Comments on: You Tell Me: Teacher Gifts…Yay or Nay? http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/?&owa_medium=feed&owa_sid= Save Money @ BeingFrugal.Net Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:52:59 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: diana http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21291 diana Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:51:35 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21291 My husband teaches 4th grade and every year he helps his students make gifts (as do most of the teachers in the school). We try to get supplies in the summer, but it usually costs us at least $3 for each child's supplies. This year they made coasters, other times they have put together ornaments, food gift bags, etc. The cost comes out of a teacher's own pocket. Also many times kids forget milk money or lunch etc. They never go hungry, my husband gives them cup of soup or something else in his cupboard. It is a professon where every teacher I know pays for some supplies out of their own pocket. That is not true for many professions. A card with some heartfelt thanks is so appreciated and what he loves to get. The other items are nice, but not necessary. My husband teaches 4th grade and every year he helps his students make gifts (as do most of the teachers in the school). We try to get supplies in the summer, but it usually costs us at least $3 for each child’s supplies. This year they made coasters, other times they have put together ornaments, food gift bags, etc. The cost comes out of a teacher’s own pocket. Also many times kids forget milk money or lunch etc. They never go hungry, my husband gives them cup of soup or something else in his cupboard. It is a professon where every teacher I know pays for some supplies out of their own pocket. That is not true for many professions.
A card with some heartfelt thanks is so appreciated and what he loves to get. The other items are nice, but not necessary.

]]> By: Erika http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21287 Erika Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:36:18 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21287 Maybe the reason I have such a dislike for gift giving is because when I do take the time to try and pick out something thoughtful I usually NEVER see the item again at that persons house or it is in their garage sale next year or given to another family member, so why bother? I tried gift cards with my inlaws and that was just a mess, word got back to me that my gift card was so impersonable, and thoughtless. My thought was that with a gift card they could get what they wanted, guess I was wrong. Oh, well just baked this year and gave it away, except our school has a strict no homemade policy so I didn't give any to teachers. Oh, well I have worked since I was 16 and a customer never gave me a gift for doing my job. Maybe the reason I have such a dislike for gift giving is because when I do take the time to try and pick out something thoughtful I usually NEVER see the item again at that persons house or it is in their garage sale next year or given to another family member, so why bother? I tried gift cards with my inlaws and that was just a mess, word got back to me that my gift card was so impersonable, and thoughtless. My thought was that with a gift card they could get what they wanted, guess I was wrong. Oh, well just baked this year and gave it away, except our school has a strict no homemade policy so I didn’t give any to teachers. Oh, well I have worked since I was 16 and a customer never gave me a gift for doing my job.

]]> By: Denise http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21282 Denise Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:33:12 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21282 Rita- I couldn't agree more. I think Charles Dickens needs to be revisited this Christmas season. Wow! Rita- I couldn’t agree more. I think Charles Dickens needs to be revisited this Christmas season. Wow!

]]> By: Rita http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21281 Rita Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:10:15 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21281 I just read all the comments and I'm surprised at how many begrudged giving a small Christmas gift to the teacher. I always gave gifts happily to my childrens teachers. If one does not want to give a gift I would rather they didn't. If they are happy with the way I do the many jobs for their child that I have been given to do each day over and above my paid position then it would be nice to have a $5. gift card to Wendy's. I'm speechless.....I guess I give because I enjoy it. I just read all the comments and I’m surprised at how many begrudged giving a small Christmas gift to the teacher. I always gave gifts happily to my childrens teachers. If one does not want to give a gift I would rather they didn’t. If they are happy with the way I do the many jobs for their child that I have been given to do each day over and above my paid position then it would be nice to have a $5. gift card to Wendy’s. I’m speechless…..I guess I give because I enjoy it.

