Yesterday, Alicia and I sat down and planned our birthday party next year. We decided to put NO GIFTS, CASH ONLY on our invitations . We are Asian [ I am not lying, even one of us looks mixed, and the other looks Hawaiian]. Asians give cash for all kind of things from weddings, birthdays, store openings to funerals. Many of you might think it is a lazy and crazy idea, but just hold on and let me explain why you should do the same this holiday season.
1 PRACTICAL
Every year, Alicia and I get things that we don’t need. Nine out of ten times, we dislike the gift. And the one person who got it right is our mother. Everyone has a different taste and need . Receiving a gift means we will have to go return the gift and get store credit off a store that we don’t even shop at. But if we get cash maybe $50 from a person, $100 from someone else; they add up to a large amount. Usually we save up that money to spend on something valuable that we actually need. A lot of time we use that money to pay for the party [ we are Asian there is no hope the guests will pay for their meals and drinks. It can be very expensive if you have a large party]
Giving cash is just practical. Giving someone a $10 worth of presents that she does need is a waste of money. We are in a recession; we do not have the luxury to spend our money on worthless things. If you would not buy something you don’t need for yourself, why would you buy for someone else? That money can help your friends and family buy groceries for a week. It might be little, but a little helps.
2. TIME SAVING
How much time do you spend on Christmas shopping? At least a few hours. Let’s do the math. If you spend 30 minutes to shop for each of your friends and family members and you need to buy 20 gifts, you will spend 10 hours of your time. Let’s asumme you make $20 an hour. If you work instead of shopping, you will make $200. That means you can give each of your friends $10 or spend that money on yourself. Time is money, and you have more important things to do than shopping. Don’t forget gift wrapping and the time to drop off the presents. Now you can just send money with one click.
Not only you will save time, the receiver will save a lot of time too. She will not have to spend time returning your gift. She does not need to find time to find a room for your present. Now she can focus on taking care her children better
It is a win win for both sides.
3 LESS HEADACHE
Holiday shopping is never easy. You never really know what the receiver wants to get. Even if you know, most likely it is wrong. Why would you spending time torturing yourself when you can give her something she will like for sure. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like or need money.
4.AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO MANAGE MONEY
My siblings do not get an allowance. They only make money from helping our parents or gift money. The kids are extremely frugal because they know it is not easy to make money. For example, if Alicia wants a birthday party, she will have to pay for it. In order to invite our family and close friends, it would cost at least $1000. Every year she has to sit down and think what is the best way for her to manage her money and still have a good party. She has to come up with a plan and pitch it. The kids become much more responsible when we give them the power to spend money. They would think every time before they spend a penny. It also makes them better people. A few months ago, Jason got $100 birthday money from an uncle, he used $10 to buy a toy that he had wanted for ages and gave the rest to Ivy, our 5 year-old sister to throw her birthday party. He knows that money would help mommy buy more food for Ivy and will make his sister happy. Jason learned that it is not all about receiving.
Give your children money instead of gift is a good opportunity to teach them the value of money and how to manage it.
5. IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU GIVE BUT THE THOUGHT YOU PUT IN IT
A lot of people feel bad about giving cash because they think it shows laziness and does not express any feeling or thought. It is wrong. If you really care about someone, you don’t need an object to express that. And if you think buying gifts shows that you care more about your family and friend, I will argue why don’t you make them instead of buying. Tell your friends and family why you are giving them cash and how much you love them. And if you still feel bad, why don’t you actually sit down and write a good holiday card without a template. Tell your family and friends why you care about them instead of the typical “Happy Holiday. Love”. You can make a little handmade gift to go with the cash. Doing an easy craft project is faster than shopping for a perfect gift.
Sometimes being practical is not bad, it is just doing the right thing.
It is your turn. What do you think about giving cash?
Photo: hermitsmoores
TuAnh Nguyen
Great post
cammipham
@NTDF thanks for sharing darling cant wait to see u next week
bargold
@cammipham People think it’s impersonal, but I’m a firm believer in #cash as #gifts. Saves them the troubl… (cont) http://t.co/e3TEF7xp
cammipham
@bargold agree just add a sweet note solve all the problem
DonHickey
@cammipham Practical maybe..lazy definitely. Image how sparse the X-mas will look. They say it’s the thought that counts, cash = no thought
cammipham
@DonHickey not lazy at all…most people would like cash better than something they wont even use
cammipham
@DonHickey does that mean helping your family and friend is not a good thought
DonHickey
@cammipham It seems so impersonal. If you really know the person you should have an idea of something they would find usefull or appreciate.
