Parents are being asked to bring £5 CASH instead of birthday presents in a new trend for ‘fiver’ children’s parties… but are divided over whether it’s ‘tacky’
- A parent took to Mumsnet to kick off a lively thread on new trend ‘fiver parties’
- The mum admitted she would prefer to get money over unwanted presents
- However admitted she felt awkward asking for money and asked for opinions
- Many argued it saved on plastic waste while others branded practice ‘tacky’
A parent has kicked off a lively thread online, discussing the recent trend of ‘fiver parties’ among children.
Taking to Mumsnet, the unnamed mother admitted that she approved of the fad, which sees children receiving a £5 note instead of a present at birthday parties, but admitted she felt uncomfortable about asking for cash.
And many other mothers flooded the thread with their praise of the practice, admitting that it was common among them and arguing that it helped avoid unwanted presents, with the money contributing towards more useful gifts.
However some branded it ‘tacky’ to ask for money, arguing that it wasn’t creative, would leave children with nothing to open and questioning whether the cash would end up with the parent instead.
Taking to Mumsnet, the unnamed British mother admitted that she approved of the ‘fiver parties’ fad, which sees children receiving a £5 note instead of a present at birthday parties, but admitted she felt uncomfortable about asking for cash
Kicking off the lively thread, the mother wrote: ‘I’ve just been reading about fiver parties and wondered what other people think?
‘Part of me thinks, yeah I’d stick a fiver in a card rather than the mission to find a reasonably priced gift that I’m not sure birthday child wants.
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‘But the Brit in me is recoiling in horror at the idea of asking other parents to give my child cash in order to reimburse the big gift I’d bought my child. Thoughts?’.
Her post was quickly inundated with comments from parents praising the practice, and arguing that it helped avoid plastic waste.
Many other mothers flooded the thread with their praise of the practice, admitting that it was common practice among them and arguing that it helped avoid unwanted presents, and the money could help contribute towards more useful gifts
‘I’d much rather a fiver in a card than lots of presents that get looked at once then are just clutter. I’d also much rather stick a fiver in a card than go looking for a present!’, one person wrote.
Another said: ‘I like the idea in principle as it seems very efficient and sensible,’ while one added: ‘I think it sounds like rather a nice idea – though the invite should say ‘if you wish to give anything’ rather than assume.’
One person revealed it was common among her circle, but added that the price was higher, writing: Fiver party sounds great – where I am £15-£20 is the going rate for a Birthday party.’
‘I like the idea in principle as it seems very efficient and sensible. However, something about the assumption that a gift will be given (and then asking for that gift to be cash) feels uncomfortable,’ another admitted.
Her post was quickly inundated with comments from parents praising the practice, and arguing that it helped avoid plastic waste, however one mother argued she couldn’t afford it
‘This is common in one of my DC’s (dear children’s) classes but not the other. It’s usually worded as a ‘please no gift necessary but, if you wish, £5 in a card would be lovely’ rather than a demand for money. Personally I think it’s a great idea,’ one mother explained of how to ask for the money.
Another wrote: ‘Would love this to take off where we are, but I agree it might price people out when it comes to gift giving. Although I’ve noticed some people spend way more than we do on presents which is generous but they really shouldn’t £5 is more than enough.’
Arguing that it was a realistic amount to ask for, one mother said: ‘I’m never sure how much to spend on DS’s friends birthdays and it invariably ends up being more than a fiver. £5 sounds like a good, reasonable amount to give, it saves the who’s giving the most expensive gift competition/awkwardness and it’s within the means of most people I’d imagine. ‘
‘We call it fiver club in our school. You write it on the top of the invitation so the recipient knows without a fuss’, another added.
‘This is common in one of my DC’s classes but not the other’, one person revealed of the practice on the lively thread
‘I love the idea of it. No child needs and parents lack space for 20 odd gifts (sic)’, one person wrote, admitting that she however would be too embarrassed to request cash
But others slammed the practice, with one arguing: ‘It sounds very tacky to me, and I don’t think I would want to participate. I certainly wouldn’t hold one for my child!
‘That said, my child is coming up for 21 and things may have progressed since the primary school parties she used to have!’.
Another said: ‘If I were to have such a party, I would let DD (dear daughter) spend the contributions as she wished, be that for a big combined from the class present or lots of smaller things, but I wouldn’t combine family money gifts with class money gifts to make one present. Just doesn’t sit right with me.’
Branding it rude, one mother wrote: ‘I have no idea about children’s parties but I think it’s a bit off to ask for money and then the parent grabs the cash to pay for the gift they bought for their own child’.
Concluding the thread, one questioned: ‘Whether guests give a gift or money, surely both should be given to the child?’.
However some branded it ‘tacky’ to ask for money, and argued that it wasn’t creative and would leave children with nothing to open.
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