AIBU to have "just" done vouchers for everyone for christmas?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Exchanged gifts with family yesterday as we all like to spend christmas day in our own homes. Dh and I have gifted everyone vouchers.

The kids in the family (all 10yo or older) have each been given enough on cinema vouchers to go once a month for the whole of next year, grown ups have vouchers/passes for things like HP World (the fans who've not been yet), theatre, a restaurant one said they wanted to try etc.

It appears one side of the family think this is "rubbish" as we've not given anything the kids can play with (over ten yo), or that adults can drink etc.

We have two dc of our own (both circa 10), and they gifted toys for our dc, and nick nack sort if things for dh and I (bubble bath, chocolate etc).

We appreciate they've gifted anything to us. I'd do away with gifts altogether and just have dinner and time together but hey ho.

Is this some sort of faux pas giving these vouchers?

Regardless of whether this is not considered a good present or not it is downright rude to complain about it!

I would love this. And even if I didn’t I certainly wouldn’t ever say, how rude. I like presents that are experiences and that are spread out over the year.

I prefer vouchers, but I might have got vouchers for the Google Play store / Xbox network etc.

I don't think over 10 year olds really want "something to play with", unless it is a PlayStation 5!!

YABU. Vouchers are a crap present, devoid of thought. Plus they often don't get used and go to waste.

Also YABU for using the word gifted. The verb is to give. You gave, you were given.

I agree with the not wanting things to play with - mine are emerging out of the toy playing ages with occasional dips back into the Playmobil box every now and again.

These sound like the perfect present to me and a lot more personal than a boots 3 for 2 set or more crap .

My brother got me a restaurant card for my birthday. Was a great gift and we had a lovely meal with it.

YABU. Vouchers are a crap present, devoid of thought. Plus they often don't get used and go to waste

I'm sorry to hear you think that. We've chosen places the recipients either go or have said they plan to go in the near future.

Also YABU for using the word gifted. The verb is to give. You gave, you were given

It's a perfectly acceptable use of the word. I'm sorry you dont like my chosen wording.

@zurala

YABU. Vouchers are a crap present, devoid of thought. Plus they often don't get used and go to waste.

Also YABU for using the word gifted. The verb is to give. You gave, you were given.

I completely disagree. DC these ages don't want toys, so what else do you get them? I think vouchers show more thought than cash (which I actually like to get sometimes if we are saving for something specific) because you have thought about things they would enjoy doing and have enabled them to do so.

And those saying the extra costs of snacks at the cinema, if I went that regularly I'd definitely take my.own

I think cinemas closed in November too, didn't they? Anyway, that's besides the point.

My view has always been - vouchers OK for birthdays but not Christmas. For Christmas it's nice to open things

Vouchers are fine if you know that the recipient will like the store you got them for. I'd hate a cinema voucher as I no longer like the experience and haven't been for years. A few years ago my sister gave me a voucher for a restaurant that was a 40 minute drive away and it wasn't our taste so that got wasted.

The problem with cinema vouchers for kids that age is that the parents may wish to accompany the kids, so although you've paid for the kids Mum and Dad need to find money to pay for their ticket.

My parents love gift vouchers and ask for them every Christmas, always for the same store so they have a nice little sum from everyone to spend in the sales.

Cross posted @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

@zurala

You may not like to use 'gift' as a verb, but it's perfectly correct usage.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz vouchers always seem to divide opinions! I love a voucher - especially for somewhere like Lakeland, or for books - but I always have to stress to people that I do like them/want them as a gift.

It seems to me that you put a lot of thought into the type of voucher as well. The main criticism of vouchers - as seen already on this thread - is that people think it's lazy, and that there hasn't been any thought put into them.

those saying the OP should have got presents instead, genuinely what do pre-teens/teens want to open?

@Skyeheather the OP also have the parents vouchers to go to the cinema so no expense incurred, plus some are old enough to go on their own

I don't think vouchers are a crap present at all. Better than a physical gift that someone doesn't want and will take up space. Most older kids want or like very specific things, unless you're very close you won't know what they want. The only problem is if the voucher is too specific to something you are not sure they will be able to use. Eg my daughter was given an iTunes voucher but we don't own a single Apple device, and have Family Spotify premium. Vouchers for days out are a lovely idea. I gave my nephew a voucher that could be used in a load of shops, or at Vue cinema (there is one near him).

People who says vouchers don't get used, surely that's down to you? I make sure we use any vouchers we get given.

I think vouchers are good for slightly older children. As an adult I would think vouchers quite a thoughtless gift, in the literal sense that the person couldn’t be bothered thinking of what I might like.

I think vouchers are a good idea for older kids and adults, I enjoy getting them and when DC were in their teens often used to ask for them (if asked what they wanted, of course).
As long as the restaurant ones aren't £10 for a pricey place that the recipient wouldn't go to. But it sounds like you've given it some thought so I doubt that.

I think vouchers are a great present and certainly no worse than novelty socks or another Bath/ body lotion gift set. I find it really stressful choosing gifts especially as most people have pretty much everything anyway or if it's kids that you do not see and have no idea what they are into.

Who are all these people not using their vouchers? What a waste!

I'd love vouchers! Even better for days out/experiences.

They sound very ungrateful. Don't bother in future.

No, it's a perfectly good idea, and does a good job of making sure people a) get something they want and b) more or less have to spend it on a treat.

If people don't appreciate your presents OP, leave them out next year.

(Typing while printing out a couple vouchers of my own)

I have to admit, vouchers for doing things just makes me feel a bit obligated. Vouchers for me to buy stuff (for places I use) are great. But everyone is different. I wouldn't complain though and would say thank you.

I think over 10 is a really hard age. They do, still, want something to play with- but there's nothing they actually want to play with, iyswim. I remember that feeling well. I missed the joy of toys, but also felt too old. But then, I was also too young to appreciate money etc.

My kids and I would love that.

We personally wouldn't really use vouchers but if you knew us well enough to give us presents then you would probably know my dc aren't too keen on the cinema. Also some people get free cinema tickets with their phones etc so I guess if they already get one free entry a week they might not want to go twice.

Having said that they are rude to be telling you that. I would though open a dialogue about next Christmas/ Birthday and maybe just buy for immediate family and spend more on them or go for a secret Santa type approach, maybe with an adults and a child's draw, so you dc buy for their cousin etc.

I don't really like giving them as it does feel like the easy option and a bit impersonal, but I have occasionally in the past for various reasons. I don't think YABU though as a gift is a gift and it's not your responsibility to provide wrapped gifts for other people's children.