cammipham
@DonHickey even my mom gets it wrong half of the time. It is hard to tell I love book and shoes but I hate ppl buy them for me
MitchSchneider
@cammipham really? Cash? It’s so impersonal
cammipham
@MitchSchneider have been received cashall my life…dont feel that way…if someone really cares about me, no gift can express it
MitchSchneider
@cammipham cash to me just means I don’t know you well enough to buy u something so here is $ so u can do it yourself :)
cammipham
@MitchSchneider here is more like a symbol for luck :) always gets money on new year day
cammipham
@MitchSchneider have very unique taste have never really like gift cuz they just take up space…hate most of them
MitchSchneider
@cammipham my mom (Cuban) always put out grapes on New Years – start the new year off sweet
MitchSchneider
@cammipham I’ll not that when your birthday comes up :) Send cash, no gifts (no teddy bears, no flowers)
cammipham
@MitchSchneider lol sweet is always good
cammipham
@MitchSchneider its normal for asian…i have a lot of bears and flowers…my house always have flowers
Charmaine Y
its wonderful <3
CamMi Pham
Charmaine Y thanks enjoy talking to u on twitter :)
catsfaith
Very well said! are glad you took the time to explain this thoughtful reason
davidjara23
I don’t think money is a good gift, it’s just so simple, so plain, so unpersonal.
Money is the kind of gift that somebody gives you if he/she forget your birthday and didn’t bring anything more.
Giving something simple such as a chocolate, a bucket, or even just a letter written by you; means that the person to whom you are giving it is important for you, that you really took your time to find something special for she/he. I think that giving money is like say: “Sorry, you are not so important for me so I won’t lose my time chosing something nice for you; I’m just giving you this money because I think I have to, to be polite”.
catsfaith
@davidjara23 One thing to note, some families are 12 to 18 in numbers, provide an extra day to allow them to shop for their gift that they know the entire family provided for, is special in its own way.
We do spend extra time in our family to provide a note from ourselves to them, of more value then you might think, words from the heart appear on paper
The random chance a gift is liked by others, may be foreign to some like us, What is your hope, within bounds that we can provide, 11 to 17 others in the same year would ask themselves the same question. Please note this is from personal growing up, is not for everyone and I wish not to be against what your thoughts toward this impersonal gift, ask instead to re-read the page with this information
Thanks much so for responding, I wish not to devalue your opinion, just to show our families side _Wish the best, Hânh
davidjara23
@catsfaith mmmm how should I replied to you….
I completly agree that writing a letter to give it is a nice present, and believe that is one of the bests gifts that can be given, a letter written with words that really come from your heart is the greatest simbol of esteem.
I can understand your point of view but I just don’t shre it.
if I couldn’t find something for someone, for me it would be better to write a good letter for a gift and then invite he or she to somewhere, maybe to the cinema or to have a drink or something, than just give money.
I think that in the only case I’ll give money to someone is if I know that he/she really needs the money.
Maybe i should read something about the Asian culture, but I’m so tired and i won’t do it until tomorrow; tomorrow I will, to see if I can understand better your position.
And congratulation it’s a so interesting topic. ;)
davidjara23
@catsfaith
mmmm how should I reply to you….
I completly agree that writing a letter to give it is a nice present, and believe that is one of the bests gifts that can be given, a letter written with words that really come from your heart is the greatest simbol of esteem.
I can understand your point of view but I just don’t shre it.
if I couldn’t find something for someone, for me it would be better to write a good letter for a gift and then invite he or she to somewhere, maybe to the cinema or to have a drink or something, than just give money.
I think that in the only case I’ll give money to someone is if I know that he/she really needs the money.
Maybe i should read something about the Asian culture, but I’m so tired and i won’t do it until tomorrow; tomorrow I will, to see if I can understand better your position.
And congratulation it’s a so interesting topic. ;)
catsfaith
@davidjara23 I ask for time to reflect and respond to your comments, and are glad you took the time to note some of same~ until another day! best wishes forward -Hânh
cammipham
@davidjara23@catsfaith a family for Asian is not just a few people like a western one. It add up to 100 presents easily. All the cash money has meaning behind it
if you give it to
Elder: show respects, wishing for good health
Adult: means good luck,
Kids: Heath, doing well at school
cammipham
I find most of them time gift = I am going to grab a random thing from *** store for you. I have rarely received a gift that I like in my life. It is very normal for us to receive cash. It is for good luck. like I said, if someone really mean it, s/he would made something not buy it.
