How much to give on a birthday?

System

Shen81 wrote: »

Money is not a present. The whole point of giving someone a present is the taking time to go out of your way to find something special for someone. Bunging money in an envelope is very thoughtless in my opinion, because after all it's the thought that counts and you haven't thought much by just giving some money. I would personally be offended if someone gave me money.

I disagree, i'm got money for my birthday and put it toward a tattoo i wanted, so it was well spent and much more use to me than some random gift given for the sake of giving a gift.

I'll be getting money for xmas too, so i can put it towards something i want (havent decided on what yet, possibly another tattoo )

hieveryone

I'd say £50 for a close relatives birthday. 'Big' birthday would be £100 or so.

KxMx

If I found £20 in a card i'd be well pleased

purpleshoes_2

Shen81 wrote: »

It's better to know someone has thought about you, even if it is something you dislike. I don't like money as a gift because it is not a gift.

Well in my family we give gifts and money for Christmas. Have done for a long time, same for birthdays, nothing wrong with people giving you money so you can buy something you want. It's still thinking of that person, not thinking of them would be to buy nothing.

The last couple of christmases Ive bought people kindle vouchers as I know they like to buy new books but if I hadnt bought that, Id have given them a couple of gifts and some money.

People do things differently. Sometimes its really hard to know what to buy people, particularly if they're a bit older and have had years of similar things. For example my brother supports a local football team, sometimes Ive given him vouchers for the supporters shop (as he knows what he likes and would rather pick it himself), but he doesn't want that every year.

Some folks are often happy with similar kind of presents, but I see no problem in giving someone some cash and letting them choose what they want, I think a 20 year old girl would be quite happy with that.

System

In regards to the amount, if you can afford it, £60 seems more than generous. I'd be happy with a tenner so more than that would be a bonus! I think for birthday/xmas i get £50 from my family. Which is very generous of them.

moomoomama27

Shen81 wrote: »

It's better to know someone has thought about you, even if it is something you dislike. I don't like money as a gift because it is not a gift.

Try telling that to me teenage daughter, she's buying her first car, so for her Birthday this week, we all gave money to help her with her savings fund! There's no point buying something someone doesn't want. the thought is definitley there when it comes to monetary gifts!!

moomoomama27

I spend £20 on my brother, less now as he has kids!

£60 is very generous, but it's definitley how long is a piece of string, if you've previously given £500!!! Then it could be seen as wow it's dropped a lot!!

Bogof_Babe

Charity shops are full of "thoughtful" gifts .

kerri_gt

What have you given in the past? What can you afford? Seems a bit of an odd question as I would presume you are in the best position to judge based on past family events, unless circumstances have chnaged?

As for the debate about giving money, I am more than happy to give/receive money that will be used for something really wanted rather than a 'thoughtful' gift never to be used. It is also possible that the recipient is saving for something special, too expensive for one person to buy but a grat help if you can put several smaller amounts towards it.

We have given our nieces and nephews money or vouchers for years. They don't all live close, we don't know what they might be in to at the time and when you add on cost of postage it can get very expensive. I'd rather give money towards a new game, clothes, holiday money or whatever they really want to choose themselves. The younger nieces love gettin a gift card as it makes them feel grown up to use a card in the shop like mummy,

Counting_Pennies_2

LilElvis wrote: »

Not everyone likes spa days or afternoon tea. Being given an unwanted gift is one thing - you smile, say thank you and stick it in a cupboard. Being forced into spending an entire day doing something you detest, whilst pretending to enjoy yourself would be torture.

A gift is only appropriate if the recipient likes it, "days out" included.

If the person doesn't like you enough to spend time with you, having a lunch, or other trip out that is mutually arranged, then I think I would question why you would be gifting them in the first place!