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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU wasting money on teacher gift

66 replies

mumof2exhausted · 09/12/2021 17:42

We have all contributed money to buy teachers vouchers for Christmas , rather than them getting lots individual present (ie best teacher mum, body shop crap). Person who volunteered to go grab the vouchers has spent a third of the money on bloody body shop stuff. So rather than having a lovely £100 voucher each the teachers now have £60 and body shop stuff. I know people will say “well she volunteered” . A few of us volunteered. Literally to go to the shopping centre to get generic voucher which can be used in any shop. Am I (and others) being unreasonable to be annoyed?

OP posts:
anotheronenow · 09/12/2021 19:45

I just can't think of any reason at all why someone would be part of a group chat saying let's give money for vouchers and then decide they could use other people's money to buy body shop stuff.

But I bet none of the mums who are annoyed will feel like saying anything on the chat.

OP: it's up to you to figure out if you are comfortable saying what others will be thinking? I hope you do. I think you should take the suggestions of everyone on this thread, and say:

"I'm sorry, didn't we all agree to combine our money so the teachers got vouchers to buy what they wanted (and there was more than one offer to go and pick up the vouchers)?

I'm wondering if anyone else is uncomfortable with using our money for body shop stuff (both because of the strong fragrances and because teachers get so much stuff like that)? If so, can we please return it to the Bodyshop or multi-level marketer it came from, and get a refund, so our money can be used for vouchers like we all agreed?

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 09/12/2021 19:46

I would also leave it personally. I understand why it's annoying, extra so if she's a rep, but it wouldn't be worth creating drama or bad feelings over for me, especially since you're only in reception. The woman who organised our collection this year chose something I thought was a bit shite as well but honestly we only chipped in a fiver each and I would have paid twice that just for the convenience of not having to do any planning myself. I don't use body shop stuff myself but it's not awful and £60 of vouchers is still a lot. I'd let it go and just be more insistent next year about doing it yourself.

RoastPotatoQueen · 09/12/2021 19:47

I'd ask her straight out is she's a body shop rep and for a refund so you can get a voucher yourself since she's gone against what was agreed too.

Tilltheend99 · 09/12/2021 19:57

What is with this weird trend for people clubbing together to buy vouchers only for the person put in charge of it to come back with magic beans? This is the second thread I have seen where this happened which is two too many lol

Lasair · 09/12/2021 19:59

Can you ask them to return it?

careerchangeperhaps · 09/12/2021 20:02

You need to call her out. I bet there will be others feeling the same.

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 09/12/2021 20:02

@YouDoRunRunRun

I'd just be blatant and ask her if she sells Body Shop stuff
Yeah you could even say oooh is someone a body shop rep crying face emoji
Ilovesandwiches · 09/12/2021 20:04

Definitely sells it!!

MorganKitten · 09/12/2021 20:37

@OnceuponaRainbow18

What’s MLM?
Pyramid schemes
Rainartist · 09/12/2021 22:18

Sadly she probably is a body shop bot Sad

Lesson learned never get embroiled in this shite again! Go your own way in future and the best gift you can give a reception teacher is a picture or card your child made themselves.

hulahooper2 · 09/12/2021 22:27

There is a limit to the value of a gift a teacher can receive , I believe it’s £25 , anything over that has to be reported to the school.

ImInStealthMode · 09/12/2021 22:33

@hulahooper2

There is a limit to the value of a gift a teacher can receive , I believe it’s £25 , anything over that has to be reported to the school.

Quite possibly, but if it's a £100 voucher from 10 or 15 or 20 kids / sets of parents combined I'm sure that's easily enough approved. If it were £100 from one kid then I can see questions being asked.

Akire · 09/12/2021 22:35

I would be put out too vouchers suit everyone and £100 decent amount. Why then spend nearly half on stuff the person might not like? That’s why you did a collection in the first place.

Akire · 09/12/2021 22:37

Is this one teacher or collection for 10x£100 as that’s 400 on body shop would make the MLM far more likely.

BoredZelda · 10/12/2021 00:00

Quite possibly, but if it's a £100 voucher from 10 or 15 or 20 kids / sets of parents combined I'm sure that's easily enough approved. If it were £100 from one kid then I can see questions being asked

I wouldn’t be sure the rules make that distinction. I know they don’t in my LA area. Teachers can’t accept any monetary or voucher gifts at all.

Dita73 · 10/12/2021 00:06

Poor teacher is going to be smelling of peppermint foot scrub and mango body butter for six months

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