Cash for Kids

[Roaminginthegloaming]

I’ve asked my granddaughter (nearly 14) what she would like for Christmas and she said “I don’t want presents, I would like cash please’” (I also double checked with her mum (my daughter) and indeed it does seem that she really does just want cash. I will probably also buy her some stocking fillers.

I am in a quandary though. My daughter lives with her partner who is divorced (nothing to do with my daughter btw) and he has two children. They are a boy aged about 15 and a girl aged about 11.

They stay every weekend at my daughter’s house but we live 4 hours away so I’ve only met them a couple of times (they mostly ignored me and only spoke with me when I asked them a question).

I’m hosting all five of them next weekend as they are going to an event in our region. We will be exchanging Christmas gifts.

Obviously I need to give some kind of gift to the step-grandkids and I’m thinking of cash in one of those money greetings cards. However I don't feel that I should give them the same amount that I would give to my granddaughter as I don’t have any kind of relationship with them. Book tokens are sadly out as they apparently don’t like reading.

WWYD? How much should I give to them?

If you're happy, give your granddaughter cash and stocking fillers.

In all fairness you recognise it's not fair to leave them out, but obviously you want to spend more on your granddaughter. You could always get them just stocking fillers (lower priced are ok if you're something who spends more like £10+ on each one, rather than say £3-10) and your granddaughter the cash on top.

In your shoes, I'd give them the same small money gifts and/or a small present (Amazon voucher?) when they are all at your house next weekend, and tell your daughter and grand-daughter privately prior to this that you'll transfer her some cash nearer Christmas Day.