I read this on another web site a while back:

"What to Say: When my daughter was in Girl Scouts, there were a lot of mothers that "had big money," but their quote was "we're on a budget." This taught me a lot. I no longer say that I can't afford something. Instead, I say that I am on a budget. --M."

I can't afford all those donations either! It's hard enough digging up money to buy presents for all my cousins that are getting married and having babies lately. But, they (or their moms) came to mine too so..... That's really in a different category, but it's making me go past my "so-called" budget too!

I like the "passing the envelope" idea!

Tina

I am surprised that you are expected to contribute for people you don't even, or barely, know.

I would just shake my head, and say no.

I agree with the poster that said in the beggining of the year- let the people know what was going on- well, in away! Or I would let a few people (your closer friends- that would not gossip!) know that you will send something to eat for deaths in the family, cash donations for weddings, birth and retirement- but not transfers and other not so important issues. With so many donations- I am surprised that they did not start up a collection for you while your son was having surgery!

That is sad that the person in charge of the collection sends emails out to everyone stating who had not sent in their donations! I think that is preety rude- they are probably sending it in an email so that it would be more effective of them turning in their donations sooner! Good luck on letting them know and sorry that they kind of ruined your vacation with collecting money!

Is there anyway you can get on the sunshine committee and change how it is done. I have worked at several different schools because I usually travel between buildings and at one school everyone gave $20 for the sunshine committee and that covered EVERYTHING. They did not give elaborate gifts, but that covered babies, deaths etc. When my dd was born, she got a book and an outfit, which to me is sufficent. However at other schools I worked at you paid sunshine, then there were constant collections (for people I barely knew too) for babies and weddings, etc, but people were getting huge gifts (like entire dish sets for weddings, etc) and to me this is ridiculous. I much pay once and be done.(at the pay once school, if I was close to someone, I would get another gift for a baby or whatever and obvously for a wedding because I was invited.

The Sunshine money covered all events for staff durning the year. If it was a bad year then they would collect again. I just stopped carrying money around with me. I told everyone it was for safty reasons. If I choose I could always bring a small gift if I felt the need.

We pass the money envelope a lot where I work but it is donations only and sometimes they give an idea of how much would be nice to give. I am on a budget and sometimes the envelope goes around more than once a week. I took a $50 packet of ones to keep in a file drawer just for this purpose. I always have some to give but not $5s and $10s. I really like all the people I work with and want to participate but I am more a $2-3 donater,not $10. I can not do that.

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abneyms

:happy dance: instead of always giving a gift, why not have a pot luck to celebrate? for weddings and baby showers pass an envelope around for people to volunteer a donation...unless this person has no other friends outside of work, it probably isnt there one and only shower. i have said no thanks many times to attend baby or wedding showers, mostly because i do not know the person very well. i do not feel one bit bad either.

If I had a job where this was done I would not be comfortable with it on either the giving or the receiving side. If I were in any of the situations they take donations for I'd be embarassed and upset that people were being made to give their hard earned money up.

Especially since I don't believe in flower arrangments (I hate the business in general, I'd rather have the flowers stay uncut in their natural habitat than be cut to sit on my table a week and die!) and I'm trying to eliminate unneeded clutter from my life (plaques and the like would fall into that category).

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:love:

Thanks for your ideas guys. At least I feel justified that I am not being cheap or having a bad attitude, after reading your comments. The thing with our Sunshine is apparently "how it's always been done" and I am only going into my 3rd year at this particular school. I got an email today about collecting for this transfer, but I am not going to reply to it. I have decided I will send this girl who is leaving a nice card (good luck sorry you're leaving type thing) and be done with it. Luckily I have her address.

We are having contract negotiations right now and they are not going well. We are getting 5% raise (proposed) but insurance is going up 11% (definitely-maybe more ). So I am thinking other people will be wanting to cut back on their donations next year too. We'll see. Like Dh says, you can't get blood from a stone.

I love the ideas about keeping a stack of small bills for this purpose. Good idea!

We have this all the time at my work too. It gets really old, really fast, when I don't have the money to spend like that.

At first it wasn't so bad, it was only $5-$7 per gift/collection. Then it got to where 7-10 people were giving $10-15 each for a gift. I just can't justify it with my salary and end up saying I can't give that much.

one time they were taking up a collection for a guy whose girlfriend was pregnant. No set amount was given, just whatever you wanted. Well, I was going to give $5 but my kids took $2 out of my wallet, and I only had $3 left. So I gave the $3 and the girl collecting acted like I was sooo cheap for only giving $3, even after I explained what happened to the rest of it. It made me feel like a cheapo at first but I got over it and didn't let it bother me. the next time she was collecting she totally made me feel like I should be paying more but she would let it slide for me.. She hasn't asked me since to contribute to anything.

Another thing that is a big money waster is fundraisers. One thing I have learned to say is NO to them... There are a couple girls that I buy from, but that is it.. Oh, and the ones where the aunts/uncles brings the fundraiser in at work, really cracks me up.. and it's not even their kid

I was reading on a website the other day to set aside $25-$30 in your desk drawer at work, so you have some cash on hand when it is time to contribute.. Haven't done it yet, since I don't have an extra $25 but will probably try it..