Giving money as a christmas gift

[Brengirl]

I do really think that giving money is a bit of a lazy way out so in the past I have tried to 'ring the changes'. I have given premium bonds and gift vouchers and one year drew loads of cash from the bank and filled christmas stockings with it. This year, however, I have overprinted cheques and personalised them to suit each family member.
Do you reckon they will still be acceptable at the bank

[Snadger]

If you are uncertain..........tear them up and give them cash! A stocking full of spondulics would certainly cheer me up!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Do you reckon they will still be acceptable at the bank

Don't ask us, ask the bank! Your lovely idea is going to fall rather flat if little Johnny tries to bank the cheque and is turned away!!

I give tokens (usually Waterstones) to the younger lot - I have no idea what is 'in' and I don't see them often enough to know what they would really like, so this seems like a compromise between filthy lucre, and something unappreciated.

[Glutton4...]

I don't like giving cash either, which is daft, as I don't mind receiving it! I would actually far rather have a tenner, than something naff or useless that has cost more.

[piskieinboots]

I send Amazon tokens, they (Amazon) will send them direct as a gift - cuts out the middle man

[Brengirl]

I send Amazon tokens, they (Amazon) will send them direct as a gift - cuts out the middle man

I did that last year Piskie. It worked fine until my daughter couldn't access hers. Apparently each and every time you cannot remember your password and select a new one another account is opened. It took her ages, with customer services help, to locate her money. Pass the warning around

[northepaul]

You can buy Amazon gift cards in supermarkets too.

[northepaul]

Forgot to say my Dad always give my kids money for christmas - they appreciate it much more than being given something they dont want, and it saves my Dad trapsing round shops trying to guess what to buy people.

[jackie j]

I give my niece ( 15 ) a gift card from one of the fashion shops, new look this year if I gave her the money she would waste it on booze and fags, this way I know she will buy something she wants / needs. I have also got her a bag of goodies that she uses or eats.

[Suky]

I always appreciate cash or vouchers. As a child I loved book tokens, the joy of seeing a new book and just 'buying' it, wonderful.
This year my kids are getting vouchers, Waterstone, Cath Kidston, Game and the fish shop! The girls will get theirs wrapped in a new pair of jammies and the boys tucked into a yard of jaffa cakes. Ooh and hubby has an Edinburgh Woollen Mill voucher to save him taking back the jumper I choose

I know of a friend in the US who bought a pack of fortune cookies, warmed them up so they softened, opened them and tucked in folded dollar bills. When they cooled they hardened up. There is a book out in the states called ELM - Everybody Loves Money - about giving cash in unusual ways.

[Comfreyfan]

I don't like giving cash, but for the students among my neices and nephews it's always very welcome! I don't mind either if someone is saving for something in particular and would like a contribution for Christmas/birthday.

[FionaH]

Depends who you are giving it too really. Some of the youngsters in my family are saving up for stuff, or would buy clothes, a couple of 'em I tend to think vouchers are a safer bet. Sex, drugs, and rock and rol needs hard cash!

[bubblewrap]

If you are uncertain..........tear them up and give them cash! A stocking full of spondulics would certainly cheer me up!

Well folks if you have any spare Dollars, yen, Euros, Pesos, or any other notes Bubblewrap will kindly take them off your hands

[Florence Fennel]

Secret Santa wouldn't be the same though if you just received a £5.00 note or a £5.00 voucher though, would it?

[bubblewrap]

Secret Santa wouldn't be the same though if you just received a £5.00 note or a £5.00 voucher though, would it?

If people were "donating" to the help Bubblewrap fund I was expecting rather more than £5 cash.