How much to give on a birthday?

Bogof_Babe

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

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!

I love my nephew and niece, but I'm quite sure they would not enjoy having to spend a few hours pretending to enjoy themselves in my company! 40 year age gaps don't lend themselves to mutual interests!

LilElvis

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

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!

Now you have added a phrase - "mutually arranged" - which makes it completely different from your original post. It could still be potentially embarrassing though if a person says "I would love to treat us both to a day at a spa for your birthday" and the recipient hates the thought of it. How to they say no without causing offence, or do they just go along with it whilst hating every minute?

In case you haven't guessed this would be my personal idea of hell, as would an afternoon tea!

TBeckett100

How much does she spend on you? If it's a cheap present then do the same, if she spends £50 then do the same

I use that as a barometer. Of course, if someone has been very kind or does a lot for me, I can spend larger sums

Buzzybee90

LilElvis wrote: »

Now you have added a phrase - "mutually arranged" - which makes it completely different from your original post. It could still be potentially embarrassing though if a person says "I would love to treat us both to a day at a spa for your birthday" and the recipient hates the thought of it. How to they say no without causing offence, or do they just go along with it whilst hating every minute?

In case you haven't guessed this would be my personal idea of hell, as would an afternoon tea!

I love afternoon tea but I wouldn't like it as a gift, the idea of a spa in itself is lovely but the idea of someone touching me or seeing me in swimwear is quite awful - so I would agree - in general I don't like experience gifts, unless it's a gig ticket and I would be going with my boyfriend.

Soleil_lune

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. I would personally be offended if someone gave me money.

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I disagree, I 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.

purpleshoes wrote: »

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.

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.

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.

I agree with messedup and purpleshoes.

£60 is very generous. You don't say how old your sister is OP, but I'm guessing she is ummm, under 23/24, and it's not a big birthday (like 18th or 21st.) So tbh, £30 would be OK, and £60 is fab!

I agree that money is appreciated by almost EVERYone. Especially young folk (under 25.) Older people (say middle aged and older,) probably appreciate a gift more, even if it only cost a tenner. (Or even a fiver!) I speak from experience of people I know.

I am neither young nor old (mid 40s,) so I don't mind either (or both even )

And Shen, you are seriously offended when people give you MONEY for your birthday?

I assume that you tell them this then, and that you give the money back to them!

Soleil_lune

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I love afternoon tea but I wouldn't like it as a gift, the idea of a spa in itself is lovely but the idea of someone touching me or seeing me in swimwear is quite awful - so I would agree - in general I don't like experience gifts, unless it's a gig ticket and I would be going with my boyfriend.

Hmmm yes, if you wanted to buy someone an 'experience,' then you would have to know what that person desired wouldn't you?

EG; my husband got me a balloon flight for my birthday (my 37th,) as I had always wanted to go on one, and he knew that. So I was thrilled and I LOVED it, but if I had got this for my mother, she would have cried, as she gets the jitters, climbing up the mini stepladder with 5 steps!

I know that my husband would love to drive a super fast racecar, so that would be a good one for him, but as I said, you do have to know what the person would like.

A spa day would be OK for me, but to be honest, I would rather have the £100-£125 that it cost LOL. Then I would go out and get a bottle of my fave perfume, some new shoes, a couple of books, a DVD, and a nice new outfit.

Buzzybee90

Soleil_lune wrote: »

Hmmm yes, if you wanted to buy someone an 'experience,' then you would have to know what that person desired wouldn't you?

EG; my husband got me a balloon flight for my birthday (my 37th,) as I had always wanted to go on one, and he knew that. So I was thrilled and I LOVED it, but if I had got this for my mother, she would have cried, as she gets the jitters, climbing up the mini stepladder with 5 steps!

I know that my husband would love to drive a super fast racecar, so that would be a good one for him, but as I said, you do have to know what the person would like.

A spa day would be OK for me, but to be honest, I would rather have the £100-£125 that it cost LOL. Then I would go out and get a bottle of my fave perfume, some new shoes, a couple of books, a DVD, and a nice new outfit.

I think I'd love a hot air balloon ride but I just couldn't do it because I'm so scared of heights and flying...! Doesn't make sense does it! I'd rather buy the stuff you listed than the spa day. I think you need to know the person but also don't expect to be invited along, I get the impression some people buy these experience gifts for something they enjoy so they can go along too!

j.e.j.

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Charity shops are full of "thoughtful" gifts .

No, charity shops are full of tat that people buy just for the sake of getting someone a present. I have an old aunt who does this every year, bless her. I'd almost rather she just sent a card. I hate to think of her spending money on things none of us actually like (bath balls, old-fashioned looking jewellery, weird-looking ornaments, etc) and these things more often than not just go straight in the charity bag.

I try when present-buying to get something that person will at least use. Even if it's just a bottle or two of wine :rotfl:

Soleil_lune

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I think I'd love a hot air balloon ride but I just couldn't do it because I'm so scared of heights and flying...! Doesn't make sense does it! I'd rather buy the stuff you listed than the spa day. I think you need to know the person but also don't expect to be invited along, I get the impression some people buy these experience gifts for something they enjoy so they can go along too!

:rotfl: You're probably right buzzy.

Out of interest, is there any experience you would like to do? (If someone was thinking of getting you one.)

Soleil_lune

j.e.j. wrote: »

No, charity shops are full of tat that people buy just for the sake of getting someone a present. I have an old aunt who does this every year, bless her. I'd almost rather she just sent a card. I hate to think of her spending money on things none of us actually like (bath balls, old-fashioned looking jewellery, weird-looking ornaments, etc) and these things more often than not just go straight in the charity bag.

I try when present-buying to get something that person will at least use. Even if it's just a bottle or two of wine :rotfl:

Now I am just the opposite; I love charity shop 'tat' and gifts and trinkets and stuff. You can get some real gems from charity shops, as well as carp! :rotfl:

Each to their own!