Abraham Lincoln found himself at the head of a government that was divided amongst itself on how to proceed, given that the southern half of the country was teetering on the edge of secession.
I've noticed that employees don't contribute much when the envelope makes its rounds. I'd say their contributions average $3 per person, tops. I don't want to appear cheap to our boss presenting him with a departmental retirement gift of less than $200 (there is 60 people in the department). I want to ask the staff to increase their contribution to $30 per person, so we can give my boss an $1800 gift.
What's your relationship to the couple? - While the average gift ranges from $50 to $100 for those under 30, expect to spend $100 or more if you're close friends with the couple and are more established financially. For your nearest and dearest friends and relatives, gift costs can range from over a $100 to $200 or more.