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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give my cleaner John Lewis vouchers?

150 replies

Toomiddleclassforwords · 12/12/2022 21:22

For Christmas?

name changed as I’m likely to be ripped to shreds for this one, but AIBU to give my cleaner some John Lewis vouchers for Christmas or should I give cash?

OP posts:
Eixample · 13/12/2022 06:37

It’s a worse gift than cash because it’s less flexible. For a gift for friends or family you might think about cash getting ‘swallowed up’ but for an employee that’s a bit over involved. It’s not like she’s going to buy a keepsake to remember you always.
Or if you are the most amazing friends, give her cash for her work and a thoughtful gift as your friend.

MillyMollyManky · 13/12/2022 06:46

ThreeblackCats · 12/12/2022 22:49

I’ve just read this to someone sat next to me, they said “subtle boast that someone has a cleaner and thinks JL is posh, they sound like a twat”
And there you have it.
Buy your cleaner a nice scarf, a coffee maker, give her cash… quit with your stealth boasts.

I don’t get this from it at all. Why would anyone boast (stealthily or otherwise) about any of this?

I still think OP was looking to offload JL vouchers she’s received from using the credit card, as it’s otherwise quite a random idea. Don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with that though.

bellabasset · 13/12/2022 06:48

I'd go for the JL vouchers, not everything is more expensive. JL has a Shark steam cleaner at £99.99 for example which has a 5 year guarantee. Waitrose Essential items are cheaper and better value, products on offer can be cheaper than the supermarket and you can see online how long the offers are on for, a practice Tesco has taken up as well as price matching to Aldi.

girlmom21 · 13/12/2022 06:50

RaRaRaspoutine · 12/12/2022 21:44

Do cleaners not shop in John Lewis then? Bunch of snobs on this thread.

It's not snobby to suggest someone might want a choice rather than be forced to shop somewhere expensive for the sake of it

SequinShagger · 13/12/2022 06:51

Why not cash

ChubbyMorticia · 13/12/2022 06:52

Cash, always

MurderSheTyped · 13/12/2022 07:26

I don't like receiving cash as a gift as despite my best intentions I never end up spending it on myself.

pocketvenuss · 13/12/2022 07:29

I give an extra weeks pay in cash.

pocketvenuss · 13/12/2022 07:30

Blowyourowntrumpet · 12/12/2022 21:33

Cash. I got some John Lewis vouchers for my birthday and there's not a single thing I want from there

But they sell everything. Socks, pant or tights if nothing else surely.

Abraxan · 13/12/2022 07:35

UWhatNow · 12/12/2022 22:07

I would have to drive 40 miles and pay £10 parking to get to our nearest JL (similar with Waitrose). If someone gave me a voucher it would have to be worth the petrol and be at least £100 to afford anything decent in there…

You can use them online.

Abraxan · 13/12/2022 07:39

Toomiddleclassforwords · 12/12/2022 22:21

Wow! Seem to have hit a few nerves. Yes there of course we live near a John Lewis. And a Waitrose. I like a JL voucher so I can spoil myself buying nice food (or my favourite gin) in Waitrose… I get that it’s not the cheapest place to shop, but I thought a voucher might be a nice treat - cash just gets swallowed up IME .

Personal gifts are not an option as they come while I’m at work and I hardly know them. I do however really appreciate them and the job they do!

I will however go with the consensus. Cash it is.

I agree. I like a voucher for a nice place where I might not shop all the time. Though agree it needs to be of sufficient value to not have to add to it.

Cash just gets absorbed into the normal day to day shopping but a voucher for somewhere nice means it is used as a treat, even if it's nice food for an evening meal one evening.

But then I don't like to give cash as gifts, or receive it as a gift, ideally anyway.

fizzyfood · 13/12/2022 07:41

Cleaner here, I'd love some John Lewis vouchers for Christmas.

Soontobe60 · 13/12/2022 07:44

AnotherEmma · 12/12/2022 22:11

I'm not a snob who thinks all cleaners don't (or shouldn't) shop in John Lewis, but realistically if someone is short of money then they would probably not choose to shop there, and even if they're not short of money, I still think it's better to give a gift you've chosen or just give cash so they can buy whatever they want. I think of it as a Christmas bonus rather than a gift - I'd rather have a bonus than a gift from my employer!

