topic Re: Cash or Gift in Community Chat

Cash or Gift

kivah — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:25:53 GMT

I've always given my mailman (of 14-1/2 years) and gardener (6 years) generous gifts for Christmas. This year, I thought I'd give cash. I'm sure they would prefer the cash --- but are gifts more memorable?

Re: Cash or Gift

151949 — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:29:45 GMT

Mailmen are not allowed to accept cash at Christmas, We always give ours a BP gift card - we figure everyone has to buy gas.

Re: Cash or Gift

Boehm Collector — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:32:21 GMT

That's correct... mailmen are not supposed to accept cash. However, during the past 29 - 30 years I have never had a single mailman refuse it.

Re: Cash or Gift

ladyroxanne — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:32:44 GMT

everyone can always use some extra cash and i'm sure it would be extremely appreciated. very nice of you to think of them.

Re: Cash or Gift

Burnsite — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:38:55 GMT

I give the letter carrier $20 and a Christmas card. Every time I post that I am attacked on here, but that is what is customary in my neighborhood and that is what I do. It was also customary where I used to live in Manhattan.

Re: Cash or Gift

GingerPeach — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:40:18 GMT

@Burnsite wrote:
I give the letter carrier $20 and a Christmas card. Every time I post that I am attacked, but that is customary in my neighborhood and that is what I do.

I did that last year for our letter carrier. I probably should have done it more often. She was very good and very nice. She has now switched routes (no connection to not getting tips!)

Re: Cash or Gift

Meowingkitty — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 02:52:58 GMT

I doubt anyone in our neighborhood tips the mailman. The boxes are arranged in groups at the end of the street, so unless the mailman has a reason to come to directly to my door I never see him or her. I have lived here for 30 years and have no clue who my mailman is.

Re: Cash or Gift

VanSleepy — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 04:12:03 GMT

I have no clue who my mail person is either. And for as many times as I have gone to the PO with mail I have received for "Mr. Lee" who could not have possibly EVER lived at this address, and the mail I am hand delivering to my neighbors' homes, I'll reserve my gift giving for someone who does their job well.

Re: Cash or Gift

redhead65 — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 06:22:00 GMT

We all have had a year every year since birth to prepare for Christmas if it has meaning to you. No excuses. Think, plan, organize, prepare and get it done properly and before the week arrives.

I believe cash is a poor choice as it indicates lack of planning, doing and little desire to please the giftee. Anyone can get so many ideas from TV, retail, magazines, social media, talking with others, etc.

It really comes down to how much is celebrating Christmas to you and the kind of person you are. Lazy, sick, unorganized...?

There are always exceptions such as illness, age, or conditions that must apply to you that prohibit you from doing tradition gifting.

Love, kindness, respect, and remembrance are the best gifts.

Re: Cash or Gift

Shorty2U — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 06:48:16 GMT

Since you buy the mailman something I would give a gift because mail workers are not allowed to take cash. The gardner either a gift or money, which ever you prefer.

PS) The only people we gift @ Christmas time besides family are; The paper delivery person when they ring to drop off the yearly calander, and our hair stylist gets an extra tip at Christmas. (We tip both of those year round also). Oh and my husband treats his dept employees to a Christmas luncheon, and we donate gifts to the Childrens hospital, and make donations to the food bank. We no longer buy friends gifts, our friends and ourselves stopped long ago. Its too much.

Re: Cash or Gift

Bestdressed — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 07:00:35 GMT

@kivah ...You are very thoughtful. I think cash or a gift card would be greatly appreciated by the recipient .

I usually buy a small token gift, like chocolates or fancy cookies for my mailman. Lol... He probably would prefer the money, instead of a food item.

Re: Cash or Gift

luvdoodles — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:27:42 GMT

I don't see gifting cash as a sign of laziness at all. Most people love getting it considering the economy these days. It sure beats giving a gift they may not need, like or ever use. At least I know they will be happy with their choice of how they want to spend it.

Re: Cash or Gift

Kindaglitzy — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:01:17 GMT

I stopped giving to mail carrier because we no longer have a regular carrier. I always thought $10 was adequate or an equivalent gift card to a local restaurant such as one they may go to to eat lunch. IMO most people who provide a service do not appreciate a gift of candy or baked goods. One year I gave my UPS driver a gift card I had wrapped in one of those metal containers that can be purchased for gift cards. He later thanked me and said that he thought when I gave it to him that it was going to be another gift of candy! I'd rather give service people cash or gift cards so they can buy something they may truly need and appreciate. I no longer give to UPS driver for same reason, no regular driver assigned to my route. I realize all do not feel the same about cash gifts or gift cards.

Re: Cash or Gift

cowboy sam — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:33:36 GMT

My family is scattered and they love getting my Christmas gift of money each year.

It works for all of us.

Re: Cash or Gift

Suziepeach — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:38:21 GMT

@cowboy sam wrote:
My family is scattered and they love getting my Christmas gift of money each year.
It works for all of us.

********

@cowboy sam, ours enjoy the same Christmas gifts as it's put to good use and it's what they want.

Re: Cash or Gift

Mama Mia — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 20:27:59 GMT

When you are not around people every day, I think it is hard to get a gift they would really like, not one they open and just shrug and never pick up again. I have eight grands, one in HS, one icollege,one in med school,the other five are married and I have seventeem ggrands.

There is no way I would even try to get an individual gift, so money it is .Not really fair, but I give to the parents with the ggrands who I know use it for the family and very wisely.

We go to a local restaurants a lot, and the servers have become friends, Thet will get a good tip, before Christmas, they get a very low wage and doa wonderful job of serving. This is a small local one, not a big place. Get to know how very hard they work, kitchen too, and what they survive on. That's who I want to cash/gift.

Re: Cash or Gift

Mominohio — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 21:10:46 GMT

@luvdoodles wrote:
I don't see gifting cash as a sign of laziness at all. Most people love getting it considering the economy these days. It sure beats giving a gift they may not need, like or ever use. At least I know they will be happy with their choice of how they want to spend it.

I agree for some circumstances. If gifting to someone who provides you a service, cash is a nice gift. It beats giving something they would never use. Wastes your money and time to do so.

Cash for kids past a certain age is great too, because they many want to save up for something bigger than their allowance or their part time job can get them. When they start to drive, or go away to school, or have their first apartment, cash or gift cards can be a great way for them to get exactly what they need/want.

Cash for someone having hard times might allow them to catch up on the electric bill or other necessity, or allow them to go out and get something they might not need, but haven't had any way to purchase because of their financial circumstances. A real treat when funds are low, and times are hard.

In general, I see giving cash or gift cards to someone who is either not in a position to give a gift back, or to someone who you normally spend more money on than they spend on you (like your teen or young adult kids, or a service provider).

But I really don't like the exchange of cash or gift cards between two people who will be exchanging gifts of similar value. It makes no sense for me to hand you $100 in cash or a gift card, and for you to hand me back the same. I find that type of exchange to be cold, a waste of time and energy.