]]> By: Rita http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21280 Rita Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:02:39 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21280 I hope I'm speaking for most teachers. I would love to have a gift card to any restraunt in the area for any amount. Many of the gifts I receive go to a thrift store because I cannot use them. Although, I am thankful and profusely thank the student who gave me the gift I would really like to have a gift card. I hope I’m speaking for most teachers. I would love to have a gift card to any restraunt in the area for any amount. Many of the gifts I receive go to a thrift store because I cannot use them. Although, I am thankful and profusely thank the student who gave me the gift I would really like to have a gift card.

]]> By: Erika http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21273 Erika Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:49:19 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21273 As a full time unemployed college student and married with two boys our budget has been tight with only hubby working. Well husband broke anke Dec 1 and is off work for around 3 months. Money was tight this year so I cut adults completely off the list, most were cool with this except inlaws. My MIL keeps asking what I got my husband grandparents, I keep telling her no adults this year and she doesn't get it. We did family pictures and 1 small personal gift under $10 and that was it. (the pics did cost me around $200 though) I was way too busy to do teachers this year. As a full time unemployed college student and married with two boys our budget has been tight with only hubby working. Well husband broke anke Dec 1 and is off work for around 3 months. Money was tight this year so I cut adults completely off the list, most were cool with this except inlaws. My MIL keeps asking what I got my husband grandparents, I keep telling her no adults this year and she doesn’t get it. We did family pictures and 1 small personal gift under $10 and that was it. (the pics did cost me around $200 though) I was way too busy to do teachers this year.

]]> By: kath http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21271 kath Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:01:42 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21271 When my kids were in elementary school, we would always send in a poinsettia plant or homemade cookies for the teacher. We would also send in cookies for the busdriver. The PTA always had a fundraiser to purchase gifts for the specials teachers (gift cards, supplies, etc.) Once my kids got into middle school and high school, they had too many teachers, so we stopped the practice. When my kids were in elementary school, we would always send in a poinsettia plant or homemade cookies for the teacher. We would also send in cookies for the busdriver. The PTA always had a fundraiser to purchase gifts for the specials teachers (gift cards, supplies, etc.) Once my kids got into middle school and high school, they had too many teachers, so we stopped the practice.

]]> By: LeanLifeCoach http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21270 LeanLifeCoach Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:18:58 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21270 Maybe I am just getting stingy in my old age. My wife continues to give gifts to teachers but I disagree. Gift giving has been commercialized by the retailers. It seems there is no longer a reason not to give gifts anymore. Where does the madness stop? Teaching is a job and teachers get paid and benefits. But most of all they get to enjoy the reward of molding fresh minds. A heartfelt thank you from the child and support and involvement from the parents should be enough. It would be interesting to hear, as a teacher, how many of your students gave you a gift and what specifically you received. Maybe I am just getting stingy in my old age. My wife continues to give gifts to teachers but I disagree. Gift giving has been commercialized by the retailers. It seems there is no longer a reason not to give gifts anymore. Where does the madness stop?

Teaching is a job and teachers get paid and benefits. But most of all they get to enjoy the reward of molding fresh minds. A heartfelt thank you from the child and support and involvement from the parents should be enough.

It would be interesting to hear, as a teacher, how many of your students gave you a gift and what specifically you received.

]]> By: sam http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21252 sam Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:06:59 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21252 I think it should be dependent on the teacher and what they have done, a friend of ours had a really difficult year and the teacher really understood the situation and gave her child a little leeway and my friend really appreciate how her child had been treated made the world of difference for the situation. I think it should be dependent on the teacher and what they have done, a friend of ours had a really difficult year and the teacher really understood the situation and gave her child a little leeway and my friend really appreciate how her child had been treated made the world of difference for the situation.

]]> By: Denise http://beingfrugal.net/2009/12/17/teacher-christmas-gifts/#comment-21250 Denise Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:17:07 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=2672#comment-21250 I would LOVE your recipe for homemade marshmellows! What a special and fun gift. I homeschool, so I KNOW the teacher would LOVE them! ;o) I would LOVE your recipe for homemade marshmellows! What a special and fun gift. I homeschool, so I KNOW the teacher would LOVE them! ;o)

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