You’re assuming that because they’re a cleaner, they’re short of money! Round here cleaners earn well above minimum wage, far more than my DH does. A friend of mine is an ex teacher now cleaner who has far more disposable income than me!

CinnamonJellyBeans · 13/12/2022 07:48

Sleepeazie · 12/12/2022 21:43

I’m a cleaner. I’d be very happy. I actually like the fact you appreciate that I too can enjoy shopping at, and that I am as familiar as the next person at shopping at, a pricey-ish department store - rather than assuming that I’m more cash strapped and in need, than any other working person/trades person you might employ. It makes me feel appreciated and like there isn’t a hierarchy of economic status, which tbh with the vast majority of my clients there isn’t.

Yes, this. Lots of assumptions here that cleaners cannot appreciate/afford expensive things.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 13/12/2022 07:50

...and good point about cash from PP; you never end up spending it on yourself.

Beautiful3 · 13/12/2022 08:00

Cash is always better because she can buy whatever she's had her eye on. I hate vouchers, because they're so restrictive. One year family asked what to buy one child. I explained she wanted a particular computer game, so a little cash towards it would be great. This resulted in 2 relatives buying vouchers for 2 different shops. If it was cash, she would have been able to buy it. However she could not. One voucher was left to expire as there was nothing there she wanted, for that value.

jamoncrumpets · 13/12/2022 08:01

UWhatNow · 12/12/2022 22:07

I would have to drive 40 miles and pay £10 parking to get to our nearest JL (similar with Waitrose). If someone gave me a voucher it would have to be worth the petrol and be at least £100 to afford anything decent in there…

You don't have internet access? You clearly do because you're posting here.

jamoncrumpets · 13/12/2022 08:02

AnotherEmma · 12/12/2022 22:21

"Assuming it's going to be at least £100, same as the rest of the household team, gardener. Car wash, window cleaner etc"

Eh?!

At least £100? Each? For 4+ people?

How the other half live, eh. Meanwhile, I spent most of my work day requesting fuel vouchers for people. (And I have a cleaner, I don't give her £100 though! If you have £400+ to spare at Christmas, give it to the food and/or fuel bank!)

We gave ours £25 extra in her last wage. I feel like shit now.

MardyMincepie · 13/12/2022 08:10

I have always preferred cash as a gift as opposed to vouchers. have always given cash to my cleaners, don’t have one currently unfortunately. I used to give £50 at Christmas to my last one who was with me for about 7 years. I took her out to dinner as a thanks when she left. I miss her, she left to work in a factory.

catmothertes1 · 13/12/2022 08:11

OrangeVelour · 12/12/2022 21:27

Why John Lewis vouchers specifically?

The OP has probably got given some JL vouchers!

LakieLady · 13/12/2022 08:12

Blowyourowntrumpet · 12/12/2022 21:33

Cash. I got some John Lewis vouchers for my birthday and there's not a single thing I want from there

Wow, I've never browsed the JL site and not seen anything I want. I'm never buying towels from anywhere else since I got some JL towels and I've bought my bedlinen from there for years. I even get my knickers from JL now. I don't think they're any dearer than M&S and they're nicer.

The other big advantage for me is that I can collect/return from Waitrose a mile away, so returning stuff is a doddle.

Mummieslncorporated · 13/12/2022 08:13

Not everyone loves John Lewis. I would love to receive a voucher for a shop I use. Receiving one for one I don't (eg John Lewis as I really don't enjoy the department store shopping experience. Even online. Or Waitrose as there's none near me) would be a bit of a nuisance. I would appreciate the thought behind it, but honestly I would rather get Tesco vouchers.

If you know she shops there, then it's a great idea.

Willmafrockfit · 13/12/2022 08:15

i think a jl voucher is nice
better than cash which can be swallowed up, otoh the cash doenst have to be swallowed up

dottiedodah · 13/12/2022 08:18

I think that would be great .she probably can't afford to shop there Normally so would be a treat .cash seems to disappear easily ànd she may just use it for her shopping. This way can have a nice treat

girlmom21 · 13/12/2022 08:21

dottiedodah · 13/12/2022 08:18

I think that would be great .she probably can't afford to shop there Normally so would be a treat .cash seems to disappear easily ànd she may just use it for her shopping. This way can have a nice treat

It depends how much the OP is intending to give though. £20 won't benefit her.