To give cash not vouchers

[pleasemrpostman]

Friend has a big life event coming up and a group of us are giving her a gift. The idea is a thoughtful one, a specific experience. It's £375, but the venue only sells gift vouchers in £50 so I either need to get her a £400 voucher (she won't get change for this and there are no lower value add-one) or give her the money in cash.
Are notes in an envelope acceptable?

Yes.
With a written letter, or card to say - we thought that you would like to do X / or We know you have always wanted to do X, and so have collected the money for you to do this on a date that suits you. Are looking forward to see the photos and hearing all about it afterwards. Enjoy! Love from Friend Group

I'm sorry if this sounds thick but why wouldn't they be 'acceptable'?

Not acceptable to who?

Cash is better than vouchers. My sister got a spa voucher before Covid. Due to place closing during lockdown she could not use it. Then it expired. She rang and asked for extension as it had been closed but they said no. She said she did not have energy to fight them.

Cash is much safer. Imagine if the place the vouchers were for went bust. She would be screwed.

Cash -the universal voucher!

Cash

Depends on whether you'd be upset if she spent the money on something else other than the intended experience. I don't think you can give cash and stipulate on what it is spent.

You could give her £350 in vouchers plus the extra £25 cash. Although vouchers are basically a scam in my view - you're giving up cash that you can spend on anything in exchange for something that's extremely restrictive and liable to expire and become worthless.

Cash is lovely

Thank you. I was just worried it didn't look as special. You make a good point about places going bust etc.

Yes cash is better. I was given a £200 experience voucher for a work anniversary but it was in the middle of covid and I was pregnant. I wasn't able to use any of the adventure type activities but would have liked the theatre/afternoon tea instead. However they were all closed and then by the time I could have used them I had a newborn who couldn't be left and to be honest I forgot about the expiry date and missed using it.

Everywhere is going bust!

Maybe put cash in an envelope with a card/note saying we thought you may like to use this for a day at ..... (and perhaps put in some info about the venue)

I never give vouchers.

They expire.
They are limited as to where you can use them.
You don't get change if you spend less than they're worth.
If the firm folds, the vouchers are worthless.

Cash, cheque or at a push a prepaid Visa card.