Being asked to contribute towards Christmas Present?

[girlfriend44]

Does this annoy anyone else?

Been asked this week to contribute towards an Xmas gift for someone at work/hobby. Don't wish to say exactly what but I'm sure you'll get the gist.

I wish people who take it upon themselves to organise this, would just buy a gift themselves,instead of trying to manipulate others.
Once they've decided to ask it makes it awkward and how do they know our financial circumstances and also how many others have asked us from different places.

I said I would, but I don't want to, I wish not to be put on the spot.
It's not something I have done to others either.

Are they just trying to make themselves look good too?
How do you deal with this?

I'm torn because I hate compulsory collections. Nobody should feel obliged to give

But also it can be helpful, for example, my son's football coach is truly amazing does so much for the team in a voluntary role in all weathers, very little thanks. A parent suggest we all chip in £5 to get him a Christmas gift, I'm more than happy to do this. It also means he'll get a decent gift rather than 16 boxes of chocs or cases of beer. But equally none of the team/parents should feel pressured into giving.

If you do 3 or 4 clubs it can quickly add up all the £5 and £10 collections here and there.

I'm not going to say it all, because it's outing and I recently realised all these threads are also on Facebook.

No the person is not a volunteer, they are paid, and we haven't known them that long either. They don't go above and beyond either.

Perhaps they should actually ask us all first if we want to buy a present rather than just announcing it.

Why on earth is one colleague getting a joint gift if others aren't??

I recently realised all these threads are also on Facebook

I don't think that's true, maybe a few but certainly not all

Your boss?