Giving money as presents

leni

does this annoy you? I try REALLY hard to think of nice presents to make or get people and I get money in return. It makes me feels like their buying their present and also a little upset that they hadn't bothered to think about what to get me. Last year I didn't get one present from my mum, dad (seperated) sister or nephews, instead I got money. OH's family always gets us some presents and sometimes might give money too.

Last year I made my mum and her partner a "cozy night in" hamper with a DVD voucher, popcorn maker, mini boxes of sweets, minture booze bottle with tumblers and mini water bottles.

I'm making everyone a 4" mini christmas cake and getting everyone a presnt too but will be upset if I only get money in return and don't want to do a gift wish list either (because I think thats greedy)

whats your opinion?

mirakl

Leni,
I agree. My grandmother rarely gave me a present but I could understand that because she was agoraphobic and also just didn't think she'd be any use at finding me something because the age gap was just too big.

With money I tend to feel like they're paying you for the present you gave them and I find it a bit distasteful.

ps Love the idea of mini christmas cakes, can I have the recipie pretty please?

leni

yeah, I'll post it when I get home tonight, I'm using those shocolate sponge in a can thingys (51p in morrisons) for the 4" tin mould and I'm making the boxes to put them in or I've seen some at 30p each.

Also, Asda have all the ingrediants on offer at the moment either BOGOF or 2 for £1:T I worked out I'll spend £20 tomorrow buying the ingredients for 2 x 10" fruit cakes (that I'm selling for £30 each) and 8 x 4" mini christmas cakes and that was without taking these offers into account.

Smashing

Depends on the person/gift - I'd rather someone bunged me a tenner than some overpriced foul smelling shower gel set. Both a tad 'didn't know what to get you' but the money is at least useful.

tanith

My Grandchildren all want Money for Christmas , I hate giving them money but they usually want something big and expensive, phone/game etc and they put all their cash together and get something they really want that I cannot afford to buy for each of them.... I used to give vouchers but thats no good if they want a particular item from a specific place...

I don't like it but would rather give them what they want than buy something that they really have no use for.... I tried book tokens one year and that went down like a lead balloon with most of the boys....

This year we were going to limit the Adults to £5 as there are so many to buy for but truthfully what can you buy for a fiver...

MrsTinks

Hmmm toughie... to be honest I'm not sure really - I know that my dad usually gives me money. When he hasn't I've usually had to take stuff back (not because it was bad taste... he bought me a lovelly underwear set from a very nice and expensive shop in Denmark one year... picked the size by pointing and saying I was roughly "her size" *sigh* needless to say it was the wrong size - c-cup and I'm an F lol!) everyone else usually tell my mum what budget they are spending on all us "kids" and "grandkids" and she organises most of it - that way we don't get duplicates and they know we get something we want. We then send a little note or letter of thanks It also means that some of the "bigger" pressies can be bought by several people so if we want something special we have a good chance of getting it even if it means we don't get anything else much from anyone at christmas

I often give my little brother (20 now) money as well as a gift... I'll find something I know he can use and put a tenner or £20 note in with it. He's studying so it comes in handy for his bus pass and food (although he gets a "foodparcel" when mum thinks his cupboards are looking bare - she sends me a message and I send one back saying "spend £20 on emergency supplies and add it to our account" - mum helps with bills and so on and I help with emergency food I can't buy it as they all live in Denmark And the only reason we do this is that the kid has learnt his lesson well: He's very good with his money and spent a year working to travel Europe backpacking for a few months and came back with a few grand still in his account hehe - He's now going to be working again till the summer when he goes to Uni and he's saving like a scrooge to be able to do it and have minimal debt at the end of it. Bless...

Oh hang on... I've digressed again haven't I? DOH!

MrsTinks

tanith wrote:

This year we were going to limit the Adults to £5 as there are so many to buy for but truthfully what can you buy for a fiver...

LOTS

I'll try to dig out the link for the thread Martin did a while ago which was all about pressies for a fiver

Maybe it ought to be revived again this year? Hmmmm

bethom

I sometimes give money for a present.

I like to give it to older children so they can get what they want and not me make a mistake in getting them the wrong thing. Also with them it can be clubbed together with other money presents to get big things like computer games etc which I would not be able to afford to get them.

Wouldn't do it for a really young child or adult tho.

MrsTinks

Festive Fivers Article

super41

I know exactly what you mean. However I'm quite happy to receive money at the moment as things are a bit tight with me currently on unpaid maternity leave. Yes, people can buy me lovely presents but I'd rather have the money towards something I really need, like a pair of boots, rather than more 'bits and pieces'. I know my family would prefer to know there money was going to good use rather than frivolous things. We do give tokens to my OH's godson's as they are about 13 and we haven't a clue what to get them! Would rather they were able to get something themselves.

*Louise*

Well, I'm quite happy for the kids to get money as a gift because it saves on a) Duplicate toys b) Unsuitable toys or c) rubbish toys. They get enough anyway, so one or two less parcels won't hurt.

I usually put all the money in their bank, but DS1 has worked out that money=Game boy games, so I will let him buy one and save the rest of the money.

Money for adults though - I wouldn't give it as a gift.