Monthly Godchild savings Yay or nay

The Princess Bride

aaaaaaaahhhhhh wrote: »

That like it's only 25quid a month so what's the issue, but so many of her friends and family have told her shes crazy to be doing that for a non blood relative, where's she just thinks it's a nice thing to do rather than waste it on stuff the child prob wont use in two months.

I think it's a lovely and generous idea.
I just don't understand why your girlfriend needs to tell her friends and family, or why they feel they need to give an opinion on it.

I have one godchild, and she always get more than my nephews because she's my only one.
But nobody else* needs to know this.


('cept hundreds of interweb people, obviously.)*

Bitches Be Trypsin

s4uv3 wrote: »

No recession in your house, wha!

When I was 19 I inherited 7k. It changed my life in that it bought me my first car. I was a broke student, so saving that much back then was way out of reach.

I'm just finishing college now and honestly 7k would change my life at the minute It's so out of reach for a lot of people at the moment!

pgj2015

i have two god parents. one is my dads brother, the other is my mothers sister. im old enough now that i dont need money or presents from my god parents. my god mother gave me 20 pounds or 30 euro every birthday. my god father gave me 20 pence one time after he heard it was my birthday. my god mother gave me money until i was 21 id say, i will never forget her for that. i was happy with money once a year.

Bitches Be Trypsin

Bitches Be Trypsin wrote: »

I'm just finishing college now and honestly 7k would change my life at the minute It's so out of reach for a lot of people at the moment!

Student or not, I think anyone who wouldn't feel serious benefit from 7k is probably out of touch with most people's reality.

When my car died last year, the couple of grand I had put aside was a life-saver. Right now, a few grand would go a serious way to a deposit on a house.

I think that anyone who would expect you to save for their kid is probably a snob, much like the kind of person who expects a massive cash gift from everyone at their wedding. Maybe that's not the case here but the typical Irish people with "notions" really get on my nerves.

Your average Joe soap is under a fair bit of pressure to pay their monthly bills and save a bit for their future. So i would say spending time with nieces and nephews is the most important thing. If you have cash to spend then great but there is always some occasion or other: birthdays, Christmas, communions, etc, etc.

Each to their own and if you're loaded then I'm sure you wont feel 25 euro per month but my opinion would be not to put yourself under unnecessary stress.

The whole concept of being a godparent is a bit lost on me anyway to be honest.

Grayson

I'm god parent to my niece and i don't do anything like that.

I do spoil them rotten. I mean really badly. The amount of presents I buy them (her and her brother) is ridiculous.

Grayson

freshpopcorn wrote: »

If the news got out. She could find herself being asked by a lot to be godmother!

Can she be my god mother? I know I'm an atheist but cash might change my mind on the whole god thing.

It’s absolutely ridiculous to see people still act in ways that attach financial matters to those of faith.

She’s a bit of a dope dupe in this regard.

KikiLaRue

It depends. If she makes 24k a year it's a bit ridiculous. If she makes 90k a year it's probably grand, maybe even a bit tight.

aaaaaaaahhhhhh

The Princess Bride wrote: »

I think it's a lovely and generous idea.
friends and family feel they need to give an opinion on it.

This is the biggest thing for her now, it's only her mom, sister and two besties that know, but their constantly at her to stop even though it doesn't effect them in the slightest.

It's too early to be giving the kid money/presents in the hand really cos the kid only turned two, so she just thinks this is the best thing.

the_pen_turner

i can see something like this creating problems down the line

has she talked to the other godparent to see how they feel. it puts them in a terrible position

what about how the other children are going to feel if their godparent doesnt do this

it sets a precedent that other god parents will be expected to do

what happens if she cannot stay paying in. the parents will be expecting this money





personally i think its a crazy idea but each to their own

kowloon

Lock it away in some sort of investment rather than just sticking it in an account.

Grayson

aaaaaaaahhhhhh wrote: »

This is the biggest thing for her now, it's only her mom, sister and two besties that know, but their constantly at her to stop even though it doesn't effect them in the slightest.

It's too early to be giving the kid money/presents in the hand really cos the kid only turned two, so she just thinks this is the best thing.

She might be right. I love doing stuff for my god daughter. I'm always thinking about what i'll get her next. And I try to be responsible with it. I've bought science kits, stephen hawking books and stuff like that. I've also bought costumes (because costumes generate less waste. Toys tend to be played with and thrown into a corner. The costume get played with, hung up and then played with again. When they outgrow them they're generally in good nick and can be passed onto another relative or a charity shop) train sets and some other toys. I buy clothes and stuff like that too.

However if I didn't have that interest and still wanted to do something, then throwing money into an account might be an option. The woman obviously feels a duty or responsibility and that's admirable.

Chris_Heilong

Birthday, Christmas and communions/Confirmation is all she should be worried about.

ILoveYourVibes

I think it's a lovely thing to do.

aaaaaaaahhhhhh

Grayson wrote: »

The woman obviously feels a duty or responsibility and that's admirable.

