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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to write a charity recipe book instead of giving away my recipes for free?

26 replies

Babcia · 10/08/2013 12:02

I've been having this idea for a while, but not sure if doing it would be really arrogant or a good idea?
I'm quite often asked by friends and family for my recipes for various dishes which I make. I'm quite happy to give them away but it's quite time consuming to write them out for people. I'm considering getting them all together and giving them away as a "thank you" for donations to my favourite charity (of whatever they could afford to give).
Is this really arrogant of me to think that people would want to do this? I don't know if people would just think "knob" when I tell them about it. I normally hate it when I get facebook requests for people running marathons or doing skydives etc for sponsorship, because I think that people want to do these things anyway, but at least with my recipes they are getting something in return for their donation...?

OP posts:

caramelwaffle · 10/08/2013 12:04

Yanbu.

DameDeepRedBetty · 10/08/2013 12:05

I think it's a lovely idea.

I'm working on a book of dog walks as I'm always being asked directions by the clients, it will be fundraising for our local Rescue.

ilovesooty · 10/08/2013 13:08

It's a lovely idea and just the sort of thing I'd buy. Do it!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 10/08/2013 13:10

Yabu. These are your friends. If you type the recipes up once, they would be easy to email to people who ask for them.

Eyesunderarock · 10/08/2013 13:12

We made a school cook book like that and raised funds for a library refurbishment.
Although, time consuming? Do as Remus suggested.

NotYoMomma · 10/08/2013 13:12

why not do it anyway? I would buy one

ilovesooty · 10/08/2013 13:13

Why is it different if they are her friends? I'd buy this from a friend and not be offended if it didn't cost much and was for a good cause.

NettoSuperstar · 10/08/2013 13:18

I think I'd be a bit miffed if a friend asked me to contribute to X charity, which I may not choose to support, in exchange for a recipe.

PearlyWhites · 10/08/2013 13:20

Great idea I would buy one.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 10/08/2013 13:22

Doing it for a school or a cub group or something is great - but just swishing one out when a friend asks for a recipe does seem quite pushy and arrogant to me.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 10/08/2013 13:25

Maybe say to put some money in a charity box of their choice as a compromise?
It is a great idea, and it is lovely that charities will benefit from your sharing of recipes.

ilovesooty · 10/08/2013 13:25

I see it as something she'd tell her friends about as a project she'd decided to undertake. I'd be proud of a friend for being so enterprising and would want to support it.

Eyesunderarock · 10/08/2013 13:27

Might be better with recipe cards then, if they ask for a specific recipe?
I know that I have numerous cook books and with some of them I only use a dozen recipes of the hundreds available.

WhiteandGreen · 10/08/2013 13:30

I would absolutely think 'knob' if someone did this to me.

YABU

WhiteandGreen · 10/08/2013 13:35

When people ask you for a recipe it isn't necessarily just because they want to cook the dish. It is also a way of complimenting you. If you add a financial transaction onto that social exchange then I think in RL people will feel awkward. Especially as it would be excruciating to say no. They will not want to embarrass you and so will buy one. Whilst thinking you arrogant.

Whatdoiknowanyway · 10/08/2013 13:38

I did this last year with some friends and we raised £500 for a charity.
I've still got all the recipes typed up so if anyone wants one I can just print it out but people loved the books.

dreamingbohemian · 10/08/2013 13:50

I think it could be really awkward -- imagine having people over for dinner, someone says, "That was lovely, could I have the recipe?" and you basically say sure, but you'll have to pay for it. Cringe!

I mean, how long does it take to type up a recipe? And surely you only have to do it once and keep it on file.

But if you do a really nice book and put a notice on facebook that you're selling it for charity, I think that's okay. Ish. It's still a tiny bit arrogant I think but for a good cause.

Original poster

Babcia · 10/08/2013 13:57

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks - I considered that, but my charity of choice is a very small local homelessness charity which does a lot of good work and gets very little income- I don't personally give to any other charities apart from this one because I know exactly what they spend their money on, and it certainly isn't massive salaries and ad campaigns (which really annoy me). I don't think it's silly to direct donations towards my chosen charity, since that's pretty standard for people who fundraise.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - I think you have the wrong idea, maybe I phrased it wrong. I only thought to do it because I get asked for recipes a lot, so I obviously have some which people want. I'm still going to give recipes to people that ask for them, it's not "I'm not giving you my recipe's unless you buy my charity cookbook". I'll probably just send a group email to my friends letting them know about it, and if they want to make a donation (even if it's only 50p) I'll send them a copy. I pretty much have nothing written down for them at the moment as most of my recipes are in my head, and when people ask me for them it's usually scrawled on the back of an envelope at parties or after dinner or something, so typing everything up would probably be quite a lot of effort for me.

This is a charity that I've volunteered for in the past- I have a personal connection to them- if people don't want to give to them that's fine and they can have the recipe they ask me for. I suppose it's like saying, I like baking, so I'm going to have a charity cake sale. Doesn't mean I'll never make a cake for anyone ever again, but if you want to have these cakes, please give me some money for my charity.

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 10/08/2013 13:59

I think it sounds great done like that
I also think it sounds like a verorthwhile charity, and your analogy ex0

ilovesooty · 10/08/2013 14:00

Sorry hand slipped. Analogy explains it very well

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 10/08/2013 14:04

That sounds fine then. :)

FryOneFatManic · 10/08/2013 14:05

I don't think this is arrogant at all, it's a lovely idea.

The OP is not obliged to give her recipes to people just because they ask, even if they are her friends. I do know a few people who would not be giving their own recipes away at all. At least this way a small local charity can benefit. And small charities do seem to be losing out at present.

Leeds2 · 10/08/2013 14:22

I think it is a lovely idea, and would happily buy it.

mollycuddles · 10/08/2013 14:30

This is a great idea. Something a group I'm involved might do. How on earth do you do it though?
Very impressed

chateauferret · 10/08/2013 14:45

I'd make them available in a blog or publish electronically (Kindle, etc). Hardly any initial sunk cost and no risk of print demand forecasting. A blog could be monetized, so it could make some money without readers having to put their hands in their pockets directly.

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