giving vouchers or money as presents, how much to give?

aggypanthus

In my reply above, i didnt write a bad word, but its been bleeped out!!

Oi only put free loaders
I just went back and changed it..

JimmyTheWig

aggypanthus wrote: »

A personal baby gift is a nice idea,I just didnt want to add to a load of photo frames or cuddly toys.

How about a book with their name / details in it? E.g. http://www.identitydirect.co.uk/books/personalised-story-books.
You'll obviously have to wait until after the baby is born to order it, but all our 4 children have got them and love them. You can add names of friends / siblings / cousins, too, which is a nice touch.

Doesn't take up much room in the here and now but will be something they can keep.

aggypanthus

claire16c wrote: »

I got married this year, I have 2 sets of aunts/uncles and they both gave us £200. Which I was suprised at as I was not expecting that much. We got married abroad in the US, and one set came and the other didnt.

The rest of our guests gave us money too around $50-150, and a few vouchers to spend when we came home. We found that much better as we have lived together for years. So I really didnt want to end up with 80 champagne glasses or do a guest list for the sake of it - we have a house full of stuff already and I didnt really think that replacing all the duvet covers, cushions and kitchen stuff was a good use of money. Id much rather buy stuff like that in a sale instead of full price on a list.

Very sensible re the house goods.
That was generous of your aunts, its all down to individuals means really.

JimmyTheWig

aggypanthus wrote: »

In my reply above, i didnt write a bad word, but its been bleeped out!!

Oi only put free loaders
I just went back and changed it..

I think there have been times in the past where arguments in the benefits section have become rather heated and personal.

aggypanthus

Gillyx wrote: »

Can't comment on wedding, I'd say give what you can afford, if it's vouchers or cash they will more than likely club all the things they get together to buy something "big"

On the baby front, I'm due my first in February and have purchased quite a lot of things already, so I'd prefer if people gave us gift vouchers, as it means I won't have 50 vests/baby grows in size 0-3 and when baby does need clothes in bigger sizes I can use the vouchers to buy things I need

Thats what I wanted to avoid too.
Congrats on the baby !

Jimmy, that book might be an idea for a xmas pressie.

OMG this gets worse, as i have just remembered I need christening pres for a great neice this sunday!!!!!!1

fannyanna

I would second spending what you are comfortable spending and not trying to keep up with other family members. Everyone has different circumstances.

For our wedding we had a couple of generous amounts of money from close family members. I would say the average spend was about £40-£50 and we were very grateful for what we were given.

I also recognised peoples circumstances. I had two cousins that probably spent about £15 on us. One was not short of a few bob so I though it was a bit tight (but I really wasn't that bothered and I was grateful that they had bought us a gift and attended our wedding), the other cousin I know has less money so the fact that he'd spent the same meant quite a bit to me.

Kildare

I got married this year, we had a gift list as I knew my aunts and uncles were traditional and perfer to give gifts instead of cash, but we also had some cash and vouchers. The amounts of cash / vouchers varied from £20 - £200. When I went to my cousins wedding a few years ago I gave her £20 in vouchers, but at my brothers wedding I gave £200 as he's much closer to me and at the time I was able to afford this. There's no rule on what you give and no-one minds if you give or not. A wedding isn't about getting gifts!

Just to add, we made it clear in the invitation that all we wanted was for them to come to our wedding but if they'd like to give us a gift we have the gift list. Some people gave us nothing, some a gift, some cash / vouchers - we were just happy that they all came

Gettingtherequickly

I was talking about this last night with a friend and have decided that I am "lazy" when it comes to wedding gifts! They all get the same, a Waterford Crystal photo frame:o However, I do factor in the fact that they are about £80 to buy, but more importantly, the happy couple invariably want to have a wedding photo framed, and depending on where the frame is displayed and the pattern of the one chosen, the light breaks up beautifully, so I think I win!

This is also because I hate giving money, think it is very impersonal:(

aggypanthus

Thanks for your comments ladies, i have decided to give £50 ofJLewis vouchers.

Emmzi

I think that is a great gift and would be chuffed myself :-)