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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know there unreasonable but £30 is insane!

285 replies

FranksBank · 02/10/2024 12:05

To spend on someone you don't really like. For Sectet Santa

I am very PT and have been asked to arrange this, with them saying 'we knew you wouldn't want to join in because you don't celebrate it' Confused I do actually celebrate it but I'll gladly let them think I don't now!

Anyway, the budget the person asking me to arrange it has set is £30. They want me to send out the email asking people to opt in, and mention it's a £30 budget.

AIBU to actually ask what madness has embedded within her to think this is a fair amount?

I said 'Is that not very high?' And she said 'Sent it out after Halloween! They'll have time to save, won't they?' And she seemed very smug to announce this obvious information

It's a school. Nobody is rich.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
laraitopbanana · 06/10/2024 20:55

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 06/10/2024 18:19

There's a community that likes to spend money?

My best guess is women and men 🤷🏼‍♀️

laraitopbanana · 06/10/2024 20:55

🤣🤣🤣

thanks for the update!

MrsRaspberry · 06/10/2024 19:06

£30 is a lot to some people. I joined in secret santa at work last year and made my gift recipient a hamper with pamper stuff chocolates and coffee for less than £15 and she really loved it. I'd say if you're arranging it tell them spend what's affordable whether its a fiver or 30quid its the thought that counts not the cost

Whoowhoopitstbesoundofthedapolice · 06/10/2024 18:36

Ha! I'm glad she got spoken to the cheeky cow.

She sounds like she has a problem with you. I'd be watching that from now on

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 06/10/2024 18:19

There's a community that likes to spend money?

Tanjamaltija · 06/10/2024 17:50

Ah, so she was expecting you to sign the email as Big Spender. How trite and puerile.

PeloMom · 06/10/2024 17:49

Agree. Work SS budgets have gone a bit crazy. Last year I went shopping with a friend and she was getting a very nice thing from a fancy place. I found out it’s for her SS at work… their budget was £150 🤦🏻‍♀️

Rudicoolcat · 06/10/2024 17:46

£10 far more affordable and appropriate than £30. Glad to hear your update 👍

Lalalalalalalalalalaoohoohwee · 06/10/2024 16:32

Good for you OP 🙌

AmeliaEarache · 06/10/2024 16:25

BIossomtoes · 06/10/2024 16:06

It’s one of mine too, I didn’t know there was a community of us!

Show quote history

If there’s a “community that hates to spend”, that’s what my Dad and my brother are.

BIossomtoes · 06/10/2024 16:06

AmeliaEarache · 06/10/2024 16:04

What's the "community that likes to spend"????

(Was my Mum part of it? Spending money was her favourite pastime)

It’s one of mine too, I didn’t know there was a community of us!

AmeliaEarache · 06/10/2024 16:04

What's the "community that likes to spend"????

(Was my Mum part of it? Spending money was her favourite pastime)

Theonewhogotaway · 06/10/2024 15:30

Wow. So she really did want you to take responsibility for the 30 quid, that is outrageous.

Beautiful3 · 06/10/2024 15:07

Great update! Glad she got spoken to about it.

Original poster
FranksBank · 06/10/2024 14:35

Thank you all for offering your words of wisdom

The colleague in question has since said something incredibly offensive over her 'assuming' I'm a part of a certain community and 'like to spend so nobody would think it's odd I suggested £30' Confused Big boss heard, had a quiet word and she apologised in front of me!

I really thought she was trying to suggest something about me with what she was saying but had absolutely no grounds to think it really, until she said that comment and got her arse handed to her for it

Anyway, no emails regarding secret Santa will ever be sent by me moving forward and the email that will be going out is for a £10 limit

OP posts:
sarah419 · 06/10/2024 13:38

it’s probably harder to find a good gift for £30! for £10 you can get the cherry chocolate box or any other edible thing/drink. yes £30 is too much on secret santa. let her send out the email if she insists.

sundayagainagain · 06/10/2024 11:55

Coruscations · 06/10/2024 11:46

OP corrected it within less than a minute.

Show quote history

I see. 😅

Coruscations · 06/10/2024 11:46

sundayagainagain · 06/10/2024 10:22

Every time this headline pops up in trending I have to read it twice. 😂 There and they’re.

OP corrected it within less than a minute.

Lalalalalalalalalalaoohoohwee · 06/10/2024 11:43

That's a lot IMO, I like my work colleagues but I couldn't afford to spend £30 on them, I don't even spend that much on my friends! Send out the email and change the amount to something more reasonable, £10 is sufficient. If she challenges it tell her she asked you to arrange it and that's what you've done.

sundayagainagain · 06/10/2024 10:22

Every time this headline pops up in trending I have to read it twice. 😂 There and they’re.

Bonbon249 · 06/10/2024 10:11

Agree with PP's who said start email with 'Mary has asked me to share this with you....' or you could put 'Mary has suggested £30' and let her deal with the complaints!

Buffypaws · 06/10/2024 10:08

I work in a law firm in central London and we do a tenner.

no one wants to spend £30 on a random colleague 😂

Tanjamaltija · 06/10/2024 10:01

Unless you send out all the other school e-mails, do not do it. Do not be a catspaw, especially not to this entitled person. She can do it herself.

Sideorderofchips · 06/10/2024 09:46

Jesus we just do £10

Manthide · 06/10/2024 09:45

Sodthebloodymealplan · 02/10/2024 12:13

Surely the whole point of a Secret Santa is that it is low budget and either finding something silly, or the best value for that low budget. I have relatives that I only spend £30 on

I have children and grandchildren I don't spend that much on - and parents!