Post # 1
Member
60 posts
Worker bee
I’m so annoyed right now and really can’t bear to keep it to myself but definitely don’t want to talk smack to anyone in the office, so I decided the WB Not Wedding Related boards was the perfect place to vent!
I have a coworker (Let’s call her S) who is just SO CHEAP! I’m not talking frugal or thrifty (as in money conscious, likes to save, etc.)…just so selfishly cheap sometimes. I asked her and another coworker if they would like to go in on a gift for our manager – a manager who constantly buys us little gifts, takes us out to lunch (on her dime), so on and so forth. When we go out to eat with said manager, S will order appetizers, entrees, dessert, specialty drinks, etc., since she knows she won’t be paying for it. Manager is the same age as S and does not make that much more money, but is a generous person by nature. After we agreed to get the manager a giftcard, S suggested no more than $20 – I wanted to make it an even $100 giftcard but I know everyone has a budget, especially around the holidays, so I agreed to $20 and hence the $60 giftcard was purchased.
Well, the other coworker and I happened to talk and we both agreed that we’d like to gift something a little more substantial. That coworker also said she wanted to give a larger amount but since S decided on $20, she couldn’t. So we agreed to get an additional giftcard at the same store. I decided to ask S if she’d like to participate (just to be polite) and she looked displeased by it, but surprisingly agreed to increase the gc to $100. So that would be about an additional $14 per person. I approached the 2 of them today and asked if they were okay with giving $14 more so I can add it to the giftcard. Well, S rolled her eyes, moved her head back, and said “No. I’m okay with $10 but $14 is too much. I have other gifts I need to buy.” With immense attitude. Um…didn’t SHE agree to this? I ASKED her if she wanted to contribute more, definitely not mandatory. And she just mentioned the other day that she’s been buying so much stuff for herself and not for anyone else that she’s had to hide her shopping bags from friends who come by so they won’t know – since she tells everyone in the world that she has no money, yet buys countless pairs of shoes a month. She also told the whole office how my boss gifted all of us something that is $17 in stores (now on sale) and how that is so ridiculously cheap.
So after this conversation I left for lunch super peeved. As I was waiting for the elevator, I heard S say something about not being made of money, and the other coworker AGREED and added that she didn’t want to spend that much. While I was at lunch, S texted me and told me to take my time since the 2 of them went to lunch together (the plan was to go get the additional gc when I got back from a short lunch). So I’m here at the office and I see a printout on the printer near S’s desk for a Coach store 30% off coupon in her name. Ugh. I can’t vent to anyone since the entire office LOVES her and thinks she’s just SO funny.
When they get back from lunch, I am planning on saying this: “I’m getting the feeling that I imposed this additional gift on the both of you so let’s just cancel that idea and give her the giftcard we originally bought.”
What do you think?
Have any of you had to deal with scrooges this holiday season?
Post # 3
Member
3942 posts
Honey bee
Ya, I would just go with the original gift idea and not ask anyone for more money. A $60 gift is generous enough.
And even if that woman brags about buying herself stuff, you still don’t know her financial situation. She could be exagerating, or in a lot of credit card debt.
Post # 4
Member
4765 posts
Honey bee
You should just buy individual gifts and you can give however much you want and S can not give anything if she wants.
Post # 5
Member
4499 posts
Honey bee
I’d stick with the original $60 gift card, too, and drop the additional one. It sounds like it’s just a big pain to coordinate. A $60 gift certificate is a great gift, and plenty substantial IMO.
Sorry you are dealing with this–she kind of sounds like a piece of work–but still, I do sympathize with her being stressed about money, especially during the holidays.
Post # 6
Member
60 posts
Worker bee
Thanks for your input everyone. I definitely agree, $60 is generous. Just to be clear, I didn’t ask anyone for more money. I personally wanted to spend more on my manager so when the other coworker brought it up, we came up with the plan for a second giftcard. It was only because S agreed to it that we decided to just get a whole new gc with a larger amount. I only told S that the other coworker and I are getting another gift just so S will be in the know and not feel left out when she finds out later. She agreed to give, is not the type to be pressured into anything, and has worn her new shoes everyday this week and another pair last week. But either way, I’m definitely going to cancel the whole thing.
It would’ve been better if she was honest and decline or just be clear about it rather than agree to something then spread an unhappy vibe.
Post # 7
Member
103 posts
Blushing bee
I would stick with the $60 one too. I would also be very careful what I say to the second coworker in the future, she sounds a little manipulative
Good luck!
Post # 8
Member
4160 posts
Honey bee
Sounds frustrating. Stick with the $60 and perhaps buy your boss a small gift on the side.
Post # 9
Member
6890 posts
Busy Beekeeper
Since it sounds like the $60 is already bought, gift it. But you can get your boss something else entirely. Another gc or something else you think she might like. Don’t include the other two.
And next time? I def wouldn’t ask them. Ever.
Post # 10
Member
73 posts
Worker bee
I don’t think it is fair to judge her for not wanting to give extra money. You don’t know her financial situation. $20/person is plenty.
Post # 11
Member
5493 posts
Bee Keeper
Urgh I hate when people cheap out. FI has family members like this. I’ve learned my lesson and now always get my own gift instead of trying to go in on something together.
For the time being, go with teh $60 gift card and get her something additional just from you.
Post # 12
Member
1 posts
Wannabee
Not to be rude, but $34 is a lot of money for a gift for someone you work with. I’m spending between $10-15 on my friends I see on a weekly basis and $30 on my grandparents. If I spent $35 on every person I’m friendly with, I’d easily be blowing $500, $600, $1,000 on Christmas gifts every year.
Post # 13
Member
60 posts
Worker bee
I cancelled it – S looked really uncomfortable and both said they wanted to add more but left it up to me to decide, so I said no. In the end I could tell they were happy with the decision and now the office is thankfully back at peace. Thanks for letting me vent! For some of you, please read my post before saying I’m judging her or that X amount is a lot of money for a gift. Everyone has a different budget and I was respectiful to the amount of money everyone wanted to spend and only included S to be polite. She is an adult and did not have to agree in the first place. I’ll probaby just get her a smaller gift on the side and next year, DEFINITELY will gift on my own – lesson learned! Thanks again and happy holidays, bees! -end rant-
Post # 14
Member
7429 posts
Busy Beekeeper
You could always get an additional one from you only
Post # 15
Member
169 posts
Blushing bee
LOL this is exactly why I do not participate in office holiday gifts
Post # 16
Member
606 posts
Busy bee
S sounds super obnoxious. i am not made of money either but I can’t stand people like that!