Where do you stand on family asking for donations/contributions for birthdays and Christmas?
Do you mind giving donations towards a special present for birthdays and Christmas? What about when it happens every year? And the desired presents get more and more expensive?
Eg just under two years ago my Grandad turned 70 and we chipped in £50 each for a new, very high spec computer. However since then I’ve had 11 requests for contributions including XBox, HD video camera, guitar, hi spec camera, Ipad and a laptop. We can easily afford the £25-30 for each item, but I think it’s getting out of control. I like shopping for presents and for the present(s) to be a surprise. I don’t mind the odd ’special birthday’ whip round, but this is getting daft!
Another thing – they rarely say thank you, and although it sounds selfish they don’t know whether you contributed a fiver or fifty quid!
I should add the other requests have all come since my grandad’s birthday, and they were not for ’special’ birthdays.
It no longer becomes a present, just a donation. I simply would not do it. I could understand the family contributing to a special birthday for your Grandad as it something he obviously wanted and perhaps either didn’t have or didn’t want to spend his savings on such an item. I also think if for example some friends as a group meet perhaps every few weeks, don’t normal give gifts, only at big birthdays or anniversaries. I think then it is quite acceptable as perhaps each only contributing around £10 and it gets the person something decent. However, I would be appalled if my family asked me to put towards something say for a niece or a nephew. It is my choice if I wish to give money or a gift on special occasions but I will not be told what to do. Also nobody really knows the ins and outs of another persons circumstances, this is their private business and perhaps they could be stuck for cash and had intended putting a gift on a store card or whatever.
Laptop, iPad, tablet stand
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