IMO, the whole advantage of a gift, as opposed to cash, is that it is something you think the recipient will appreciate and enjoy. Cash is always great, but a well chosen gift shows you know and appreciate the recipient as a person. That being said, I think this is impossible to generalize about based on any one persons preference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would want the iPad, but there have been years when cash would have been more welcome--I could have bought better gifts for my family, or otherwise enjoyed my holidays off more with a little financial wiggle room.

Why not save throughout the year instead of hoping to float by with bonuses that may not come? Stop spending all your money the second you get it.

I don't rely on bonuses and where are you getting that I spend my money as soon as I get it? I have a budget. I do not have a ton of spare money, so when my paycheck comes it it mostly assigned to something. I am not going to pull money out of retirement savings to pay for dinner out or an extra awesome gift for my mom, but if a bonus came by, that money would exist outside of my regular budget and I could freely spend it on luxuries that aren't in the budget at all.

I would rather have a new Ipad - something I would love to have but not buy for myself. But it is moot since my employers have never given me anything more than a token Christmas gift and have no clue if I have an ipad, laptop or even a smart phone (I only carry a cheap flip-phone with me when I am working that only DB and MB have the number to).

Unless your nanny asks for something specific in lieu of cash (and most won't), cash or gift cards would be best. However, the gift card needs to be appropriate (ie. not Victoria's Secret) and to somewhere that she actually shops for herself (not a children's store).

Depends.

Is the iPad brand new? And is it worth the cash that they are offering you? Does it come with insurance?

I cannot believe you are already thinking ahead to Christmas '15. Yikes.

How much cash? What model iPad?

Ipad

Unless you hear your nanny specifically say she wants some expensive item, cash is always better!

Cash would be better. I can put it towards something I might not normally treat myself to. I don't want or need an iPad.

iPad if I didn't have one or mine was really old

Anonymous wrote:I would want the iPad, but there have been years when cash would have been more welcome--I could have bought better gifts for my family, or otherwise enjoyed my holidays off more with a little financial wiggle room.

Why not save throughout the year instead of hoping to float by with bonuses that may not come? Stop spending all your money the second you get it.

I think most people who want an iPad have one by now. An iPad would probably land on eBay if I were given one and I'd add the money to my rainy day fund or travel fund or new couch/curtain/rug/whatever fund.

I would want the iPad, but there have been years when cash would have been more welcome--I could have bought better gifts for my family, or otherwise enjoyed my holidays off more with a little financial wiggle room.

Cash

hypothetical question.

For Christmas bonus, do you want an ipad or cash?