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Original poster

Is it tacky to put money in a child's birthday card instead of buying a present?

26 replies

Sallystyle · 07/08/2014 10:20

DD has a birthday party to go to tomorrow, I forgot all about it until today.

Is it tacky to put money in a card? The child is 6 if it makes a difference. I don't really fancy walking into the city today as it is an hours walk both ways and I don't really want to drag all the children out feeling lazy

OP posts:
TwoInTheMourning · 07/08/2014 10:22

No. It's fine.

wigglesrock · 07/08/2014 10:26

It's fine, my daughter is 6 and most of the parties she's been to this year the majority of presents from most of the guests have been a fiver in a card.

Saganoren · 07/08/2014 10:27

The best present dd2 ever had was a fiver stuffed into a card from some kid in her class she didn't know well (whole class party). She still talks about it dreamily 18 months later. You will win eternal popularity, so do it.

bumpiesonamission · 07/08/2014 10:28

TBH, I think it is. Is DD going to be ok if they all sit around and bday girl opens presents and then play with them but DD didn't have an actual present to be opened or played with? 6yr olds are savvy.

whatever5 · 07/08/2014 10:29

Children like receiving money so it's a great present.

Gileswithachainsaw · 07/08/2014 10:30

It's fine.

They can put it towards anything they want then.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 07/08/2014 10:30

By 6 DCs think cash is brilliant.

At that age DD2 would have gone and choosen a playmobil figure with a huge grin.

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/08/2014 10:31

That's great! thanks.

OP posts:
Forgettable · 07/08/2014 10:31

Tacky and proud here

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/08/2014 10:32

bump, that is a good point but I have never known children to open presents around their guests before. I think they are usually opened after the guests have gone.

OP posts:
diddl · 07/08/2014 10:32

I think that at that age they'd prefer a present.

But if you can't get one, a fiver is better than nothing.

Money here is usually given when kids are older & harder to buy for!

flipchart · 07/08/2014 10:34

I used to love receiving money when I was a kid ( even up to when my nana died last year she would put a tenner in my card and say buy yourself a bottle of wine!)

I don't think my kids have had a proper present since they were in reception It's nearly always been cash or t shirts!

Money is always gratefully received here and it appears at all their friends as well.

It's a win - win. The child can treat themselves to something they want or the parents might encourage them to save it and you are not stressing about what to get them/ if they already have something/whether the present is their thing or not.

CarmineRose1978 · 07/08/2014 10:36

The thing is, it does look a bit tacky and "can't be arsed to think". But it's what kids really would prefer! So actually it's a lot more thoughtful than a cheap book from a set from the Book People. I love the image of Saganoren's talking wistfully of the time she got a fiver (an actual fiver! To spend as she liked!)! Do it. The kid will love you.

SirChenjin · 07/08/2014 10:36

Not tacky at all. I wish more people in this country could get past the idea that money = tacky, it would save so many bits of plastic going to the landfill and would enable kids to save up for something they really wanted.

We always open the presents after the party, so wouldn't have a problem with not having anything to play with.

CarmineRose1978 · 07/08/2014 10:37

Saganoren's daughter, that should read!

5madthings · 07/08/2014 10:37

If I don't have time can't be arsed to buy a resent then a fiver in a card and a pack of sweets or box of maltesers is a standard present. The kids are always happy.

kinkyfuckery · 07/08/2014 10:39

£5 in a card and a bag of sweets. My kids love it.

DD2 is still deliberating over finishing the money she got in cards for her birthday in May. If it has been pocket money, she spends it straight away, but this somehow feels more special to her because it is money from her wee friends.

Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/08/2014 10:40

I will give her money and some sweets.

It's going to rain and it such a long walk into the city to buy her something.

I have given money before but I did feel like it was really lazy and tacky but I don't know where that feeling comes from. Probably my grandmas voice in my ear because she would have been disgusted at the thought of given money as a present Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Sallystyle · 07/08/2014 10:41

giving*

OP posts:
Stinkle · 07/08/2014 10:41

It's fine.

I quite often stick a fiver in a card if there's a party I've forgotten about/can't get into town.

My 9 year old recently had a birthday and she got money from pretty much everyone - and blew the lot on infernal loom bands

wafflyversatile · 07/08/2014 10:47

draw a smiley face on it.

wafflyversatile · 07/08/2014 10:48

Grin at blowing the lot on loom bands!

crazykat · 07/08/2014 15:21

My 6yo dd loved getting money in a card for her birthday. She had a great time going shopping with her money.

I've never known the birthday child to open presents at the party either. They're usually opened at home, especially for half/whole class parties.

Lally112 · 07/08/2014 15:24

I prefer it, it can go in their savings account for them. Some of the shite people have bought my kids over the years is unbelievable.

Montegomongoose · 07/08/2014 18:27

No, especially if you don't know the child very well.

By the time mine were in Y5 it was almost all money.

They loved it and put it towards something they really wanted.

Only tacky thing is not sending thankyous