A mother in Sydney received criticism for her decision to request cash instead of gifts for her four-year-old's birthday party. She explained on the Sydney Mums Facebook Group that she preferred the money so she could purchase something her daughter truly wanted.
The parents, like many others, do not have enough space in their house for more toys. The group members cautioned the mother against buying new toys that would not be used, as it is impolite and unnecessary for a young child, as reported by news.com.au
What Other Parents Said
One mom expressed that it could make people feel uneasy, and another commented that she had never heard of this happening at a child's party before, only at weddings. The same person also shared that it would make guests uncomfortable as they would have to decide how much money to give.
Another commented that asking for cash instead of gifts for a child's birthday is awkward, especially if the person asking is not a close friend. The surprise of opening gifts is also a part of the joy for children.
Another comment stated that it is rude to ask for cash without specifying a low amount. It was suggested that if there is not enough space for many toys, a smaller group of people should be invited. Someone else pointed out that it is not appropriate to request cash for a child's birthday and would find it odd.
Some people suggested that although the idea of not giving boxed gifts is not bad, there are more effective ways to handle it. For instance, one person suggested setting up a registry or wishing well to help guests decide on the amount they want to spend. Another person recommended being more specific about the dollar amount, such as suggesting $5-$10 towards buying a gift for the recipient.
A lot of people supported the idea of giving cash as presents. Someone mentioned that children often receive a lot of useless gifts, so it's more beneficial to let them select one valuable present that they'll actually enjoy.
One person suggested collecting small amounts of money from people by asking them to put five dollars in a card, which they thought was a great idea. Another person shared that instead of receiving gifts for their daughter, they requested cash which they used for her extracurricular activities since they were moving and expecting a baby and did not want to accumulate more things.
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Asking Cash As a Gift
It's important to consider cultural and social norms when it comes to asking for cash as a gift. In some cultures, giving money is the traditional way of celebrating special occasions like birthdays or weddings. However, in other cultures, it may be seen as tacky or inappropriate.
If you do decide to ask for cash instead of gifts, make sure that your request is clear and polite. It's also a good idea to give people options - they could choose between contributing towards an experience (like a family day out), buying something specific from a wishlist, or simply giving cash.
Ultimately though, the decision about whether or not to ask for cash should come down to personal preference. Some families might prefer experiences over physical gifts, while others enjoy watching their children unwrap presents on their birthdays.
Whatever you decide - just remember that what matters most is spending time with loved ones and creating happy memories together!
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