You hit the nail on the head Grayson.
In her mind I think, the parents were good enough to consider and make her GM, therefore she feels a duty to ensure she can do all she can for the kid.
She doesn't see the kid often, cos we all have our own lives and day jobs etc, so this is her way of ensuring shes doing something for the kid and that's something in years from now the kid will be grateful for I.e. the lump sum

aaaaaaaahhhhhh

JayZeus wrote: »

It’s absolutely ridiculous to see people still act in ways that attach financial matters to those of faith.

She’s a bit of a dope dupe in this regard.

If your assuming that shes attributed her kindness, financial or not to any kind of faith, you'd be gravely mistaken JayZeus, the woman hasn't believed in Jebus or any religion since well before we met. It's only a gesture she feels is a duty.

razorblunt

Yeah, I through about 10-15 quid into my Godson's balance a month.
He doesn't really need anything at the moment so Birthday's and Xmas I throw extra cash in.

Dial Hard

Jesus, yis are all very committed to your godchildren. Mine gets about a tenner more than the rest of my niblings for his birthday present and that's it.

My own godmother stopped doing presents once I turned 10 (pretty sure my mam told her to) and I'm not sure my godfather even knows he's my godfather.

As has already been said, each to their own but the whole godparent thing is not something I attach any real relevance to.

aaaaaaaahhhhhh

aaaaaaaahhhhhh wrote: »

If your assuming that shes attributed her kindness, financial or not to any kind of faith, you'd be gravely mistaken JayZeus, the woman hasn't believed in Jebus or any religion since well before we met. It's only a gesture she feels is a duty.

Then why be a godparent?

Agent Smith

beertons wrote: »

Forget the cash. Teach them things, bring them places. Money is just buying their friendship.

for 25 Euro a month i'll be your friend....

pgj2015

JayZeus wrote: »

Then why be a godparent?

why go to a funeral if you don't believe in a god? im sure this woman in question will be as good if not better than someone who believes in a god will do. religion shouldn't come into it.

Grayson

pgj2015 wrote: »

why go to a funeral if you don't believe in a god? im sure this woman in question will be as good if not better than someone who believes in a god will do. religion shouldn't come into it.

I'm an atheist and a godparent. I did point that out and looked up what was needed from me in the ceremony since I didn't want to lie. the only thing a godparent has to do is say they reject satan. I'm ok with saying that.

As for the religion side, my sister pointed out that I have multiple degrees in philosophy in which I specialised in ethics. I have studied the philosophy of religion and because of my secondary education in a diocesan school, I know more about catholicism than most catholics.

In many ways I'm more qualified than most catholics.

banie01

Agent Smith wrote: »

for 25 Euro a month i'll be your friend....

I've just realized that Agent Smith and Agent Coulson are in fact different posters!
Always read the name and check the Avatar folks

zell12

aaaaaaaahhhhhh wrote: »

Anyway she opened a bank account for the child and is putting 25 quid a month into it.

How can you open a bank account for someone else?
My friend, friendly nigerian prince wants to know

el Fenomeno

Call me cynical, but while your friend may have no issue putting 25 quid a month into a bank account for now, I'm not so sure she'll be as indifferent when it comes to handing over the bones of €6000 to an 18 year old she likely has little-to-no interaction or dealings with.

Feisar

Grayson wrote: »

I'm an atheist and a godparent. I did point that out and looked up what was needed from me in the ceremony since I didn't want to lie. the only thing a godparent has to do is say they reject satan. I'm ok with saying that.

As for the religion side, my sister pointed out that I have multiple degrees in philosophy in which I specialised in ethics. I have studied the philosophy of religion and because of my secondary education in a diocesan school, I know more about catholicism than most catholics.

In many ways I'm more qualified than most catholics.

I'm not arguing with you, I see yer point. However the crux of being a Catholic is believing the stuff, I don't think knowing whatever was said in John 3:7 matters as much.

El_Duderino 09

The idea of what a godparent is really annoys me sometimes. I take being a godparent quite seriously. It's an opportunity to have an influence on a child's development. If I ever have children I would ask godparents if they would like to fulfil a particular role for the child.

That role is to be involved in the child's life. be a safe person that the child can talk to about anything. They don't have to tell me what they talk about if the child doesn't want them to tell me (unless there's a serious danger like causing harm to them selves or someone else, suicide or something similar). So the child always has an adult to talk to and get advice and offer a sound role model apart from their own parents.

I would explicitly say I don't expect them to but gifts for the child. They would only need to take time to get to know the child and build rapport.

It's completely possible that the child wouldn't like the godparent and vice versa. But I would be asking the godparent to make the effort to fulfil that role.

So in short I think money is completely unnecessary. Time with the child would be much more valuable

josip

Feisar wrote: »

I'm not arguing with you, I see yer point. However the crux of being a Catholic is believing the stuff, I don't think knowing whatever was said in John 3:7 matters as much.

(No no no, the crux of being a Catholic is feeling guilty about the stuff other people believe in.)

€25 a month is very subjective and whether it's excessive depends on income, your gf's own experience as a godchild etc.
I think it's at the high end of the scale.
It might become a talking point in the future if your gf and you are pooling incomes, or saving for something together and you don't have any similar outgoings.
For the record I give my god child €50 at birthday and christmas along with a small pressie.
I'll stop the money when she's 21.