Can I give my cleaner a velvetiser?

[Oopsoopsoops]

I’m guilty of overthinking this…

Our cleaner is amazing, reliable and has helped out with a tough year whilst I’ve had multiple operations. She has gone above and beyond, think things like pet sitting (paid) and more.

Her and her children love our hotel chocolat velvetiser and I would love to get them one for Christmas to show my/our appreciation but I’m not sure if it’s an OTT gift. I did consider getting a velvetiser dupe but I’m struggling to find the Aldi or Asda ones online (and I can’t go out to the shops because of my most recent surgery).

I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable with an ‘extravagant’ gift.

Am I overthinking this? It will bring so much joy to her and her children. I would of course give some hot chocolates too

[gofg]

I think that is a lovely idea OP, and I'm sure she will be delighted.

[stevalnamechanger]

Buy it :) you sound a great goss

[stevalnamechanger]

*boss

[PooWillyNameChange]

Definitely buy it. We've only had our cleaner 5 months so I've put £50 in a card (£45 is a weeks wages), next year if she doesn't dump us for a tidier family I'll give £100. My cleaner appears pretty comfortable though (no kids, owns own lovely house, partner owns successful business, new car etc) so I'd have no qualms about a gift rather than cash other than I'd have no idea what to get her!!

[whymewhyme]

How lovely and kind, I'm sure she will be very very touched.

[SimpsonsXmasBoogie]

Personally I always give cash in these sorts of situations, then it's just a "Christmas bonus" type thing and it isn't awkward for anyone. I would only buy them a gift if I felt I genuinely knew them quite well.

If she wants the hot chocolate thing that much she can buy it herself with her Christmas bonus, and if she actually is really hard up for cash then maybe that money will go towards her heating bill or buying her kids a Xmas present, as opposed to being tied up in something that she doesn't need and can't even afford to buy the sachets for.

[FallonCarringtonWannabe]

Id also give cash.

[madisonbridges]

Just give her a bonus in cash. Just because it's a treat in someone else's house, doesn't mean you want one in your own.

[Okbutnotgreat]

This thread is making a lot of assumptions. Where I live the cleaners mostly drive nicer cars than me and definitely earn considerably more per hour than I do. I don’t have a cleaner but if I did I wouldn’t hesitate to give her a nice gift if I wanted to surely that’s what a gift should be, something you wouldn’t normally buy yourself.

[JulesJules]

I'd get it from John Lewis with a gift receipt, then she can change it if she wants to.

I think it's a lovely idea and as PPs have said, it doesn't need special pods, you don't have to use HC branded hot choc either, although I would give some with the velvetiser.

Cash gifts get spent on essentials rather than treats imo

[oakleaffy]

@MoonbeamSprinkles

Do you have to buy special hot chocolate to use it?

If you do then it might be a bit of a white elephant, if not crack on.

A thousand times this.
If it needs expensive sachets, it will just be a dust gatherer.

[SSOYS]

You don’t need their special stuff. It works with any.

[rookiemere]

Sorry because I've not fully read the thread, but I'd be hesitant to give an expensive gift that can only be used for one thing. However you do seem to have given it a lot of thought so I'd buy her the gift but put a note in it to say that if she'd prefer to get something else the gift receipt is attached and can be exchanged for vouchers.

[TheNoodlesIncident]

A Velvetiser (paid by cash not card) with a gift receipt is the way I'd go, so if she wants to she can get the money instead.

I'd also enclose a card expressing how appreciative I was over the above and beyond service and how grateful I was, etc. Then if she does relinquish the gift for the money or something else, she still has the nice glow of being appreciated. I still have a lot of the thank you cards my NDN gives me because I do her garden for her, they mean a lot.

[SirVixofVixHall]

I just bought my friend the grey one too.
I love my velvetiser and she has had a really rough year and needed a treat.

[EdgeOfTheSky]

It is not necessary to use the Hotel Chocolat Sachets !

You can use any grated chocolate, the quality and % cocoa will affect the results, of course, or you can use other brands of ‘real HC’ and you can also use powder (again not as rich as grated choc / choc flakes).

I use grated Montezuma ‘All Black’, which is incredibly bitter 100% cocoa solids, to make HC, it is GORGEOUS!

[UniBallEye]

I think it's a lovely idea and I would buy it for her, in copper as they look the nicest.

We bought dd one last year, think we got it from Amazon and it came in a set with a selection box of assorted sachets and 2 of the ceramic hot chocolate cups. Which was great because dd opened it immediately and within minutes was enjoying her first hot chocolate.

Our is used very regularly and I agree that the chocolate from it is nothing like hot chocolate made in a saucepan, even with melted chocolate being used.

We prefer the HC sachets but during lockdown we couldn't get them so we grated Aldi chocolate (one of our favourites) and it worked perfectly too.

I think a thoughful gift is always lovely

[MeredithGreyishblue]

I drive a nice car too. I also like the occasional hot chocolate if someone else makes it. But I can guarantee the bloody thing would never see the light of day if you bought one for me.
I like my friend's curtains. Doesn't mean I'd get "so much joy" if she bought me a pair.

[CaMePlaitPas]

Can I be your cleaner OP? I'd love a velvetiser

[NewlyGranny]

If she's struck with yours, I'd get her the exact same, colour and all. If you gave her money or a voucher, she might feel she had to spend it on something sensible.

[Newbabynewhouse]

Id get her one yes... don't get the dupe...

[yourestandingonmyneck]

It's a lovely thoughtful gift, but give her the receipt as well, that was if she really needs the cash she can return it (and possibly get the cheaper version).

Very thoughtful of you XxX

[caringcarer]

If you know she would like it and you can afford it, get it for her. She will.kmow she is truly appreciated. I let my cleaner pick a week to stay in our 7 bedroom second home in France and she takes her kids and parents too. She is good at her job and make my life a lot easier.

[Kinneddar]

It would be impossible on her wages to buy HC stuff

Thats a bit of an assumption to make. How do you know that? My cleaner cleans as a second job to finance her social life. She came early last week as she had to pick up her brand new car from the dealership at the time she usually comes

I'd buy the Velvetiser. Id love one but can't justify the expense. I'd love if someone bought me one. I agree though with getting it with a gift receipt so she can return it if necessary

[LadyOfMisrule]

I'd always give money rather than gadgets that will be used for a while then put in the cupboard and forgotten.