This last party I got a $25 gift card to the friends favorite store. Is that too much, not enough, insulting, okay? What's the standard? Is there one?
How do you decide what to spend? Is it all based on what you can afford, and if you buy a cheaper gift do the parents think you're just cheap, or realize that you can't afford to spend more?
I always factor in what the party is. If they spent money to book a place, serve food and drinks, give a party favor, then I feel like I have to give more, since they spent so much to throw the party. But really, are they throwing the party so their child gets gifts, or are they throwing it so that their child can spend their birthday with friends?
I'm so lost on this. What's an acceptable amount to spend? What's completely unacceptable? In what cases is it okay to spend more, or spend less?
What are your thoughts?