To give £5 instead of gift?

[Ebisu]

DS has another classmates party at the weekend, birthday child will be turning 7. Instead of my usual kids gifts of lego/books etc, I’m planning on getting a big chocolate bar and putting £5 in the card. Then the child can choose their own gift, or put it towards something. My almost 7yo would love to get this but DH doesn’t like the idea. Any other thoughts please?!

Perfect!!!

My kids would have loved that at 7!

I'd love that at 48, my kids would definitely appreciate it.

Perfect. My daughter would love it.

I do this, or a big bag of harribo. I started doing it after a mum at DDs party explained she'd put money in a card. I was chuffed as it meant less stuff. DD was extatic because it meant a trip to smiggle :(

That's what we do, even for the older kids!! Makes it easier for us & the recipient gets to choose exactly what they want

Cash over gift every time (though not for a wedding if you're a mumsnetter )

We did my ds's 5th birthday a few weeks ago. We invited the whole class and I'd say half gave money in a card. It was all ten era though, not fivers. Not that ds would've cared, he's convinced that 100 pennies are way more than one measly pound coin.

Tape it into the card so it doesn't get lost or overlooked and that's a great present.

I always give money or vouchers now. As a parent, IF someone were to get dd a present, I would prefer voucher/money this to 5 quids worth of something dd wouldn't use.

Also I take a pic at a later date and show parent what dd had used the money/voucher for.

Donning my hard hat here but I think it shows lack of thought. DD had a fiver off a friend in her last birthday party (similar age to your DC). She was underwhelmed and her and her friend still talk about it. I couldn't help but think that the parents just couldn't be bothered.

Sorry but you did ask!

Great idea.

Definitely the way forward. I do a fiver or a tenner depending on the class mate and a wrapped up bag of Haribo or chocolate bar.

Do it! My boys love receiving money!

At my 5 year olds birthday party last year a few of her friends (well their parents ) did this and she was delighted with it.

I put money in a card for kids partys, and it's exactly because I can't be bothered. I can't be bothered to go think of something for a child I hardly know and parents that probably dkn't want more crap in there houses anyway, then use my time off work to go and look for it and buy it.

So money in a card and they can buy what they want.

They are lucky they get a card to be honest.

Loads of people do that near us. My ds' last birthday he ended up with £25 which he used to buy a fab remote control car. It was great.

My kids would be delighted with this!!

My DS loved getting cash!

It's perfect. I almost always do cash or voucher these days.

I remember when DC1 brining a party invitation home with a politely worded message suggesting money instead of a present. It was brilliant - as if suddenly it was ok to just give cash from then on!

It’s pretty standard from about the age of 7 at my kids school. Sweets and £5 or £10 when the kids get a bit older.

It's IDEAL
If your DH doesn't like it he can go shopping with the same budget (£6.50) and find a gift himself

I always gave money from the age of about 6 or 7.

Here everyone gives presents with gift receipts. I've not used them before but this time DS got inundated with lego and he's not keen so we swopped 3 boxes for brio and he was totally thrilled. The parents here all spend loads which is a bit irritating as we have to too

Thanks all, generally positive so definitely going to do it.

@kimlo haha, yes exactly that! I spend so long and so much choosing gifts for kids cousins and close friends kids that I just run out of ideas for classmates!

@MissClareRemembers I would love to know the polite wording! I wanted to do this for DH party invite but just thought people would think I was grabby putting a money ask on!!!