To spend less than a quid on teachers presents?!

[CheeseAndBeans]

Help! My DD is in reception so am new to this. Obviously with Christmas coming up people are starting to talk about what they are buying for the teacher and TA for Christmas. I have heard people saying they have got wine, vouchers, personalised gifts, even a bloody hamper!

All seems very competitive to me. We are skint at the moment with the lead up to Christmas and I thought I was done with the present buying. Totally forgot about teacher gifts!

WIBU to give them both chocolate reindeers? They are 79p in Aldi. They look nice, cheap versions of the lindt ones. Is that really bad?
Will put them in little gift bags I already have and get DD to make them both a nice card.

Of course YANBU, any gift should be gratefully received

For what it’s worth I don’t think I have ever bought a teacher a Christmas present (DS is 22 now)

No that sounds lovely. Honestly the competition between the other parents is pathetic.

The chocolate reindeer sound perfect. Even a nice hand made card will do, without a gift.

I always get consumable gifts for teachers. Sounds fine to me. They wouldn't want you to buy something you couldn't afford.

I've given a £1 little thing of chocs before, it's totally fine. Also fine to give just a card if things are tight.

I am a teacher. I don't expect any presents. I am just doing my job. If anyone wants to give cards or gifts, lovely, but I wouldn't mind at all if I wasn't given anything.

Your idea sounds great. Hampers etc are a bit much IMO.

Most of my family are teachers, I can honestly say they don’t expect presents and always appreciate something nice written in a card. Teachers are also totally aware that loads of people are skint and just hanging on by the skin of their teeth.

That sounds completely fine, gifts are not obligatory.

The other gifts you listed aren’t “competitive” though, they are pretty standard teacher gifts.

I don't buy teachers Christmas presents. Why would I? I highly doubt that they want or need or the tat they end up with. I'm sure that a card made by your dc would go down better.

I buy a small end of year gift if they have been a good teacher.

Its fine! I'm sure the teachers don't want hampers or 30 personalised mugs and might not even drink wine.
Our class does a class collection £5 each for ta and teacher, I think they are getting gift cards with the money. I don't mind a fiver because it's a collection but if there was no collection i would do the same as you .

I think it's fine. My ds is in reception too and we're going to make cards and salt dough Christmas decorations for his teacher and favourite TA. I was going to buy them a bath bomb each (£3)but I might just pinch your aldi chocolate idea.

As a teacher (admittedly secondary so I know it's different!), I'd be delighted with a chocolate reindeer and a card. I genuinely wouldn't expect anything, but have always loved getting cards from kids and parents so to be honest that on it's own would be fine! I think it sounds like other parents are going ott.

That sounds lovely - don’t stress about it!

I’m an FE teacher so don’t often get presents (thankfully) but the primary teachers I know hate receiving gifts. It makes them feel awkward and they often end up with a 1000 duplicates they can’t do anything with. The end of year gifts are worst, so much ‘best teacher’ tat it’s untrue. A lot ends up in the charity shop, you only have to visit one around August/September to see that...

I’ve never personally bought teachers a Christmas present and wouldn’t. As an end of year gift I just get a nice card and bunch of flowers.

OP, when I taught reception I would have been delighted with a card made by the child. Really no need for anything more, although I'm sure chocolate reindeers will be very gratefully received

I would just not bother with a gift. Just send a really nice card with a personal message and little drawing from your DD. In my experience as much as teachers appreciate the generous gifts (especially vouchers) they definitely don't expect it and the things they really remember are nice messages in cards.

Of course its not bad. I only used to buy cheap stuff. I haven't or rather didn't have the money to buy the world his wife and his dog extortionate gifts.
Honestly just turn a deaf to the competitive ones. What is it with people asking questions especially about finances, because tgats effectively what they're doing.
As old as i am and if my mum abs nan were still here I'd get a clout round the ear followed by the words. Don't be so rude and intrusive.

Primary school teacher here, and that sounds gorgeous. The handmade card itself would be lovely enough - especially if it has a message inside about something the child has enjoyed in class this term. By the way, my favourite presents I have received from children have been ones they have made themselves. One little girl brought me a tree decoration she made at Brownies - I hang it in a prominent place on my tree every year! And I always love it if kids bring in little bunches of flowers / greenery from their garden.

Totally agree outpinked unfortunately this is everything that is wrong with this country.

People going and buying stuff just for the sake of it. Honestly who is this country really wants 30 mugs/bottles of wine/boxes of chocs? Just for doing their job.

It's all so wasteful.

I actually think one box of biscuits, from the whole class, would be more realistic.

I'm obviously a Scrooge.

Ah amazing! Thank you all. I know it's not compulsory but it's more for DD. She will be upset if she sees all her friends giving them something but she doesn't.
Will go with the reindeer's and have some blank card so will get DD to draw her own and write a nice message in. Phew!

I would much rather get a chocolate reindeer than something I couldn’t eat
It’s the thought that counts, honestly.

Honestly who is this country really wants 30 mugs/bottles of wine/boxes of chocs? Just for doing their job.

Not bothered about the mugs but I’d love 30 bottles of wine or chocolates. But I’m a greedy mare.

I think chocolate reindeers are a good idea. I don't think the other parents are being competitive. I've been trying to get myself DC's teachers gifts for a pound or two and so far haven't found anything appropriate. It is much easier to spend a few quid more on each gift. You can buy something in the first shop you go to if you are able and willing to spend a little more so maybe they just can't be bothered traipsing around all the shops to save a few pounds or maybe they have plenty of spare money and want to spend it thanking the people who teach and look after their children. I don't think they should be judged anymore than you should with your chocolate reindeer.

Matchmakers are £1 a box in Tesco at the moment. I love them!

Surely it’s beter to give something they can eat or easily pass on their own child etc if they don’t want it. They must get so much tat