There is no possible way to answer your question. What's right for you to give is not always right for anyone else. Just do what feels right for you and the recipient.

If Social Security was my only (or at least the bulk) source of income, I think what you've laid out above is just fine.

Suppose, too, it would also depend on how big a circle of family you normally give gifts to. Time was, I was getting annoyed at receiving graduation announcements, birth announcements, wedding announcements, etc. for like third cousins I'd never met in my life and never would meet. Nice to be remembered, but I decided I'd not get involved with gift giving that far down the line.

Realize I'm not much help and there will be others with better ideas, I'm sure. A remembrance from the heart is a generous thing and the amount doesn't matter.

The only people I buy birthday and Christmas gifts for are my husband and my sons. My mom gets a basket of her favourite things (soaps, candy, books, etc) from Santa. If my sons have girlfriends the value of the Christmas gift depends on how long they have been around and how serious the relationship is at the time.

Graduations get nothing or if I am close to the person they will get a card.

Wedding gifts for the children of friends are about $50 and for nieces/nephews it is about $100-$150.

I am a curmudgeon when it comes to spending my money on relatives/friends.

I have the money but I got tired of never being thanked. At this point I would settle for a thanks on facebook but I'm still waiting for a thank-you from a niece for a baby gift that was sent in April.

This post was edited by blfenton on Tue, Sep 23, 14 at 18:18

You have SS income, but you may have $1M in the bank.
Impossible question.
Give whatever you feel comfortable giving.

Give what you are comfortable giving. Your list sounds a bit more than I think you can comfortably afford, especially if there are many people to be gifted. The only thing I recommend is to keep it constant. If you give one grandchild $20 for his birthday, give the same amount to another one on his birthday.

We don't give Christmas or birthday gifts to adults. Everyone gets a card, and we may have a little tea or lunch and birthday cake, but no money or gifts once they've 'grown and flown'.

Whatever you feel comfortable with. Just remember, a gift is just that. It is not an obligation, ever.

Thanks for all the responses...I was looking for 'norms' in the ranges for 'now-a-days'.

What was appropriate or expected in 1980s and now I'm sure are different.

All great answers and actually gave me some good ideas at the same time.

Thanks again,

nola_anne

I think your suggested amounts sound very reasonable.

I give each of my children $100, their spouses also get $100 each for Christmas. I give them each $50 for their birthdays. I can afford it and some can use the money.
I usually give $100 for a niece or nephew wedding and $50 to ones who are more casual acquaintances.
I agree that you should give whatever you can comfortably afford.

Thanks...I like all the reasonable replies here and it is interesting how everyone has a different way and reason for giving as they do.

I am almost glad I don't have a whole lot of money or I would overdo it, I'm sure.

Some of my favorite gifts given to me have nothing to do with how much was given or spent...that's a good thing to remember as I do the giving, too.

nola_anne

I usually feel odd spending less than $20. I think your ranges are reasonable.

I do, too, alice_sj...it seems $20 is the new $5 to me!

Thanks for the comment.

nola_anne

The US inflation calculator says that $5.00 in 1980 is about $14.50 in 2014. So...your $20 is *generous*!

Cool, chisue!

I feel so much more 'well off' now!

:)

lol...and I'm being "hit" for more than gifts! lets see...9 grands and between their various activities in the last month have gifted $30 for coupon book (not my choice on that) $25 for birthdays (don't mind that) but now church retreat camp, hs band fundraiser, and ?? and we have budgeted every year $50 for each child and $100 for each adult for Christmas...

Bills first, groceries next, gifts last...

Bills first, groceries next, gifts last...

(I keep tellin' myself...LOL!)