How much money to give for a birthday: the rules for "gifts in an envelope"

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

How much is it customary to give money for a birthday? This question worries many people who go to congratulate a friend, relative or colleague. Crispy banknotes have become a universal gift - it is always pleasant to receive them and not ashamed to hand them.

But the question is how much money to give for a birthday. After all, the amount should be sufficient to make the birthday man happy, but not so large as to bleed his personal budget. In fact, there is no single answer, but there are several generally accepted rules and recommendations.

The concepts of "a lot" and "little"

Money is a rather intimate sphere of any person's life. In our country, it is still not customary to directly answer questions about the level of income. Therefore, even best friends may not know each other's salary and often be misinformed about the real financial possibilities of their loved ones. In this situation, situations often arise when the birthday person is disappointed with the size of the gift, although the donor presented it based onfrom their own financial resources.

And here you can formulate the basic rule of "money in an envelope": such a present should not be tangible for the family budget. For example, in large cities, the amount of a gift is usually 5 thousand rubles. or 100 at. e. and more or at least 3 thousand rubles. In small towns, 5 thousand rubles is 25% or even 50% of wages. Therefore, in the provinces, cash gifts are much more modest - 1000-1500 rubles.

It is customary to give more for an anniversary, usually 2-3 times. But an anniversary is an infrequent and planned event, and you can prepare for it in advance and save money for a few months.

How much money do they give for a colleague's birthday now? When it comes to collecting money from the entire team into a single envelope, then there is usually some generally accepted minimum and maximum amount, for example, an interval between 500 and 5 thousand rubles. Moreover, if not only working, but also friendly relations are connected with a colleague, then you can present a separate envelope with banknotes of a slightly higher denomination.

Adult and children's gifts

How much money to give for a child's birthday? It's no secret that now even a three-year-old toddler has his own piggy bank, in which they collect money for some big purchase - a PC, a game console, a good bike or other expensive things. Therefore, you can give money to a child. It is even better if the banknotes are handed out along with a small present, such as sweets and a small toy. Yet the child's holiday is here andnow, not the day when he finally saves up for the right thing.

If we talk about the amount, then less than 500 rubles. giving is not customary even in small towns. If financial possibilities allow, then the value of the gift increases to 1500–2000 rubles. As a rule, grandparents, godparents give a little more as the closest people.

If we talk about the difference between adult and children's gifts, then it is customary to give larger amounts first. Although it often happens exactly the opposite - the child receives a pack of banknotes, which he still cannot spend wisely without the help of his parents, and mom and dad get a symbolic thousand rubles each on their birthdays. But it must be said that in this case there are rarely dissatisfied - adults do not take offense at the fact that their little children are loved more than themselves.

Relatives and friends

How much money do they give a girlfriend or friend for a birthday? Here, in addition to the basic rule about financial opportunities, one more recommendation should be formulated - the amount should depend on the degree of your proximity. If we are talking about friends with whom you communicate from time to time in the same company and occasionally call up, then you can give a small symbolic amount. The best friend and girlfriend, that is, those people who are closer than most relatives, are given slightly larger amounts.

If we talk about gradation between relatives and friends, then it is customary to present a little more first. Although the amount in any case will depend on the degree of proximity.

Celebration at the cafe

How much money to give for a birthday if the birthday boy invites you to celebrate it in a cafe or restaurant? This is where special etiquette comes into play. Firstly, in this case it is not customary to give anything other than money. You need to understand that a person will pay a large bill for food and drinks, and this will significantly hit his pocket.

Secondly, the amount should not be less than the cost of you in a restaurant or cafe. For example, if the average check per person in an institution is about 2 thousand rubles, then no less should be put in the envelope. Ideally, the present is calculated according to the scheme: expenses in the restaurant plus a gift, that is, when celebrating in a cafe, the amount of the present is higher. If you were invited to a birthday party as a married couple, then the expenses must be taken into account for two.

A few generally accepted recommendations

When deciding how much to give money for a birthday, you need to follow a few generally accepted recommendations:

1. The amount should be no less than the one that the birthday boy once handed you. It is believed that there can be no such mutual settlements between close people, but some people pay attention to this.
2. Coordinate the size of the gift with your other half. This is a total contribution from the general family budget, so we will have to negotiate.
3. Don't give too small amounts. If financial possibilities do not allow, then it is better to pick up a nice and inexpensive present.
4. Don't give too much. Many peoplefeel embarrassed in this situation.

If you give a large cash gift to a loved one with modest financial resources, then you should not expect a similar act from him.