Am I being tight considering giving these gifts?

Burlesque_Babe

My parents are travelling to see me for a few days tomorrow.

I have a couple of Christmas presents I can wrap for them to take back home with them for family members where they live (saves on the postage).

However, I have the chance to cross off another couple of people (it would be my Mum and one of my sisters) if I give them some vouchers.

I was given a £25 gift voucher back in the summer to exchange for any one of loads of companies (from AQA as a thankyou). I decided to get Evans clothing vouchers to get some stuff for my holiday but ended up getting a few bits cheaper on Ebay. So, I have this voucher which I really won't use for the forseeable future. Should I give it to my Mum for her Christmas present?? (she also shops there)

I also have £20 in M+S vouchers, 1x £10 and 2 x£5, all from points saved, freebies from offers etc. My middle sister has no qualms about receiving vouchers, I was thinking about giving her the £10 one?

What do you think about recycling the vouchers as presents??? I've always had a bit of a 'thing' about buying vouchers as gifts.

spud30

I dont think you're being tight at all.

I much prefer receiving a voucher that lets me buy something I want, than someone buying me something that I might not like

scaredy_cat

i think receiving vouchers for shops that you know people shop in are ok. And at this economic time £25 in vouchers is a lot!

I'd rather recieve vouchers than a present which has no thought (like the 4 boxes of REAL cheapie chocs my mum got me one year!:o )

Burlesque_Babe

that's the thing scaredy - I'd be concerned they thought I'd given no thought to what I was giving to them. I have a couple of large boxes of Thorntons to give to my Dad - they are the ones which were reduced from £11 to £6 recently. Not sure if it would seem a bit weird giving 2 boxes but I'd feel a bit mean just giving him one box and then my Mum a £25 voucher - although they are 700g boxes!!

Rikki

I think its easier to give vouchers when you don't live near people and loose touch with their taste and style.

I used to give and receive vouchers and once I had spent it I would tell the person what I'd bought with their voucher.

pepe2008

Gimmee money or Vouchers any day of the week! I find presents at Birthday or Xmas pointless any way....spontaneous is best.
Vouchers good as they can become 'recycled' gifts.
'Its the thought that counts' is TRUE, BB.

bargainbird

You're not being tight at all......

Seaxwyn

I would give the vouchers! Perfectly decent and acceptable presents (but check the expiry dates if you've had them a while). I know what you mean about vouchers not feeling like a proper present - but just put that out of your mind. You can always make a card to give it the personal touch.

scaredy_cat

Burlesque_Babe wrote: »

that's the thing scaredy - I'd be concerned they thought I'd given no thought to what I was giving to them. I have a couple of large boxes of Thorntons to give to my Dad - they are the ones which were reduced from £11 to £6 recently. Not sure if it would seem a bit weird giving 2 boxes but I'd feel a bit mean just giving him one box and then my Mum a £25 voucher - although they are 700g boxes!!

the other thing you can do is use the vouchers yourself to buy a pressie from the shops for them?

Burlesque_Babe

Sea - no dates on them - I checked.

Have to say it would be quite a 'neutral' spend on Christmas so far:

Dad: 2x700g boxes of Thorntons = £8 (after inital discount and quidco cashback etc)
Mum: £25 Evans voucher = £0 (from AQA)
Middle sister: £10 M+S voucher = £0 (pigsback)
Youngest sister: Paint your own bowls chinese dinner craft set = £0 (John Lewis pigsback vouchers)
Niece: Supermarket shopping game and some books = £0 (John Lewis pigsback vouchers and some replacement books from the Book People a year ago I've been storing!)
Charlie: Stocking of doggy treats and toy: 50p (mega yellow sticker reduction last January!)

So, £8.50 in total!! :rotfl:

I would just have my brother to buy for and then my OH. I might spend the other £10 of M+S vouchers on my brother on something or just send them to him. I just don't have the income to be buying lots of gifts this year.

Burlesque_Babe

I thought about that scaredy but I don't know what dress size my Mum is etc and if I use the M+S voucher for my middle sister, I'd still have to post the gift as she doesn't live near my parents (but my younger sister does which is why she is getting the bowl painting set).

And, they are coming tomorrow, gulp, I need to get wrapping!!!!!