The question of “how much money should I give for a wedding gift” will cross your mind every time you have to do it.
And you won’t know how much to give every time someone gets married.
Why is that so?
Well, there’s actually a reason why you think the way you do and I want to cover a little more on that, along with how much money you should give for a wedding gift.
I’ve been in this situation many times, and trust me, I still don’t get it right all the time.
No one is perfect, no situation is perfect, and everyone is different.
We all gift differently, and that’s okay.
There are many ways to do things, and there’s no single right answer.
How Much Money Should I Give For a Wedding Gift?
Weddings are special and undoubtedly bring in quite a bit of cash.
I think I’ll just get married again so I can help pay all my crazy bills.
I wish.
But, the question lies, how much money should I give for a wedding gift?
There’s no correct answer, but here’s what I recommend for a base.
For a friend of a friend or not-so-close coworker, a good amount would be $50.
Be ready to pull out a Benjamin ($100) for a much closer friend or acquaintance.
Now, for those that you’re really, really close to and will see for a long time, $100+ is ideal.
There’s more to the equation, though, so let’s see what we can consider.
As a starting point, let’s answer some questions.
1. How Important is the Couple to You?
Two things are happening if you have to think long and hard about how much you should give for a wedding gift.
One, you are really close to this couple, or two, you barely know them, and giving a Benjamin isn’t an option.
Think about who these people are and if you will see them a lot after they say I do.
Not to say that you should be cheap or shallow, but know that people understand their places and roles in other people’s lives.
2. How is Your Financial Situation?
This is a huge factor when it comes to figuring out how much you should give for a wedding gift.
If you don’t have the money, you shouldn’t be giving any of it out.
Period.
If you’re looking to get Netflix for free and piggybacking off of mom’s account, guess what?
You really can’t “gift” anyone.
It’s not bad, it’s not wrong, and it’s what you are currently dealing with.
And that’s okay.
If you’re not the hardest worker, maybe you should try to stop being lazy and do something.
You can figure out how much you should give for a wedding later.
If you have a $20 bill you’re willing to give up, then go for it.
You can always give them later if you are waiting for that dream job to appear.
3. What Does Your Culture Think?
Every culture is different, but they all have a way of bonding a man and a woman.
They also think differently when it comes to giving money and gifts.
In India, you best give an odd number when giving money, or you’re in trouble.
In the Southern Pacific islands, they have a thing called “chenchule.”
Basically, the family will write down the amount you are given, as they will need to return the “favor” when their turn comes around.
This applies to weddings, birthdays, and also funerals.
For you, think about how things are done and use that as a guide to how much money you should give for a wedding.
4. Are You Looking For Status?
In almost every culture or way of life in this crazy world, people are looking to be something to others.
Whether you have the money will not decide how much you will give for a wedding.
Your reputation is far more important than what you’re going to eat the next day.
If you’re the type of person that lives for status, I don’t think anything else really matters.
How much money you give will depend on how much money you have at the moment.
5. What Does the Couple Really Need?
Don’t forget.
This isn’t your day.
This is the day for Brad and Judy to share their vows and become one.
This is when they make a killing from gifts and get one of the oddest gifts they will ever get.
When deciding how much money you should give for a wedding, think about the couple and their living.
If they’re well off, they don’t need your rent money.
Consider getting them a gift instead and save yourself some money in the process.
Now, you can pay for your water bill that will soon be overdue.
Conclusion – Gift What You Can
We all want to impress the newlyweds, but sometimes it’s just not the right time.
Keep your money in your wallet and find other ways to gift them.
You can always give back to them in the future when your financial situation picks up.
Give within your means, act your wage, and things should be okay.
Don’t overthink things, and remember that times have changed.
We aren’t living in the times when fixing up our cars was the thing.
These days, we’re looking for ways to save on gas and even our water bill.
Give the new couple what you can, and I’m sure they’ll appreciate whatever you decide to give.
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