AIBU about gift vouchers?

[TeaIfYouPlease]

Recently had a birthday, any family that asked me what I wanted I said I would prefer some money as I really needed new clothes.

On my birthday I was so grateful to receive cards and well wishes. However, quite a lot of people gave me gift vouchers....

Again I really do appreciate the gifts but I am now limited as to what shops I can pick out new clothes from - out of a selection of 4 stores, 2 of which I don’t really shop in as not to my taste.

Aibu to wonder why people give gift vouchers instead of money? I can understand vouchers for book shops or toy shops as you can get the same stuff whichever chain you visit.

As a side does anyone know if M&S vouchers can be spent in their supermarket and cafe?

Yeh I agree, it's quite annoying but Its a gift and you can't dictate. Just be grateful for what you do get.

What hate is getting a restaurant voucher for a city which means I have to then organise getting to the city, probably spend more than the voucher value and likely need a hotel. What a faff but it is a nice idea.

If I get given money I always forget to spend it on myself, and I rarely spend it on anything special. I’d rather have gift tokens (but for a shop I like!) because then I’ll get something I wouldn’t normally buy for myself, and remember to show the person who gave the vouchers.

Sell the vouchers. Yes, M&S vouchers can be spent in the cafe or food halls. Personally, I think it's rude to ask for money, even if people ask you.

@Whisky2014 I’m with you on the restaurant vouchers! We received a voucher for afternoon tea in Central London as a wedding present, which is a lovely idea. However I was 7 months pregnant when we married, so didn’t have time to travel up to London and then when the baby came we definitely did not have time! It ended up expiring and so it was such a waste of money. 😕

I actually quite like getting vouchers as if I get money I end up just putting it in my wallet and forgetting but a voucher I'm 'forced' to spend on luxuries. That said I can see why it's annoying if you wanted some new clothes and can't get the ones you want. Can you sell them or take them back?

I do hate experience vouchers, DH and I are time poor when we get time together we want to spend it how we choose not travelling somewhere awkward to do a flight simulator or whatever!

Surely you can find something you like in M&S even if it’s new underwear.

I love being given vouchers. It's a nice way to treat yourself and sometimes try a new shop.

I think an M&S voucher is a safe bet for anyone and I'm surprised you'd find it hard to use, even if you don't like the fashion - nightwear, underwear, toiletries, homeware, treat food, bags, jewellery...

Don't really know why but a gift voucher seems slightly more personal than money.

I agree it should be for a shop that you actually like.

I can usually find something I like in shops I wouldn’t normally look in if I have a voucher.

However, I was once given a voucher for a prescriptive manicure and I hate having my nails messed with and wouldn’t feel comfortable having a treatment anyway so it eventually expired. I’ve got a big birthday very soon and I’m worried that the same friend will get me a voucher again for something similar.

I think cash just gets put in your purse and you end up breaking into a tenner to buy a loaf of bread, then before you know it you've dwindled away all your birthday money without realising.

Vouchers also show someone has gone out of their way to make an effort.

Do you have any friends who shop in those places? Could they buy the vouchers off you?

I don't understand why gift vouchers exist (well, I do - because people are foolish enough to buy them.)

Here's a £20 note that you can spend absolutely anywhere in the UK. I know, I'll swap it for £20 that you can only spend in Marks and Spencers. Why?

There's the added risk nowadays that high street stores are going bust left, right and centre, leaving gift-card holders potentially out of pocket.

Yes I do find it annoying, I don't think it's rude at all for people to ask for cash. I just simply give them the cash value of what I would have spent on a present. I don't see how vouchers are different to cash to the "giver" they only make a difference to the "receiver" by limiting what they can use it for.

I have had friends who have been a bit skint, so they don't really get the chance to buy themselves anything like new clothes, so why would I give them a useless present when they need a new top !!

I like to give gift vouchers ,as I personally think money can be a little bit impersonal TBH. M and S vouchers can be used in their food section /shop for Wine ,Chocolates ,Very Nice Chocolate ice cream!.Also nice T shirts ,socks slippers !.Never have any probs with what to buy in there!(Also perfumes very nice /Rose and Amber Spray)very summery and fresh!.

M and S vouchers can be used in their food section /shop for Wine ,Chocolates ,Very Nice Chocolate ice cream!.Also nice T shirts ,socks slippers !

But a £20 note can equally be used in M&S food section /shop for Wine ,Chocolates ,Very Nice Chocolate ice cream!.Also nice T shirts ,socks slippers !

Why is it you feel cash is less personal? I'm not disputing your view, I genuinely want to know?

I think there's a much higher chance that a recipient will treat themselves to something using a voucher. Cash gets used up on everyday expense like parking, bread and milk etc.

Also, someone buying a voucher has had a little think about the recipient and chosen a store they think will be received well. It's a more involved process than putting cash in a card.

I like vouchers. As others have said, it forces you to treat yourself and not spend it on mundane stuff. I do think saying "vouchers for x shop would be fab" is totally fine though!

I would always give vouchers rather than cash. Like a previous poster, I would think that cash might just be put in a purse and end up being spent on random day to day stuff, whereas you know that a voucher will be used to give the recipient something special.

I can understand the view that a voucher might appear to be a more thoughtful gift because the donor has made the effort to go and buy it and choose the store.

I don't really follow the argument that cash will be spent on day to day stuff, though. Everyone must have a budget for day-to-day stuff anyway - if they are given cash as a gift, are you saying they will buy more groceries than they normally would? If extra cash enables someone to buy better quality groceries than they normally would, isn't that a good thing? You might think they'd want M&S perfume, but actually what they might like more is an artisan loaf of bread, deli cheese, a steak and a decent bottle of wine, instead of value-branded stuff.

Is it possible to spend the vouchers and get a refund in cash?

It’s more like you use the cash when you run out, isn’t it? Instead of going to the cash point.

Anytime I've been given cash as a gift I've always treated myself to what I wanted. More fool you if you spend it on bread.

If you use the cash instead of going to the ATM, then the cash is still sitting in your bank account ready to be spent on a luxury!

Ahh the birthday M+S voucher. I got a £25 one this year. So far have bought daughter some pyjamas that she didn't really need but shut up her moaning while shopping. I think there's about 8 quid on it. Might buy some socks?
I am grateful I was given a gift. Honestly I am. But the disappointment when I opened the envelope....it's like if I was a child and I really wanted a remote control car for myself birthday but I was given a jigsaw instead. Seriously. That's what it felt like

I hate Vouchers. It's a bit of a hassle. To me it says, I can't be bothered with a present and am going to ignore a request for cash because I think I know better.

In my local area, some big names have shut down, but an elderly relative still insists on giving vouchers for these stores because she likes them and they exist where she is. I ended up using the last m&s one on school uniform to get it spent.