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Community Corner

What's the Going Rate for Birthday Presents for Your Kids' Friends?

Birthday season seems endless, and with so many gifts to give, another line item in your budget might be in order. So what's the right amount to spend on your kids' friends' gifts?

How much do you spend on birthday presents for your kid’s friends? Do you spend more for close friends?

Educational toys are always a big hit with moms, but will your kid protest if you try to swap out a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle for a puzzle? Less expensive DIY gifts are also an option, but they only make sense if your kid will actually sit down and spend some time and thought on the process, unless you’re in the mood to whip up a painted jewelry box for a 6-year-old. What’s your go-to gift giving style?  

The average cost of a kids’ birthday present nationwide is between $15 and $20, according to a poll by parentsconnect.com. Of those surveyed, 39 percent spend in that range, while 26 percent spend $20 to $25, and the another 26 percent spend less than $15. According to Learnvest, a financial planning services and personal finance news site, you should plan to spend $10 more on close friends. And conventional wisdom says you should spend even more on relatives.

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If $15 or more isn’t in your budget, check out these great $10 gifts for kids 6 to 10 years old, which include arts and crafts and nature and gardening possibilities. Not able to make it to the party? Don’t feel obliged to send a gift anyway, says Lizzy Post, great-great-granddaughter of etiquette doyen Emily Post.  

Whatever you settle on, it’s a good idea to tuck a gift receipt in the birthday card so parents can exchange duplicate presents.

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TELL US: What’s the going rate for your kids’s friends’ birthday presents?

“What’s the Going Rate for Kids’ Birthday Presents?” is part of our ongoing Smart Spending series, in which  Patch uncovers the going rate for goods and services in town, so you’ll know how much to pay for what you need. Help us out by replying in the comments.


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