How much should I give best friend's grandson who is going to be travelling for six months?

HMWALES

Nothing ~ totally unnecessary for you to give a friend's grandson money to go travelling

Very few gifts are 'necessary'. They are given out of love.

You gave me a laugh paddyAnn. Glad you’ve got so much pleasure from the chess set.

When we got married in 1971 we had to sit on garden chairs until we had the money for 2 arm chairs and a settee in orange 🤪

Nan Kate he,ll have that memory forever so money well spent .Though we were given money to buy a fridge freezer when we got married and we spent it on a chess set .
We,ve had a few fridge freezers in those 50 years but we still have the chess set and still use it.
When I give money I never stipulate what the recipient should do with it.Its not your business once it’s out of your hands.

£50.00 and say you would like to know what he spends it on.

Many years ago I gave my DS £25 in an envelope as emergency money when he first started Uni.

A few weeks later when speaking on the phone to him I told him to keep the money safely. His response was ‘Oh I’ve spent it’ ! ‘On what’ I replied. ‘On a ticket to see Joan Armatrading’. 😀

Why not a 'Lonely Planet Guide" to the place he is travelling to. They are great for young travellers, very informative.

paddyann54

Surprised so many don’t have friends they think of as family.
I, e always bought gifts for the children and grandchildren of friends.Made wedding cakes and birthday cakes taken then to gigs their mums or dads couldn,t make.Its just spreading love and goodwill surely.It is in my eyes a d I have good relationships with all of them.
Plus I enjoy doing it

This 100% .. some people are just more generously-hearted. I'd say anything £25+ but max £100.

Good on you ! Givers love to give 🥰 enjoy!

Must say I didn't give my daughter anything went she packed her job in and toddled off to the Antipodes. However as she been working (and well paid) for a few years she had ample funds. And when we arranged for me to travel out to meet up with her for a short holiday, I had to borrow money from the bank! Had an amazing time together.
I wouldn't think your friend's grandson would expect anything, presumably he 'd have worked out his finances before planning to go, but no harm in giving him say £50 as a gift.

Nothing ~ completely unnecessary for you to give a friend's grandson money to go travelling.

Nothing ~ totally unnecessary for you to give a friend's grandson money to go travelling

It’s very thoughtful that you feel you’d like to gift this young explorer some money, I’m sure it would be very useful…Yes give it!
Not more than your friend, as mentioned, but if you want to, and are in a position to give, then do so with love! X

A money gift really might not be best choice as its soon gone and wont have a lasting effect.A nice useful gift cant be resented by the others and is a lovely gesture to see him off on his travels.

Why not ask him if he needs insurance for his trip that would be useful perhaps? Or like someone suggested,a good decent rucksack? Or decent coat thats good for thunderstorms? North face are good for both and while they are well-lasting they might be out of his budget so would be a nice gesture.Or a nice digital camera for him to have memories of his travels recorded? Some are not too pricey.

As has been said already, just because some people would not do this and think it's odd, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. We have a friend and her son that we have known for many years and we are close to both of them. I know they view us as family. We would do the same as you want to do, though there wasn't the added dimension of possibly upsetting other siblings. But surely they wouldn't begrudge it?

I would think around £100 would be a nice amount - and possibly half that - if there is a risk of upsetting others.

I've just given to my DGS gofundme page towards his gap year. I gave him £100.
I wouldn't give as much if he wasn't my DGS.

When DD left school she worked for a year to save for her travels. It made her very independent.

Sueinkent

I wouldn’t. If they want to go travelling ( as I did at that age) they should find the money themselves. 19 is when you must start to be independent and not dependent on the adults in your life. Continuing to finance them keeps them children. Not good for them.

This lad is obviously financing himself, he hasn't asked the OP for money, she wishes to give him a gift. Goodness do you stop all gifts to anyone over the age of 18 because they need to not be children? I think it's a lovely gesture that I'm sure he will appreciate.

I also agree with Monica I feel just because others wouldn’t do it, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I think it’s a kind gesture and I’d say £50.

Mojack26

Your friend's grandson? I find that a bit strange..sorry

Why is it strange? If the OP knows the lad and is fond of him it seems quite right that she may want to give him something for his trip, not strange at all

What is strange is people admitting that they gave their own children or grandchildren absolutely nothing went they went travelling. How awful.

It's a shame really that so many clearly don't have the kind of friendships that warrant a gesture like this.

I wouldn’t. If they want to go travelling ( as I did at that age) they should find the money themselves. 19 is when you must start to be independent and not dependent on the adults in your life. Continuing to finance them keeps them children. Not good for them.

I would just send him a nice thoughtful card. Hope he has a great adventure. Bon Voyage.

That sort of thing.

That's enough of a keepsake really.

👍

Sadie5803

Charity starts at home...but its your money, i wouldn't be giving my friends grandchildren money only my own grandchildren

Depends how you define charity snd home ( and that’s even if you accept such a meaningless phrase). What on earth does it mean ?

I agree with M0nica and don't think £100 would be too much as it is quite a long trip. I think it is a lovely idea and I am sure both parents and grandson will be thrilled.

Your friend's grandson? I find that a bit strange..sorry

Surprised so many don’t have friends they think of as family.
I, e always bought gifts for the children and grandchildren of friends.Made wedding cakes and birthday cakes taken then to gigs their mums or dads couldn,t make.Its just spreading love and goodwill surely.It is in my eyes a d I have good relationships with all of them.
Plus I enjoy doing it

Betony - please don't feel there's anything wrong with you for what you're intending to do. I'm surprised to see so many gransnetters aghast at the idea of giving anybody else's grandchild some money for whatever reason. Contributing towards an adventure is a good thing to do and it doesn't matter whether the adventurer is your relation or otherwise. I would definitely give money to my best friend's grandson if I thought it was deserved but I would check with her to ask for a suggestion. Tell her what you can afford and take it from there - if she's shocked and says she couldn't afford that then drop your offer for obvious reasons but if you want to do it then do it. I wouldn't buy a surprise travelling gift unless you know he actually wants it - if he doesn't then he won't take it - waste of money and entirely defeating the objective of helping him on his adventure.

Charity starts at home...but its your money, i wouldn't be giving my friends grandchildren money only my own grandchildren