Just Venmo Me...

[sk!mom]

In a first for me, I got a High School grad announcement this weekend that included a QR code to the graduate's Venmo for "convenient" gift giving.

What say you? Is it the ultimate in money grubbing poor manners, or am I old and it's the new way?

Don't get me wrong, I love Venmo and use it often.

 

[_19disnA]

Poor manners if you ask me. Never used that app but assume it is some way to 'wire' money to someone else?

 

[gmi3804]

What say you? Is it the ultimate in money grubbing poor manners, or am I old and it's the new way?

Yes to both, perhaps. But I'd wait until after the graduation.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Definitely comes off as entitled and inconsiderate IMO. I would ignore the Venmo request but maybe that's just me being petty. I'd be fine giving a cash gift but I wouldn't appreciate this approach.

Edit: just saw that you have never met the kid and only know the parents through work. I would absolutely ignore the request.

 

[disney-inspired]

If the person had a specific goal - like road trip, cross country travel, etc it would probably take the sting out of it a bit.
But honestly, I'd prefer to get cash myself instead of gift cards to places I don't like.

If you don't want to gift at all, that's your prerogative. Or you can ignore and gift whatever you want.
But from my experience, cash is common graduation gift.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

I would love to just Venmo them cash and be done with it. I mean if you weren't planning on getting them a gift then obviously don't send the money. But for people who were going to send something, then this makes it super convenient.

 

[sam_gordon]

In a first for me, I got a High School grad announcement this weekend that included a QR code to the graduate's Venmo for "convenient" gift giving.

What say you? Is it the ultimate in money grubbing poor manners, or am I old and it's the new way?

Don't get me wrong, I love Venmo and use it often.

Don't you know, they're just thinking of you. Now you don't have to go get a graduation card, then look for a GC or write a check. You can reward them from the comfort of your home. </sarcasm>

 

[sk!mom]

If the person had a specific goal - like road trip, cross country travel, etc it would probably take the sting out of it a bit.
But honestly, I'd prefer to get cash myself instead of gift cards to places I don't like.

If you don't want to gift at all, that's your prerogative. Or you can ignore and gift whatever you want.
But from my experience, cash is common graduation gift.

This announcement was from a kid that I have never met and only know the parents through a business connection of DH. They aren't on my gift list at all.

That said, I always gift cash unless the recipient is someone I know well enough to know of a specific gift that they want/need.

 

[dez1978]

I don't mind that so much. If it is on an invite from someone I know who I plan on giving a gift to anyway, I don't think it's a big deal, and it saves me a trip to the bank for cash. Its not as cringy as the ones asking random strangers to send $ via cashapp or venmo or whatever that you see now.

 

[gmi3804]

All kidding aside, I think Venmo is not a bad idea. It's convenient, it's the way the recipient prefers to receive money gifts (is this so different from a "bridal registry?"), and it eliminates the chance of a check getting stolen in from the mail, a very real concern these days.

 

[Tink-osophy]

This announcement was from a kid that I have never met and only know the parents through a business connection of DH. They aren't on my gift list at all.

That said, I always gift cash unless the recipient is someone I know well enough to know of a specific gift that they want/need.

From a kid you've never met?! And you don't know the parents particularly well, either? Why would they send you an announcement in the first place? I guess, maybe, it's unusual to me being a Brit...

 

[sk!mom]

From a kid you've never met?! And you don't know the parents particularly well, either? Why would they send you an announcement in the first place? I guess, maybe, it's unusual to me being a Brit...

I get one or two from people that I don't know well every year. It seems pretty common for them to be sent far and wide. That doesn't bother me. If I don't want to send a gift, I don't.

It was just a jolt for me to see the QR code on it.

That being said, if it was someone that I wanted to gift, I'd probably use it for ease of gift giving. I'd think it was pretty rude but I like easy so...

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Only a business connection to your husband? It's giving off cash grab vibes to me. If you weren't invited to the graduation, the graduation party, or are family or close friends, I wouldn't give anything. But you have to keep the business connection good, so I guess you have to give something, eh?

 

[jo-jo]

In a first for me, I got a High School grad announcement this weekend that included a QR code to the graduate's Venmo for "convenient" gift giving.

What say you? Is it the ultimate in money grubbing poor manners, or am I old and it's the new way?

Don't get me wrong, I love Venmo and use it often.

Is it "hey I just graduated, now give me money or Hey, we are having a party you are invited to and I want money"?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Bad look, as a parent I would be horrified to be embarrassed like that, all that money on a degree and no sense, sheesh.

 

[Praying Colonel]

In a first for me, I got a High School grad announcement this weekend that included a QR code to the graduate's Venmo for "convenient" gift giving.

What say you? Is it the ultimate in money grubbing poor manners, or am I old and it's the new way?

Don't get me wrong, I love Venmo and use it often.

Why not both?*

Signed,

Non-Venmo-Using Old Guy







*--I'd still send a gift.

 

[soccerdad72]

I would think this will be a trend that will continue to be more common.

The separate issue is who people send graduation announcements to. We limited ours to family, close friends and a couple close business associates of my wife for whom she has received announcements in the past.

 

[Southernmiss]

It is eye rolling to get an invite like this, but if you really think about it, so many of us don't use or carry cash this cuts out trips to get cash or deposit it.

I think it's the beginning of a new way of gifting.

 

[sk!mom]

Is it "hey I just graduated, now give me money or Hey, we are having a party you are invited to and I want money"?

The first one. No invitation to a party or reception included.

 

[georgina]

My niece got married in England last year. We were attending, but I was trying to figure out how to send her money as a gift, and ended up using Zelle. I think providing a Venmo code for those who want to send cash is a great idea! You are free to ignore it.