Is it ok to ask for money instead of presents?
Watch this postI have received a message recently from a friend through Facebook inviting me to her 60th birthday. I was pleased to get the invite as I have not seen her in around 8 years; we had worked together for a couple of years before I moved location.
Reading through the invitation, it says “if you are thinking of giving a present for my 60th birthday, a cash gift would really make me go "Yay" etc etc..... I’ve always valued being given a present and take time choosing presents for others; I think it is something special and I always value any presents that I am given, regardless of value.
To ask for money instead leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth so to speak. I was just wondering what other people thought, is it was just me? I think I will have to make some excuse not to go, it’s a real shame, I would have liked to have seen her again.
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My grandson received an invitation to an engagement party recently, and was asked for cash as a present. Maybe its a 'Thing' now.
On my second read through I noticed that it's an IF you want to give me a pressie.
Sounds like you don't know her all that well, and are no longer close so a gift is not required imo.
That's a difficult one - you haven't seen her for 8 years so unless you can glean information from Facebook, you are unlikely to know her tastes in books, music, chocolates 🙂 wine, etc so a cash gift that she can put towards a luxury treat seems a sensible idea ...... but, I know how you feel. It would be a shame not to go especially when you would like to see her again so why not buy a gift voucher (M&S or John Lewis) that can be spent on something frivolous or food or an Amazon voucher which could be spent on anything or if you really object to giving a cash gift how about a beautiful bouquet of flowers? Good luck!
It’s interesting how we respond emotionally to things; I guess that is to do with the values we hold and when things conflict with those values we feel discomfort.
"Not worth agonising over!" - wise words!