Confirmation gift for nephew?

Speedwell

I just found out my husband's brother's 14-year-old boy is having his confirmation in mid-June. I think the brother and his family are Church of Ireland; in any case they are not Catholic. We are atheists and will not be attending at church, but we will be going to the family gathering afterward. My husband has left the gift question in my completely clueless hands (I am an apostate from a liberal American Presbyterian tradition, ethnically Jewish, and a fairly recent immigrant). If the child were having his bar mitzvah, I would be reasonably confident, but as it is I don't know at all.

We've had some recent expenses that have left us quite cash poor for the next month, so while I would gladly slip some mad money into a card, I'm forced to be more inventive this time. What are kids getting these days that is reasonable in cost, not overtly pious (fancy me buying a rosary; the closest I ever came was some sort of Hindu mala), and actually something they might appreciate getting?

ScumLord

Catholics love money. Stick €20 in a card. Anything else you could get will probably be ignored. It's been like that since I was a child.

Speedwell

ScumLord wrote: »

Catholics love money. Stick €20 in a card. Anything else you could get will probably be ignored. It's been like that since I was a child.

OK, 20 we can do. I was afraid it was like a hundred or something. I don't know. When I was confirmed, I think all that happened was my dad took us to lunch at a barbecue restaurant. At least it was good BBQ.

I can't see a Church of Ireland boy be any less excited about money than a Catholic boy, so fair deal.

beach_walker

ScumLord wrote: »

Catholics love money. Stick €20 in a card.

And guess who didn't read the OP.



There's not really much you can get a 14 year old bar cash/voucher, and well cash is king! Actually add a scratch card in there also.

Ragnar Lothbrok

€20 sounds about right. Maybe €50 if he is your husband's god-son.

ScumLord

Speedwell wrote: »

OK, 20 we can do. I was afraid it was like a hundred or something.

I gave my nephew €50 just last week and he was happy with it. For the most part it's the final tally they're interested in more than what each person gives them. Collecting the money is like collecting stickers.

lazybones32

It's illegal to give him scratch cards since he must be 18 (to claim if he wins). Give him a 20 (or credit union saving stamps, if you want to pee him off.) If he's interested in his Confirmation, maybe get him a little book about it
I got 5 pounds for my Communion and 25 for my Confirmation. If someone told me I had to give 50 for a Comm/Conf, they'd be told to <snip> right off.

Manach

Leaving aside the always useful gift voucher , might I suggest a CD/music token for religious chants if the recipient is somewhat religious and interested in study. In that I've always found that this and classical music has always been good for focusing on exams : thus there is a practical aspect to it.

Mrs OBumble

I would never give cash as a communion or confirmation gift: I think its a horrible tradition that kids are effectively bribed into receiving sacraments, and I refuse to take part in it.

Do you know anything about the kid at all, and what he might find inspirational? Failing that, I'd go with the music voucher or book voucher idea.

hinault

Speedwell wrote: »

I just found out my husband's brother's 14-year-old boy is having his confirmation in mid-June. I think the brother and his family are Church of Ireland; in any case they are not Catholic. We are atheists and will not be attending at church, but we will be going to the family gathering afterward. My husband has left the gift question in my completely clueless hands (I am an apostate from a liberal American Presbyterian tradition, ethnically Jewish, and a fairly recent immigrant). If the child were having his bar mitzvah, I would be reasonably confident, but as it is I don't know at all.

We've had some recent expenses that have left us quite cash poor for the next month, so while I would gladly slip some mad money into a card, I'm forced to be more inventive this time. What are kids getting these days that is reasonable in cost, not overtly pious (fancy me buying a rosary; the closest I ever came was some sort of Hindu mala), and actually something they might appreciate getting?

Cash is probably best,

eeguy

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I would never give cash as a communion or confirmation gift: I think its a horrible tradition that kids are effectively bribed into receiving sacraments, and I refuse to take part in it.
I'd go with the music voucher or book voucher idea.

So giving money you can spend anywhere is abhorrent, but giving money you can only spend in one shop is fine?

endacl

eeguy wrote: »

So giving money you can spend anywhere is abhorrent, but giving money you can only spend in one shop is fine?

