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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How much do you spend on friends birthday?

24 replies

Rainwindandsnow · 07/04/2017 16:32

It's my friends 31st birthday on Monday.
I've organised a day out.
We live in Newcastle...so I've organised a shopping trip to Manchester.
I've paid for her coach and I was thinking either a £30 or £25 gift card for her favourite shop(as we going shopping )
Plus in Manchester I've booked a Italian and I'm going to pay for her meal.
Is that ok?
Or shall I do 2 £15 gift cards for different shops
?

OP posts:
Dons1975 · 07/04/2017 16:35

I don't get my friends presents unless it's a special birthday e.g. 30/40/50. I think coach and dinner is more than enough. For a 31st they would get s card and possibly a drink! I may be tight .

SheSaidHeSaid · 07/04/2017 16:46

You seem very generous. I usually spend something like £25-30 on close friends unless it's a big birthday, in which case it'd be more.

Pardonwhat · 07/04/2017 16:48

Close friends get £15-£25 unless it's a big birthday in which case I'd spend up to around £40/50.
You're being very generous.

allowlsthinkalot · 07/04/2017 16:50

About £5-10 unless it's a very special birthday then about £20.

Kittykatmacbill · 07/04/2017 16:53

Less than £10 unless it's a really huge one. That seems a bit bonkers much...

r0tringLover · 07/04/2017 16:57

I buy them a bottle of wine and a card. Around £20. Champers and a card for a 'big' birthday (around £50).

Trips and spending money? They aren't you 18 year old daughter!

Original poster
Rainwindandsnow · 07/04/2017 17:11

We always plan days for our birthdays
My birthday she took me to a spa and for afternoon tea.

OP posts:
Spice22 · 07/04/2017 17:15

Usually £20 but for big birthdays (this year) a lot more. Spent £100 on one, £140 on another but the next will be less than £60 as she said planned an expensive meal.

Those who aren't my close friends will get a text message Grin

whensitmyturn · 07/04/2017 17:22

That's a lot for a random birthday! But kind of you if that's what the 2 of you do.
I generally stick around the £10/15 for friends if it's a random birthday (usually vouchers or a present) or for best friends we do a paid meal out for respective birthdays. For ones ending in a 0 I do more.

JagerPlease · 07/04/2017 17:41

Group of 8 closest friends all put in £20 for each 30th, other years either a group or individual present in the region of £5-10. But we're dotted around the country/world a bit so celebrations tend to involve trains and night out costs as well

AnthonyPandy · 07/04/2017 17:46

I don't get them anything. No pressure and we still love each other.

BurningViolin · 07/04/2017 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BackforGood · 07/04/2017 17:48

I don't. I would only get a friend a present if it were a 'big' birthday and they invited me to a party.

Iwanttobeanonymous · 07/04/2017 17:52

We have a five pound limit!! Its been that much for years so I know I sometimes go over a bit but not by much. Its fun trying to be creative and get something they will like for that amount.
One of our number regifts so we often get the thing we gave her something weird that has cost more.

Iwanttobeanonymous · 07/04/2017 17:52

We have a five pound limit!! Its been that much for years so I know I sometimes go over a bit but not by much. Its fun trying to be creative and get something they will like for that amount.
One of our number regifts so we often get the thing we gave her something weird that has cost more.

Allthebestnamesareused · 07/04/2017 17:52

But was that for your 30th birthday (the spa). Yes for a 30th but surely for a regular birthday it is anything from £10, 20 or 30 depending how close the friend is)?

LettuceMash · 07/04/2017 17:53

Nothing.

Aeroflotgirl · 07/04/2017 17:56

Wow that is generous and not something I could afford. I give my extremely good friend a £20 gift voucher and card, and treat her to breakfast. My other very good friend, just a card, as she really does not want anything and has made it clear to me. The rest, nothing, just happy birthday will suffice, and they don't get me.

Aeroflotgirl · 07/04/2017 17:58

Really we do, token gifts for each other. They don't expect, and nor do I. My friends are'nt that wealthy, nor am I to be exact.

Ellapaella · 07/04/2017 18:07

I only buy for my very best friend and spend about £20 on average. I do stuff with friends for their birthdays like spa weekends etc but we all just pay for ourselves and then have a whip round for money or vouchers for the birthday person. At work we all put a tenner each in a card. I think that the coach cost and the meal itself should be more than adequate for your friend, not sure you need to give her vouchers as well.

Nightmanagerfan · 07/04/2017 18:09

Around £15 for close friends, others maybe flowers (£5-7). I think anything other than that is a bit much.

Abetes · 07/04/2017 18:13

For my very best friend, a nice smelly candle or similar. For other friends, a soap, shower gel, chocolate etc for £10 ish. They reciprocate with similar.

Grilledaubergines · 07/04/2017 18:16

I don't do gifts for any of my friends unless it's a significant Birthday. And then it would be £25 ish.

ifcatscouldtalk · 07/04/2017 18:23

The only people that get birthday presents off me are my mum, nan and daughter. Friends get a card and it's never been an issue. Maybe if it's a big birthday and someone's having a meal out, we all split the cost.

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