Moms Talk: How Do You Give Graduation Gifts Without Breaking the Bank?

Last week in Moms Talk (dads, you're welcome to chime in, too!), we asked you how to teach kids about the significance of Memorial Day. Here's what you had to say:

• Joan (no last name provided): "For many years after the parade, my husband and children would go to the cemetary with flowers to visit loved ones. The rest of the city would be at the fair, but we wanted to make it a meaningful tradition for them to remember. The most memorable was when my son was just 3 and after grandpa would clean off his deceased son's grave with no words ... just great care and then an American flag to finish, my son placed his hand on grandpa's shoulder who was kneeling down ... to console him. He knew and he felt exactly how that day should be even at his precious age."

This week, we'd like to hear how you give gifts to all the graduates in your family's circle – many of whom you may have known since they were little kids – without busting your budget.

Many parents, friends and family members are preparing to shell out cash for those pricey graduation gifts. However spending on graduation gifts is going down across the country. According to the National Retail Federation, its annual graduation spending survey estimates that Americans will spend $3.87 billion on graduation gifts this year, down from $4.5 billion in 2007.

The average amount of money spent per graduate, federation spokeswoman Kathy Grannis said, is $90.

What about you? How much are you planning to spend on graduation gifts this year? Do you have any tips on how to stretch a dollar when shopping for these very special presents?