"Debate" on right holiday gift amount

[Anonymous]

My DH really wants to give $50 each to DC's two primary daycare teachers. I think $30 is plenty, plus $15 for the 2-3 "floaters" who substitute when the primary teacher is gone. What are other folks giving? Am I a total cheapskate?? $50 seems like a lot of money and is more than I'm spending on some of my family members!

[Anonymous]

Can you afford it? Seriously, these are the women who take care of your children all day long.

I've been at child care centers where we've been asked to contribute a week's tuition (100% participation).
I have been the room parent and asked for $125 per family (9 families, 5 teachers = $200/teacher).

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter. Any amount or no amount is fine. It's not worth fussing with your DH about. Split the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH really wants to give $50 each to DC's two primary daycare teachers. I think $30 is plenty, plus $15 for the 2-3 "floaters" who substitute when the primary teacher is gone. What are other folks giving? Am I a total cheapskate?? $50 seems like a lot of money and is more than I'm spending on some of my family members!

IDK- I gave $60 last year, and will again this year. It's more than I spend on any family member (we are not a huge gift giving family.) That being said- it makes a huge difference to the teachers. They are not well paid. A teacher last year wrote me a note outlining precisely how this money had made a difference for her-- it really changed my attitude when I realized that the thing she was now able to do is something that I wouldn't think twice about.
So, yes, I spend more on the teachers than I do my own children. But I spend money on my own children all year- I enroll them in classes, I buy them things just because, I take them on fun outings, I take them on nice vacations. This is the one time of the year that I give a monetary gift to the teachers. If you can't afford it, fine- but I wouldn't not give b/c you spend less on family.

[Anonymous]

Compromise and do $40 each.

[Anonymous]

OP, the difference between $50 and $30 isn't worth arguing over. It's the holiday season and money just flows like water. Find something else to argue about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the difference between $50 and $30 isn't worth arguing over. It's the holiday season and money just flows like water. Find something else to argue about.

Money does not flow like water for all of us.

[Anonymous]

I would go $50 each for two teachers.

[Anonymous]

We can't afford $50 per teacher, but if I could, I would totally give them that. One of the teachers spends tons of her money on activities for the kids, she rarely asks the parents to contribute. I wish I could give her a bigger present, she is such a fantastic teacher.

[Anonymous]

We did the max we could afford--$100 cash to each of the 4 providers.

[Anonymous]

I don't think my mother ever gave money to day care providers.

[Anonymous]

PP-your mother? Do you think things are a bit different now?

[Anonymous]

If I could afford it I'd give it. I wish I could do so much more for my son's daycare providers. They are so loving to him and take care of him so well all day long.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP of the other thread that was locked. I'm not interested in the debate about whether it's better to give $30 or $50, but want to hear what others are giving? Is everyone giving cash? Do you give a gift to the director? Floaters?

[Anonymous]

Our center does a group gift that gets split across all staff. I usually add a small card/gift for the dedicated teachers in my kid's room. I've done cash and I've done gift cards--depends on my mood, how organized I am, etc. It's usually $10-20 depending on how many teachers there are and how much I contributed to the group gift.