Usually during holiday, Asian visit each other house and give red envelopes. We actually spend quality time together. It might be better instead of spending the time shopping, using that time actually connect with the people.Gift is only tool to help maintain relationships. There are more effect ways to do it.
cammipham
@TheBuckNation thanks Michael I am glad you enjoyed it
cammipham
@TheBuckNation thanks Michael I am glad you enjoyed it
judyelee
some people might say that it’s not personal. but, it’s so practical.
it might be more comfortable for someone to give cash to a closer friend or family member. otherwise, it could be seen as lacking a personal touch. for my big fat asian wedding, cash was king. it was those family and friends who got it (meaning our move to toronto from vancouver) that understood that we couldn’t deal with extra items to move and store. ah, that reminds me to revisit my thank you card on indesign!
another good blog post, cammi. i love it!
@judyelee
cammipham
@judyelee agree it is much easier to give to close family. Especially for Asian, we are used to this.
tram4hr
It is an Asian thing, this is why in my monthly giveaway, I mostly give out giftcards. It saves time, practical and everyone can use. However, it really depends on how you see things. Btw, I love receiving “li xi” =D
cammipham
@tram4hr Me to, when i was small always wait until new year to get li xi:) always a good time
cammipham
@shanegibson thanks for the RT dear how is Van treating you
nforcesports
@cammipham – just read your article. for little kids dont you think they look fwd to getting that toy or gadget they’ve seen on tv though?
blcsfo
@cammipham You may start with me.
PedroInSaigon
@cammipham Good post Cammi, I felt negative before I read it but you convinced me :-)
djdavid11
@cammipham Boa Noite –
Baixe meu Ultimo mix!? Faça download!!
http://t.co/38XWGOKY
hartcap
@cammipham Give cash – good idea pending on the receiver and his/her lifestyle.
cammipham
@hartcap i am asian most ppl prefer cash
hartcap
@cammipham understand, but if you are a subsistence abuser, cash is not a very helpful present
cammipham
@DianeGottsman thanks for sharing my post xo
denni317artist
@cammipham I agree except the kids never seem happy with change.
blacksebath
@cammipham Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen
cammipham
@ErikaDLB just easier, ppl never buy thing i like
ErikaDLB
@cammipham same here I want Diamonds but I keep getting toasters and socks…
cammipham
@ErikaDLB lol love it
danderoz
@cammipham I dont like the concept, but I would like to use this system to my birthday ;)
cammipham
@danderoz just much easier
KanetixLtd
@cammipham But what does that say for “it’s the thought that counts”? We exclusively accept baked goods and macaroni pictures.
cammipham
@KanetixLtd depend but i would work for food lol
ChrisDayo
@cammipham Amazing blog post! I’m going to do that from now on! I’ve missed reading ur blog. Always have great posts.
cammipham
@ChrisDayo seriously if you give gift to asian, we might get upset…lol cuz i grew up accepting cash
cammipham
@ChrisDayo even my mom cant buy the right gift we have diff taste you can always catch up
ChrisDayo
@cammipham Oh wow! Haha I will be sure to not do that. You educate the mind Cammi! & I plan to! You always post the good stuff!
cammipham
@awakeningaimee @yb2012 thanks for sharing love
awakeningaimee
@cammipham anytime. Love u
cammipham
@awakeningaimee love u too
filos
@cammipham for weddings, we always do that
cammipham
@filos u are italian , a guy i used to date told me the same italian give cash
cammipham
@filos this is why i need to marry italian, i dont like wedding gift LOL
filos
@cammipham ah ah yes. There are some zones in my region where they give cash only, not gift lists are allowed either, just cash
cammipham
@filos love that especially wedding is so expensive plus it can help out the new couple
filos
@cammipham when you get married, unless you are rich, you need cash :-)
bayboy9400
RT @cammipham 5 Reasons Why You Should Stop Buying Gifts And Start Giving Cash http://t.co/SJDjZQ6g
JonelOnaga
@cammipham Totally agree! I like to give smaller gifts for fun-little things that I know someone will enjoy. For big events-money.
cammipham
@JonelOnaga :) i am glad you agree with me
JonelOnaga
@cammipham I think it is cultural. I gave money for a funeral and got something in return in the thank you card. It’s never-ending! Haha
cammipham
@crazedmom how are you love long time no chat
crazedmom
@cammipham a bit crazy mom and dad lost power and chaos
crazedmom
@cammipham u
crazedmom
@cammipham tired how about you?
cammipham
@crazedmom tired too lots of work
crazedmom
@cammipham i can believe it…but sometimes it is good to be busy
cammipham
@crazedmom it is fun…i have to respond to a Q & A now before i go to a photowalk…and my phone doesnt stop vibrating
crazedmom
@cammipham good luck