Ok, following from another couple of birthday threads, AIBU to NOT want to put a fiver in a card.....

[CrapBag]

because I buy stuff that looks more expensive, but actually cost me less than a fiver and I stock up?

Two bloody birthdays coming up. One friend is skint and needs the money towards a new cot for her DD so would like money. Other friend has invited 50!! children to her 5 year olds party and doesn't want loads of presents so would like a fiver in a card.

We don't have much money at all at the moment and have other things coming up that need paying out on. I don't want to contribute money because if I can get away with it, I don't spend a fiver (close friends different obviously) but 1 is a 1 year old who knows no different and I was planning on a couple of books that I have stashed in the cupboard and the other one (for 50) is a girl that my DS doens't even see (or like) anymore. I am friends with her mum but the children don't see each other but she is still inviting every tom dick and harry to the party.

Shall I suck it up and give them the money they want or stick to my plan of spending nothing and using whats in my cupboard?

I am not opposed to giving money at all btw. Just finances at the moment, but then 1 friend needs money towards a cot and another doens't want silly amounts of presents.

Oops just realised that issue was on another thread - sorry! But most of you have probably read that one too.

Thank you for your replies.

The one for the cot, I do feel for her. Its only a little tea party at her house type party, and the reason they need a new cot is they have discovered mould on the one they have and at the moment her self employed DH isn't getting any work. She works but it doesn't cover everything and they are skint. I would be more inclined to give money to her as she does tend to have some really shitty luck sometimes and DD is near the age of her child and they are likely to be friends.

The other party, I was all for not taking the kids as DS isn't keen, but DH thinks I should as it could look rude to my friend. I have got to the point where I am inviting DS's actual friends not my friends children as we have all done before they started school, but some of my friends don't seem to be doing this. I am taking DS and a few of his school friends out for his birthday, saves on cost and saves the hassle over inviting my friends children that he won't be particularly bothered about.

DH thinks that me refusing an invite from my friend for both my children (DD is 2) to go to her DDs party isn't going to look very good. I was going to say that we are taking DD out for her birthday that day (her birthday is during that week).