Christening gift

doelani

Looking some advice, my grandchild is getting christened soon and a few relatives have asked what to buy for presents. I hate wasting money and feel that the usual " christining gifts" like silver items , picture frames etc as such a waste of money.

We have opened a savings account and as well as a sum for christening gift will be adding to it at christmas, birthdays and a few £ each month with the few to having money saved for school trips etc in future. I know long way off but stepdaugher is unmarried teenager and who know what the future will hold and we thought it would be nice if we have the money put aside for school trips etc.

He needs some new clothes as he is growing so fast and thought if some others ( my relatives ) bought vouchers so he can get clothes woudl be better than silly gifts that will probally just sit on a shelf and be of no real use. Not sure if anyone else does this. I am being practical I know, thats me now due to past debt problems but also hate giving cash to children/stepchildren as they just seem to waste it and have nothing to show for it.

do you think vouchers is a good idea?

starbump

Personally, I think cash is better than vouchers. I don't like having to go to particular stores and I don't like other peoples' taste in clothes. I would suggest paying money directly into your grandson's child trust fund - it cannot be accessed by your step-daughter or your grandson (until he is 18 years old). If your grandson has a shares CTF rather than a stakeholder or cash CTF then it would be very handy if a number of people wanted to pay money in as a shares CTF usually has a minimum top-up amount - you could all club together and deposit the money as one lump sum.

*Louise*

^^Agree that putting money in a child trust fund is a great idea. However, I would add that I'm not aware that there is a mininimum amount that has to be paid in. I can pay as little as £5 a month into my DS and DD's CTF accounts.


However, if you are thinking that accessible money would be a better idea, then cash paid into a normal (easily removed when needed for the child) account would be a good idea.

A child can only have so many silver money banks/birth cert holders/picture frames etc.

doelani

starbump wrote: »

Personally, I think cash is better than vouchers. I don't like having to go to particular stores.

if the gift was cash direct to stepdaughter for grandson it may not be used for him , with vouchers we know they woudl be used for the purpose intended, to bye him clothes.

I would suggest paying money directly into your grandson's child trust fund - it cannot be accessed by your step-daughter or your grandson (until he is 18 years old).

However, if you are thinking that accessible money would be a better idea, then cash paid into a normal (easily removed when needed for the child) account would be a good idea.

we would prefer to e able to get access to the money we save for him so that it can be used for him during his school years for trips etc if his mum canot afford them.

A child can only have so many silver money banks/birth cert holders/picture frames etc [/quote/]

exactly what I think to.

My daughter acually suggested after posting taking stepdaughter shopping and telling her " you have xxx to spend on baby, this is instead of christening present from xxxxx and xxxx" we will e sure then the money is spent on baby.

elainew

Sounds a fab idea to get vouchers. We asked for donations for our daughters christening towards a charity. everyone was so generous but they then bought the silver trinkets too. Gawd I sound so ungratful but they are now all up in the loft in a box.
Clothes or money for school is a great idea

E xx

starbump

doelani wrote: »

My daughter acually suggested after posting taking stepdaughter shopping and telling her " you have xxx to spend on baby, this is instead of christening present from xxxxx and xxxx" we will e sure then the money is spent on baby.

I think this would be more fun than vouchers. It will be nice to go shopping together and, when there is a little one to consider, it is sooo much less stressful to have some help. It's not "instead of" a christening present. These various people will be clubbing together to give her a shopping trip and spending money for the baby - that *is* the christening present. I think it would be very sweet and thoughtful.

Hardup_Hester

Hubby & I have been invited to a family christening, I managed to find a traditional egg cup and spoon for £12, I know whatever we buy will not be good enough & I see no point spending big bucks

peanutpie05

I think vouchers are always welcome - especially if they are for somewhere useful (mothercare, John Lewis etc).
When my niece got christened earlier this year - I gave £10 vouchers for an online store I know they use and also bought this little baby gift from the same place(the little keepsake tin for £8.99) as I thought it was something a bit different and not too expensive.

Savvy_Sue

Just be aware that if you put cash into the child's trust fund, they will be able to get it all out once they are 18. Some 18 year olds are sensible, but not all.

But

MOVING THREADS FOR BETTER RESPONSES


Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to the Special Occasions board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

rainmac

Vouchers are a good idea and much more useful than millions of silver 'things'.

What about a terramundi pot so small amounts of money can be popped in there... http://www.terramundi.co.uk/

You can pay an extra £2 and have the pot personalised with name/ date etc and they do a lovely 'Christening' pot... http://www.shopcreator.com/mall/productpage.cfm/Terramundi2/SS17/81645

doelani

thanks everyone for your replies, have decided to get my daughter and son to get vouchers and we are sticking with the money into babys bank account. I am sure he will gets loads of silver lol