To just give her money

[IneedAsockamnesty]

My best friend the other day was crying on me,she's not grabby she's not irresponsible but she is poor.

She wasn't choosing me to cry on because she thought I would help she was genuinely distressed. And she is very truthful.

She's worried about Christmas and has very limited funds due to her employer going bust she's applied for benefits ect but her current financial responsibilities need to be covered when they sort her claim out. And her ex has stopped her maintenance compleatly as his new wife ad a baby last month so he decided he couldn't pay her.

She has 2 kids who are 7 years old and a 19 yo that lives away from home.

I want to go visit her tomorrow and give her cash we have been friends for over 25 years so she won't be embarrassed as long as i dont give her silly money and I want to make it clear its a gift not a loan.so she can have a decent Christmas dinner and get gifts for her kids.

But I don't have a clue how much to give her, so wat would be a reasonable amount?

It depends on how much you can afford.
£200 would give her a brilliant Christmas lunch with money leftover for a few gifts. But I'm sure that whatever you can afford to give would be a huge help.

It's an impossible question really - only you will know what is reasonable.

That's kinda what I was looking for, what people thought would enable her to have a good Christmas, £200 would be fine for me.

as long as she could do it with that

It sounds like any amount would be a help so it just depends what you could spare.

For me I think a gift of £100 would be more than generous - £200 might seem too much to accept.

I would get her a supermarket gift card but leave her to discover the total on her own.

Maybe £50 cash, plus buy and wrap actual presents for her and the dc.

And get her up the CAB pronto to sort out her ex twat partner!

what about inviting her to yours for xmas day? After gift opening maybe?

I would say £200 is about right. If you can afford a little more, I'd go with that, but don't feel you have to. It's a lovely thing to do.

How lovely. I'd be another with the £200 mark. Go ahead, friendships mean seeing each other through the ups and downs.

What a lovely thing to do. I'm welling up!

I think £200 sounds like a good amount. Personally, if I was on the receiving end, I'd prefer cash rather than a voucher as I think it'd be nice to be able choose what I spent the money on.

What an amazing friend you are, more like you are needed.

OP you are a generous, kind and lovely person. You really embody the spirit of Christmas. £200 is a good amount, but give as much as you could feel comfortable giving. I like that this is a gift - no worries about paying back for you or for your friend. Your friend will be doubly blessed - with the much needed money, and also with the knowledge that she has a true friend.

It's lovely that she has a good friend like you.

Heart warming. £200 would be enough for a decent Christmas.

My house on Christmas Day would drive her bonkers and I know she would prefer being at home.

I'm thinking I shall go with the £200. As most of you think that would give them a good Christmas, but also buy the younger dc's warm winter coats as there present from me so everything mum gets them from the money is from mum if that makes sense.

And if the situations were reversed she would do the same thing,she's always there for me and my life would be harder without her,she's pretty fantastic

Very generous. Well done.

I also agree that £200 is a good amount.
And that you should give her the number for the csa.

What a truly lovely friend you are!

Tell her she can only have the money if she promises to return the favour if you ever end up skint.

:)