I've been at my current job for 4 years now and normally contribute towards birthdays, leaving gifts etc. I've decided not to this year though. I bought my first house just over a month ago and have spent the majority of my savings on fees, the deposit and renovations. Then there was Christmas. I'm trying to save back up. We normally contribute £5 each, which I know in the grand scheme things of things isn't a huge amount but there's 16 people on the team so it does add up. I won't expect anything when it's my birthday obviously (I wouldn't anyway but especially if I'm not contributing to others throughout the year)
Anyway, it's my colleagues birthday next week and an email was sent out to everyone asking them to contribute if they wanted to. I decided not to and thought nothing of it, I certainly didn't think to tell the organiser as it said on the email that it was optional. But she then sent a reminder. At first I thought it was so no one missed the email but this was after the team (excluding myself) had already confirmed in the group chat that they had sent the money.
I sent her a message explaining that I wouldn't be contributing this year and why but it's sort of annoyed me that I felt I had to explain myself. I don't particularly want to discuss my financial situation with colleagues but perhaps I've taken it the wrong way.
AIBU? Would you have just ignored the 2nd email or explained yourself too?