Maybe give Israeli shekels? So he'll have to put the effort into a pilgrimage to the holy land to spend it?

The Randy Riverbeast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3uipTO-4A

20 would be the going rate, 50 for children you are close to. Somewhere in between depending on what you can afford.

Second Toughest in_the Freshers

Manach wrote: »

Leaving aside the always useful gift voucher , might I suggest a CD/music token for religious chants if the recipient is somewhat religious and interested in study. In that I've always found that this and classical music has always been good for focusing on exams : thus there is a practical aspect to it.

I remember I got a tape like that for Christmas when I was twelve. I don't think i had listened to it fully once before I had the sellotape out to cover the anti-erase holes so I could record tunes from the radio...

sunny2004

It's simply, what you can afford based on how close you are to the child

Speedwell

endacl wrote: »

Maybe give Israeli shekels? So he'll have to put the effort into a pilgrimage to the holy land to spend it?

As the Jew in the family I think that would ultimately wind up costing me more in the long run as I well might be expected to organize the trip, lol.

I'll give him cash, and since he's a chilihead like me I'll make him some of the homemade ghost pepper/garlic/green olive salsa he likes, and bring it to the family lunch that will follow the service I won't be attending.

ScumLord

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Do you know anything about the kid at all, and what he might find inspirational? Failing that, I'd go with the music voucher or book voucher idea.

I despise vouchers. I think they're the worst thing ever. Why would you turn money into a less effective money knock off that only works in one shop? Just tell him the €20 is a new type of fancy voucher that works in every shop.

Nobody should ever buy a voucher for any reason. Ever.

NewApproach

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I would never give cash as a communion or confirmation gift: I think its a horrible tradition that kids are effectively bribed into receiving sacraments, and I refuse to take part in it.

Do you know anything about the kid at all, and what he might find inspirational? Failing that, I'd go with the music voucher or book voucher idea.

Why not cash if you get them a voucher? Afraid they'll go spend it on heroin or something?

LordSutch

Speedwell wrote: »

I just found out my husband's brother's 14-year-old boy is having his confirmation in mid-June. I think the brother and his family are Church of Ireland; in any case they are not Catholic. We are atheists and will not be attending at church, but we will be going to the family gathering afterward. My husband has left the gift question in my completely clueless hands (I am an apostate from a liberal American Presbyterian tradition, ethnically Jewish, and a fairly recent immigrant). If the child were having his bar mitzvah, I would be reasonably confident, but as it is I don't know at all.

We've had some recent expenses that have left us quite cash poor for the next month, so while I would gladly slip some mad money into a card, I'm forced to be more inventive this time. What are kids getting these days that is reasonable in cost, not overtly pious (fancy me buying a rosary; the closest I ever came was some sort of Hindu mala), and actually something they might appreciate getting?

So, as we say in the Church of Ireland, "He will be getting confirmed" in mid June.

Definitely no money, as it's just not the done thing in the C of I.

No gifts required either....

Mrs OBumble

NewApproach wrote: »

Why not cash if you get them a voucher? Afraid they'll go spend it on heroin or something?

Precisely.

DEFTLEFTHAND

LordSutch wrote: »

So, as we say in the Church of Ireland, "He will be getting confirmed" in mid June.

Definitely no money, as it's just not the done thing in the C of I.

No gifts required either....

This is how it should be in the Catholic Church also.

Jimmy Garlic

I usually give sweet F all to the spoilt little brats, they don't deserve it. Life is tough, and the greatest gift I can give them is a reminder of that.

Speedwell

I happened to talk to my mother-in-law on the phone last night, and she laughed, "20 pounds? We aren't Catholic!" I said, "Well, that's a relief, I was originally told to do a religious medal or something..." and I thought she was going to pee herself. After she stopped laughing and caught her breath, she asked, "You heard that from some woman down the shop, did you?" Well, yes, actually, I did. "Everyone in your town is Catholic." Eh we have a Church of Ireland and even a Methodist church, more churches than pubs for some unknown reason But point taken.