Trying to do gift budget what about collections at work?

flowerofscotland

We are a smallish team of 20 and we have a system which works for us. We all have £5 per month deducted from our salary and this is used for all occasions when there might be a collection including birthdays so everyone gets at least one present (which is set at £30 in value unless it is a special birthday) a year. Obviously some people "benefit" more than others - we had one person who had a 21st birthday, got engaged and had a baby in the same year but overall it saves a lot of time, hassle and avoids potentially embarassing situations.

Of course you do do need an understanding finance director or similar to administer this but I don't think anyone would change the system.

mbatey

I'm interested in making life easier as well as saving money, so when the envelope comes round I always put in the same amount of money, whether it's a 'best mate' or someone I don't know or can't stand. No need to fret about it then...

In a similar vein, I refused to discuss baby names with my pregnant OH until we knew the sex of the little one - on the grounds that 50% of our effort would be wasted

[mbatey]

Proofraider

I work with quite a small group of people but over the last couple of years we've had so much movement and so many people coming and going that it was getting ridiculous constantly putting in money for birthdays. In the end, the team leader had the courage to suggest that after we got to the end of the current year (so that no-one missed out on their birthday collection that year) we should stop and just get a card for each person but no present. Everyone agreed and I think most were relieved! It also dealt with the issue of how much to put in for someone you've only just met as opposed to someone you know well. I know that probably wouldn't work for larger firms and leaving presents, but it all helps so if you can suggest it even within your own small work group, that's a few less to worry about! You'll probably find that most people are OK about it.

pinkfluffybabe

We don't do birthday gifts at our work, usually a few close friends buy a card. Usually collections are for people leaving or babies, weddings etc.

I don't budget it in with my christmas/birthday budget, I take it out of my day-to-day cash budget and put what I can afford out of that (depending on how well I know/like the person).

Don't like getting caught having to do the collection mind, then you get hit with extra costs and hassle as someone already mentionned!

bobbadog

I work in a team of 14 and we're all supposed to chip in around £5 for everyone's birthday (so with any absentees there's usually a £50 kitty). I'm in charge of the dosh, so I spend time planning ahead and buying online, with discount codes etc rather than rushing out last minute - that way I can get more for the money and usually not need to chip in myself at all I don't feel guilty as the present is usually better and worth more than it would have been if i'd not shopped around, plus I get at least £4k less than everyone else in the office anyway x

AndyBlue1975

Another collection this morning.

This time for someone in one of our multitude of warehouses, who has just become a father.

Again, my answer was no, i don't know him.

We all have a choice to say yes, or no.
And if people don't like it, they know where the door is.
Just make sure it doesn't hit them on the rear on their way out!

It's my birthday soon, and no doubt a collection will be going round.
I would be more than satisfied with a card, as at least it signifies that people have taken the time to remember.
Not everyone in here is on stupid£ a year for doing nothing!

never_too_late_2

hmmm, interesting one. i have a presents budget for friends/family as of a few months ago and so far, it's working really well. however, this doesn't include work ppl and i tend to just put money in from my own budget as/when.

agree with the sentiments on here about not feeling pressured and not knowing ppl well enough sometimes but i know i'm weak and often buckle!

the worse for me is all the race for life and marathon thingys, last year i must've spent over 100 quid in donations for ppl at work!

Oh and i meant to say that i used to do the b-day cards for a dept i worked in about a year ago and as such, got a bday card for everyone and ensured everyone signed it - quite stressful. however, the woman that did it before me was a fairly senior manager and so just paid for it herself. i worked out it was costing me about 50 quid a year so i decided to expense it - funnily enough my manager didn't say anything which is good cos he knew how horridly underpaid i am!!!

iwanttoberich

I always thought it was voluntary and you chipped if/how much you wanted to. Till one day I put in 50p in the envelope and looked up to see the 'collectors' looking around with scowls on their faces trying to figure out who put in the 50p. Apparently it was said at some meeting that everyone was expected to pay £1.

I decided I really didn't need a card or gift when I left, so I opted out of the system. That £1 can be one day's dinner.

taka

In my work its usually an envelope left in the office somewhere then passed round. It means you can sign the card only and/or contribute too (usually around a pound) without someone staring over your shoulder. That said the bosses often put far more than a £ in. Its only really done for births/leaving etc but not birthdays. It comes out of my general/grocery budget but doesn't happen too often.

Birthdays here involve no collection and often have a tradition of an embarassing printed out card of some description usually showing the person receiving the card in silly fancy dress/making a !!!! of themselves at some work do or other/cut and paste onto funny pic type and restricted to immediate group members and who they share offices with and not the entire floor!

poor_poor_student

September last year I moved into my halls of residence at uni on a corridor of 25 girls. Of course straight away it was someones birthday so even though we had known each other for just a few days, we all put £1.50 in and bought this girl a card, present and cake then sung to her and had a special night out. Although being students the night out was essential anyway! Anyway a few weeks later as more birthdays came along people made less and less effort and for those who did the cost rose significantly to make it on par with the first birthday.
In the end people were being forgotten, if their birthdays were in the holidays etc and the whole idea was just abandoned. But i do think its unfair that the pressure was put on after we'd only just met each other!