Collections at work

Angel84

How do you politely decline to put money into collections at work? Don't get me wrong, I would love to contribute but right now I don't have the cash spare from my budget and to me at this moment, clearing my debts is priority number one. It always seems to be something though, charity collections where they make an appearance at your desk with a bucket or tin, someone leaving, babies and today, work experience people. I just don't have the spare cash. It's embarrassing saying no.

shezam

I find myself saying "Oh I will come find you as I left my purse at home today" although I often wonder, why should I lie, why can't I just say "i'm sorry but I can't afford it today"

Good luck, I will be popping back to see if I can find a solution!
Sx

jonjamie1970

I think just be straight up and say "Ive really not got enough spare money to be able to contribute but I wish you / them all the best sincerely"

Horace

I would either say I couldnt afford it, or I would rummage in my purse for a penny. Sometimes I would ask if the collection could be left with me and then I would pass it on without actually putting anything into it.

cr1mson

Organise them then no-one need know you haven't put in!

C

McKneff

Sorry but not contributing is very hurtful to the people involved if you have been working with them for a long time.

50p and a signature on a card (in our organisation no contribution, no signature) I have just lost a friend who didnt want to
contribute, plenty of money, no worries, she just said to the collector 'no thanks; her sig was not on the card, so of course I
knew and was very hurt and upset. I cannot understand why when we have been friends for so long. So like I say
50p can save an awful lot of heartache

Horace

McKneff wrote: »

Sorry but not contributing is very hurtful to the people involved if you have been working with them for a long time.

50p and a signature on a card (in our organisation no contribution, no signature) I have just lost a friend who didnt want to
contribute, plenty of money, no worries, she just said to the collector 'no thanks; her sig was not on the card, so of course I
knew and was very hurt and upset. I cannot understand why when we have been friends for so long. So like I say
50p can save an awful lot of heartache

Why lose a friendship because she refused to contribute to a collection? In some offices it can be a pain in the backside if collections are going around every day - I used to work in a dept which had 250 staff so someone was always leaving or having a birthday, we were told that the expected amount was £5, this end up being quite expensive.

Instead of being shallow, perhaps you should ask your friend to meet up for coffee or lunch. Remember, although someone may not appear to have money worries, they very often do. I know that if someone asked me, then right now I wouldnt be able to contribute anything because I just don'thave any spare money. Perhaps you should start thinking of friends as friends and not see pound signs above their heads!

oldtractor

I find work place collections,charity chuggers ,sponsor forms etc all to be a total pest. I refuse to contribute to any of these things as they are unsolicited. I do give to charity,but that which I choose. I explain this to people and if they are offended then tough.

mcmanlyn

I would not be at all offended or upset if someone didnt give to my collection at work, infact I generally tell people not to collect for my bday as I'm too skint to give to everyone elses & don't want people to feel the same struggle to chip in money.

I'm usually quite honest & just say I have no money at the mo, but yes it's embarrassing & I do feel like some superficial people judge you for it!

jillie1974

i'll give a pound if asked. we only do them here for big birthday--- 21, 40 etc not every birthday and if someone gets married or has a baby.

a few years ago where i worked, one of the assistant managers had her nephew doing work experience. it was his birthday and asked us to put in for a collection to buy him something.i refused point blank....she was only doing it to get him a present so she didnt have to. he was on work experience and one of our colleagues had her birthday the previous week and never got anything but a card.

Mrs_Jojo

My work asks people to pay £10 a year which is used for cards/flowers/gifts when people leave or have happy or sad events to mark. It saves people collecting all the time :-)