Just Venmo Me...

[mjkacmom]

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>

I Venmo’d my daughter’s boyfriend graduation money last year. For his birthday last week I told my daughter to use my credit card (she’s an authorized user) to take him out to a nice dinner (they’re foodies and he loves wine), plus I texted him happy birthday. I treat him like one of my own!

 

[jo-jo]

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...

You all never met me. My 45 th anniversay is coming up to a few weeks. Who wants to send me money? I'm sure I can figure that code thing by then.

 

[utahgirl]

I think it’s not so much including the Venmo QR code, but that it is an acquaintance’s son. That makes it feel more like a cash grab.

 

[prairie_girl]

Well, hey, at least they’re being upfront about not caring about you, just your money.

It blows my mind that some are saying sure, send them something…even though you’ve never met them and aren’t actually invited to the party. Like @jo-jo said, I’m more than happy to send along my address if some here have an urge to send money to people they don’t know.

 

[_19disnA]

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.

It is tacky for someone you have never met to even send you a graduation announcement if you only know the parents through a business connection. I wouldn't attend the party (if they are having one) or send a gift (whether venmo/cash/gift card). The parents played some role in this since they obviously had to provide your contact information.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Someone you don't really know sending you a graduation invitation is the real issue then - not whether or not they included their Venmo. I could see why you thought it was a money grab. But I stand by it being super convenient in normal instances!

 

[kdonnel]

I’ve never understood how or why cash is treated so oddly by some as far as gifts are concerned.

I think it would be better if the only gift ever given was cash, no gift cards, but actual cash either physical or electronic.

It might help people realize how ridiculous gift giving is in some situations as people trade cash.

 

[Micca]

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

We received a wedding invitation with a QR code on it. It opened up a site where you could send a cash wedding gift via PayPal. "We've been living together for some time so we don't need things, but if you'd like to contribute to making our dream honeymoon come true..."

It's weird, but I didn't get worked up over it.

 

[GreatLakes]

I think this is just a changing of the times and . For celebrations that normally involves gifts of cash, like graduations and birthdays, it is really no different than writing a check but is way more convenient. In 100% of situations I'd much rather pay someone digitally instead of with a check or cash.

I would not include it with an announcement, just with an invitation, an even then just to the type of events that cash gifts are customary.

 

[sk!mom]

I Venmo’d my daughter’s boyfriend graduation money last year. For his birthday last week I told my daughter to use my credit card (she’s an authorized user) to take him out to a nice dinner (they’re foodies and he loves wine), plus I texted him happy birthday. I treat him like one of my own!

I Venmo my own adult children on their birthdays if I'm not going to see them. I always use it for nieces, nephews, and used it for my mom on Mother's Day. I have no problem with Venmo. This is just the first time that I ever saw it on an announcement.

 

[_19disnA]

If giving the gift in person, I prefer to use cash which it would seem makes it easier for the recipient as well. Only if I won't be seeing them in person or they live across country, do I send an electronic gift card.

 

[AgentMama]

Feels like a cash grab with no invitation and just an announcement. This lends, for me, the same as every time I see an iPad for checkout now where one wasn't previously and I'm going to be asked to tip. I think its super tacky to send a cash request where an onsite invitation wasn't issued. I wouldn't give. And transparently, I'm at the point in my carrier that this might make me severe relationships. This is super tacky and taking advantage.

 

[focusondisney]

If giving the gift in person, I prefer to use cash which it would seem makes it easier for the recipient as well.

I always give cash as gifts too & I probably always will. But the 20-40 something relatives & coworkers I know almost never have cash on them. They absolutely find e transfer of funds much easier & preferable. Even the relatives who work in banking use almost no cash. They find having to go to a bank to deposit money or cash checks inconvenient, so it’s definitely not easier for them.

 

[darnheather]

I'm old. I still think adding a gift list with an invitation is a serious faux pas. What happened to calling and asking, What would you like? Then they can say, I'm registered at... or Oh you can Venmo if you like...

 

[HopperFan]

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.

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.

File 13

 

[ronandannette]

Nope - it rubs me the wrong way. In this case though, since it's just an announcement, which presumably went to many people, just toss it away and don't worry about it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If this means we don’t have to shop for a card, write out a greeting, then a check, look up an address, and send it off, I’m all for it.

 

[GAN]

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>

Right… have you seen the price of graduation cards these days!

 

[thinkerbell]

I was texted a picture of an invitation to a celebration of graduation by a former student‘s mom. It also said that I could Venmo and told me how. I don’t have a Venmo account. I sent her an old fashioned check in the old fashioned mail system. She texted me a thank you. It was all pretty foreign to me. I’m used to a mailed invite and a mailed thank you note. I guess I’m getting old and this is just the new way.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Huh, I didn’t even know that you could make your own QR code.