Christmas gift...would you?

[Jamie88]

My GFs friends are all going to Tenerife for an all inclusive holiday (about £600) in January; a girl’s week away!

She mentioned today that she won’t be going as she’s trying to save up and can’t afford to go. I know she’d like to go.

I was thinking this would be a great Christmas present. But...it’s way more than we ever spend on gifts for each other (usually about 50-100 quid)

I’d like to treat her but am not sure if IABU and this would make her feel like it’s too much.

Is your money joint or shared? Will you struggle to pay bills etc?

I think it sounds lovely. However with it being waay over what you’d normally spend how about asking her what she would be willing to spend on going away and you’ll cover the rest?

I think if you can afford it then pay for it for Christmas for her, presents dont always have to be equal xx

If you can afford it this is an awesome present

@LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 money for bills etc is shared, but other than that, we have our own finances (savings, leisure spend, holidays, clothes etc

I could afford it out of my own money if that makes sense

I think she’d be over the moon if you paid for the holiday for her. It shows you trust her too, which is lovely.

Absolutely brilliant gift. I would be made up and so grateful.

I wouldn't feel like I 'owed' you the same. I would just see it as an extremely generous gesture.

But I would be planning an awesome gift for your birthday!

I think it's a bloody brilliant idea if you can afford it

If you can afford it and want to why not? I have a fair bit more disposable income than my partner and while we generally spend around the same on each other, I bought him a much more expensive birthday present this year as I know he'll love it and I want him to have it.

Lovely idea! Check with her boss (if applicable) first though.

Lovely, thoughtful present. Giving doesn’t have to be equal - especially if you have differing incomes.

Are you sure that she definitely wants to go and she's not using 'I can't afford it' as an excuse?

Aw definitely do it. I that's lovely and thoughtful and she will be over the moon. It's not too much. Gift giving doesn't have to always stick to a regimented rule book. Go for it.

That’s a very kind gift.

That's a fantastic idea if you can comfortably afford it, but would she be able to afford, or want to afford, spending money?

Would she be able to afford spending money?

Would she be able to get time off work?

I think it's nice in theory but I'd personally find it very overwhelming to wake up on Xmas morning and find my DP had booked me a holiday / cleared it with my boss etc.

@Crunchymum @girlmom21 that’s a good point, I would think it’s a bit awkward to ask her boss for holiday for her (feels like I’m overstepping) but maybe I could suggest that she books time off and have a staycation.

I mean pretend it’s for a staycation but book the holiday!

On spending money, it’s all inclusive so I don’t think she’d need much and I could drive her to Gatwick etc.

It’s not just £600 though. There’ll be new outfits to buy, nights out/ taxis to pay for etc etc.
I would be uncomfortable getting such a gift from a friend. To be honest I’d find it quite patronising.

I think it’s a lovely idea but I wouldn’t do it as a surprise, I would definitely check with her first, I wouldn’t go ahead and book it without her knowing just in case there is more to her not going than just not being able to afford it. Also that way she has time to make sure she has everything she would need to go, clothes/ vaccines/ covid passport etc; I wouldn’t want to wait and spring it on her Christmas Day and then find out she doesn’t have time to get anything she needs to sort out first done without feeling rushed/ stressed.

Does she have a valiid passport with enough time left on it?
Is she fully vaccinated?

My OH has spoken to my boss before and arranged time off without my knowledge, but I did have a flexitime arrangment. Would she have enough leave left?

Not trying to put a downer on it - it's a lovely thought - I'm sure she would be very happy, but travelling these days has got a lot more complicated!

I would love it!

Gosh, I now don’t know what to think.

I’ve just text her friend who is booking the holiday to see what the plan could potentially be and she’s said ‘Its a nice idea but don’t book anything yet, you should chat to ‘GF’. You’re a good one and it’s none of my business but you need to discuss this with ‘GF’.

For those asking, she’s double jabbed and has travelled during the pandemic so know she would be okay with the plane and tests etc.