How much are you spending on xmas gifts for preschool teachers and their assistants?

For 6 years, I contributed to the school fund. $5 per person who had interacted with my child as well as the janitor - a dozen teachers and staff in all. The last year, I believe it was $10 per person.

Since everyone contributed, each school employee ended up receiving a nice enough gift card or spa day or whatever. They were presented with their gifts during the Holiday program (same preschool, PP?). I didn't find it tacky, since the gifts were not disclosed and every staff member and teacher received one.

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12/15/2016 02:14

Subject: Re:How much are you spending on xmas gifts for preschool teachers and their assistants?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:somewhere around $1000 total, maybe a bit more. We give cash gifts.

To explain how we can up with that, we used to have a nanny and I was told by my friends who had nannies they gave about 1 week of pay as a rule for the annual bonus, so we did that when we had a nanny.

We are applying the same rule here but it is complicated in that we have 2 kids in preschool/daycare (and no nanny), so about $1000 per week in costs. They each have 2 main teachers and 2 aides, and one of my DCs recently switched "classes" so I need to also gift the old teachers as well as the new ones, so the funds are being split by about 10 people. So it is not really that much per person, and I wish I could give more - I really appreciate the care the teachers/aides give my kids.

FWIW, while we have a relatively high HHI (we need to in order to pay for preschool/daycare for 2 DCs in a close-in suburb!), we don't make enough that this doesn't impact our monthly expenditures or that I can just write a check for the entire amount without planning for it. I save money out of my paycheck each month starting in August in order to be able to give these gifts, and I budget for it each month and prioritize it over other expenditures.

Hmmm....that seems excessive, but if you like doing it and can afford it then....

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12/15/2016 10:31

Subject: How much are you spending on xmas gifts for preschool teachers and their assistants?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:$50 REI gift cards for the teachers and $25 REI gift card for each of the teacher's assistant. Also $50 towards the class gift.

Weird

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12/15/2016 22:43

Subject: How much are you spending on xmas gifts for preschool teachers and their assistants?

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Anonymous

If there is a class gift of gift cards, do people still give their own gift cards too? Sounds like some people do this.

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12/16/2016 05:39

Subject: Re:How much are you spending on xmas gifts for preschool teachers and their assistants?

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Anonymous

Is it okay to just contribute to the class fund? My child's preschool has one main teacher and eight assistants who are in the classroom throughout the week. I'm not sure how to manage giving gifts to that many people, since it would end up being such a small amount for each one if I give individual gifts. Will I look cheap for not giving a separate gift?

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12/16/2016 06:00

Subject: Re:How much are you spending on xmas gifts for preschool teachers and their assistants?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Is it okay to just contribute to the class fund? My child's preschool has one main teacher and eight assistants who are in the classroom throughout the week. I'm not sure how to manage giving gifts to that many people, since it would end up being such a small amount for each one if I give individual gifts. Will I look cheap for not giving a separate gift?

Teachers won't judge you for not bringing in a separate gift, I promise. Some years they don't do group gifts and some families give no gifts at all and that is 100% okay.