Shelton RossGoing to a baby shower is a fun way to honor the parents-to-be and their expecting child. But, it can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to the baby shower gift budget. There are instances when there’s a need to appreciate and support but at the same time budgeting is also considered. There are different things that come into the mix such as your bond with the future parents, your monetary conditions as well as the average present requirements for a baby shower within your community.
In this article, we are going to look at what ideally is the appropriate amount to spend on a baby shower gift, gift types, and how one can stay within budget to buy a meaningful gift.
Your Relationship with the Parents
As shown from the psychographic factors associated with baby shower gifts, the relationship with the parents is the most important in setting up a baby shower gift budget. If you’re that bona fide family member such as, a sister, a cousin, or a best friend among others, you may be willing to go a little overboard. On the contrary, if you’re a colleague or a mere acquaintance, a little gift will do.
Planning for gift expenses is subject to these categories:
- For close family members or best friends: $50–$100 or more.
- For extended family or friends: $30–$50
- For coworkers or acquaintances: $20–$30 The idea is to make an inexpensive gift that will reflect the relationship.
It is ideal to spend a few hours determining the level of thoughtfulness of the gift relative to the distance of the relationship but one does not have to spend too much money if one doesn’t have such.
Your Budget
Your spending will always depend on your financial status. There is no law that states a present for a baby shower must be expensive to be appreciated. It’s very important that you give always the way you afford because the goodwill in the gift still matters more than the cost added in it.
If you don’t have that much money there are also things that can really touch the heart without making you go bankrupt. Think of unique and practical gifts such as handmade things, baby starter kits or a cute little piece of jewelry.
The Type of Baby Shower
The type of a baby shower can also determine the gift price range. For instance, if a very formal and large baby shower is what you are attending, most likely the guests will spend more and more expensive gifts will be given. It is, however, different when it is a small party for close relatives and friends whereby gifts are relatively smaller but personal.
Moreover, some baby showers entail bringing a specific category of gifts, such as a diaper shower or a book shower. In that situation, it is possible to change your gift according to that theme and your budget accordingly.
The Registry
Most of the time, the expectant parents encourage the guests to give gifts using the baby shower registry which is a very practical resource for all guests. ‘ The registry’ means a book or an account that usually contains various articles of surprise and it will mostly have something to suit every pocket. The registry provides such information regarding the spending limits that would otherwise be unpleasant to see being raised up by any parents.
When you buy such items from registry, it means that your gift is both very helpful and very much wanted. Nevertheless, don’t hesitate to include an additional item to your gift, for instance, a card with warm wishes or a home-made souvenir.
Group Gifting
If you are going to the baby shower in the company of a few other people, you can consider pooling resources to make one substantial gift instead of making several smaller ones. Large items can often be difficult to give as presents if people do not want to contribute too much money so group gifts are ideal for this scenario. Examples of group gifts are the stroller, crib or car seat.
Thus, in pursuance of fancier and bulkier gifts that will surely be pleasing to the parents, you can consolidate your resources so that not everyone will have to stretch their budget beyond reasonable limits.
Diversification of Gift Categories
However, gifts for the infant gatherings are available in several categories, ranging from useful baby items to quirky and creative personalized gifts. Depending on how generous you want to be, you can choose a gift that will be within your budget and still manage to be of value.
Everyday Good for the Baby
For those people who want to go with something practical, baby items like m diapers, wipes, clothes and bottles come in handy. These are products that new parents will exhaust quickly making them very important.
- $20 – $30 budget: Small diaper packs, baby wipes or babies moisturizing creams or essential items for the bath.
- $30 – $50 budget: Packs of baby slings, clothes or feeding sets for toddlers.
- $50 and above: Diaper bags, baby monitor of medium level and above, or items for the nursery.
Emotional Gifts
Emotional gifts are, it can be said, most treasured by would-be parents. If you are searching for gifts that would be emotionally appealing to a person, you can go for branded items, like a baby blanket embroidered with the baby’s name, or a scrap-booking album, or something knitted.
- $20-$30: Baby books for the children with the child’s name in them, baby picture frames, cum decorative articles for the nursery.
- $30-$50: Baby blankets with name of the baby, clothes sewn with hands, or toddler toys with names on them.
- $50 and above: A wall mural designed for the baby’s nursery, chunky quilts, or themed growth charts that are made to order.
Experience Gifts
One more point where you can assist is by presenting gifts in forms of experiences that foster a bond with the new occupant or ease the life of a new parent. These ones, too, can be affordable.
- $20–30: Local library baby Storytime sessions, or a coupon voucher for babysitting.
- $30 – $50: Picture session gift vouchers, vouchers for baby massage classes, and parenting magazine subscriptions.
- $50+: A grownups’ weekend trip or a hired photographer for baby photography.
How to Keep Financial Limitations and Be Creative with the Gift
After going through the different things that make up a baby shower gift pall, you may wish for something in addition. Here are a few more suggestions about how you can make admirable baby shower gifts without straining your neomoney budget:
- Hand-Made Gifts Some gifts are best made rather than bought from the store, and those are handmade ones. If you do some knitting, crafting, baking skills, any such gifts done from your home would be appreciated. Knit a baby blanket, make a scrapbook or even cookies as an accompaniment gift.
- Buy Some Stuff Ahead of Time When you know about the baby shower for example, consider buying the gift early to take full advantage of sales or discounts. Planning in such instituting manner makes it possible for the giver to purchase a more decent gift without being extravagant.
Follow the Dress Code
Alternatively, buying expensive gifts in bulk removes the need for considering many small gift items. For instance, you can assemble a ‘bath’ w basket containing wash cloths, baby lotion, baby wash etc, or a sleepover pack of a storybook, baby sleepsuit, and a warm cuddle blanket.
Search for Discounts
There is no need to pay the full price of expensive items since you can find equally good constructs at a lower price. There are a lot of baby items that can be found with reasonable discounts in many online shopping centers. Online websites have discounts, coupons, and also consider outlet shops.
Getting Pooled Presents
As stated before, putting money together with others in order to buy a larger gift is a good way of helping one manage their finances. Not only does it help lessen some financial burden, but it also enables one to give a gift that is worth giving, such as a well made, durable gift.
Conclusion
In terms of baby shower gifts, there is no particular amount in dollars which defines the optimal amount. A number of factors like your income, relationship with the parents and the kind of shower you are invited to play a role in deciding the right amount to spend. More importantly, the time and effort you spend in the choosing a gift is the most important thing.
By taking into account your expenses, your relationship with baby’s parents and how useful your gift will be appropriately however other side, the cost will not matter. Do not however forget that a baby shower is intended for celebrating lives that have come to be and that it is for assisting the parents as they start a new adventure so whatever amount you spend is acceptable as long as your thoughts and good wishes are the most precious gift.
Add comment