This post is in collaboration with Group Together.
There is one thing that I really don’t miss from my working-in-an-office days.
The constant collections (although it must be said, I do miss the morning teas!).
It felt like there was always somebody doing the rounds with a card and big envelope, collecting for a gift to recognise a colleague’s:
- farewell
- retirement
- new baby
- wedding
- anniversary
- birthday
- ill health
- bereavement
- divorce
- lost dog
- sick cat … well, you get the idea.
Actually I tell a lie.
“God I can’t wait to get out of here!”
As the admin officer for the section, it was ME doing the rounds when it came to office gift collections.
The Problem with Office Gift Collections
And what a pain in the butt it was! On top of all my regular duties, I felt like I was constantly hassling people to hand over money. When people saw me, I’m sure they thought: “Oh no! Here she comes again!”
Then there was the awkward fact that nobody ever seemed to actually have any money on them.
Plus, the struggle to try and keep everything hidden from the person we were actually collecting for!
“What a surprise! It’s not as if I didn’t see the big
envelope lurking around the office all week …”
Then there were the times when the group collection seemed so pitiful, I couldn’t help but throw a bit (okay a lot) more in, so that we could actually buy a worthwhile gift. Maybe I just have a soft heart, but I always seemed to end up out of pocket –Β not to mention all the time I wasted.
In fact, the hubster reckons this was my undoing, and why I eventually was made redundant – the boss figured that if organising gift collections was all I did, then surely my position was expendable?!
And of course you can guess what happened when it was MY turn to be on the receiving end π .
Luckily I don’t have to worry about this sort of stuff now I work from home.
Office Gift Collections Made Easy
But if I did – then the Group Together website would be an absolute godsend.
Group Together is the brainchild of two Sydney mums, and makes it painless to organise office gift collections. It’s also ideal for things like teacher’s presents – imagine being able to give something really special from the whole class, instead of 25 useless trinkets (no more bath cubes, hurrah!).
The beauty of the Group Together website is that it takes less than 5 minutes to set up – and that’s it. All the inviting, reminding, collecting, tracking, and even the transferring of money is done for you.
Here’s one I prepared earlier …
Some of the features of the Group Together website which I particularly liked included:
- the organiser can nominate a set amount, or allow contributors to put in whatever they want;
- the collection can be made private, or public (so others can find it and join in if you’ve forgotten to send them an invite);
- a range of templates make it easy for you to let your colleagues know what it’s all about (see pic above);
- the option to not only sign the group card, but upload your pic (or your child’s pic, if it’s for a teacher);
- send out email invites, or just share a link on social media if you prefer.
In fact, I think it’s such a great idea, and so simple to use, I’m off to set up a group collection right now for my 50th birthday (5 months away, and counting!).
Just think – if each of my family, friends, and followers put in a buck, I might even manage that overseas trip after all! Or a ferry trip to Coochiemudlo Island anyway … π
Office gift collections – do you love them or hate them?!
Julia says
Love how you made the gift for kitty miss fleur. Very cute. Love this post – such a good idea being able to send money online seeing as no one ever seems to have cash on them these days lol xxxx
Janet Camilleri says
LOL I had to try it out for myself and the next event in the family calendar was Miss Fleur’s 3rd birthday π
Emily says
Love this idea for my daughter’s teacher collection! Thank you.
Janet Camilleri says
I’m past the school teacher gift stage but I imagine it would be brilliant for this!
Rachel says
This is a fantastic idea! My dad turns 70 soon and with family all over the world this will be an easy way for everyone to contribute π
Janet Camilleri says
Fabulous way to do it Rachel – any thoughts on what you would all be able to give him?!
Druime says
Wohoo I love this thanks so much for sharing.
Janet Camilleri says
It’s a great solution for a very common problem π
Natalie @ Our Parallel Connection says
What a great idea. I have just started a little survivor competition, maybe it is something I could have used for that to collect the money.
Denyse says
Yes I remember those collections. However in the last school where I taught, we had a “social club” where we made small contributions each week (based on whether you were full-time or part-time) & when it was an occasion such as someone was unwell, a family member died or a new baby arrived then flowers & card were dispatched. The ‘kitty’ also provided for farewell gifts but my goodness they were hard to choose for some. The idea of this you’ve written about but a wee warning for NSW public school employees.. Any gift over a certain amount of value ($50 it used to be) has to be declared. Yes it does!
Janet Camilleri says
ARe you serious! That’s cray cray!
EssentiallyJess says
That’s a cool idea. I wonder if it would work as well for school teachers, as it does in an office when everyone is near their computer anyway.
I hate how there’s always some reason to spend money.
Janet Camilleri says
I’m sure it would work just as well for teachers, after all we are all on our phones these days!
Jo ~ Lifestyle Fifty says
What a great idea! I can also remember the days of working in an office when you’d kind of dread the arrival of the big card knowing that a donation would be required too – and although I generally liked who I was working with and wanted to give them something for whatever occasion it was, I was always back then always saving for my next travel adventure and saving every penny I had π
Renee Wilson says
That’s a brilliant idea!! It will make life so much easier. Things can really get carried away with all of those collections at work. God only knows how many times I forked out cash for someone I didn’t even know! π
Janet Camilleri says
Just think of all the money you’re saving with your time off π