Whether you’ve left the £0.39 price sticker on your Christmas card or you’ve re-gifted a present to the very person who gifted it to you the previous year, Christmas can be an incredibly awkward experience. So, to help you have a cringe free festive period, I have teamed up with Vibe Pay to bring you my super stress-free Christmas tips to help you put awkward Christmas moments in the past. They’re making festive financial situations a lot less awkward with their fancy App that makes it easy to get paid back so they know a thing or two about navigating awkward situs.
Learn the Rules of Re-Gifting
Re-gifting isn’t always inappropriate but there are certain rules to follow if you don’t want to get yourself in a pickle. Only regift an item to a friend or family if it 100% didn’t originate from them. To be sure of this, keep a record of who bought you what so you don’t give the present you said you loved from Aunt Jane back to Aunt Jane. If it a gift they would love, go for it, but don’t regift something you would never go to a store and pick out for them. Scour the packaging for any old gift tags, for example, if it’s a book, check the original gifter didn’t write a sentimental note in the front cover. Remember that people now post the gifts they receive from others on social media so Aunt Susan could see that lovely vase she gave you being passed on for a co-worker’s secret santa! Lastly, always re-wrap and add a personal touch.
Note Down the Last Posting Date
Very important and very easy to do. Sending something in the UK? Post it second class by the 18th of December. First class? 20th December at the latest! International? You can find out here.
Pay the Right Postage
No one wants to get to the mail office with a sorry we missed you card only to discover they have to pay an extra £1.29 just to open a Christmas card you sent them. If your card looks bigger or thicker than a standard card, add the right amount of stamps. Don’t make people hate you at Christmas. If you’re sneaking family photos in there or a letter, it’s worth a trip to the post office to make sure you don’t need extra stamps. To find out if your card requires additional postage click here.
Have a Bank of Back up Gifts
Unexpected gifting is undoubtedly stressful but it is entirely avoidable. The key to being on the ball when it comes to this is to have a few generic gifts on the back burner that you can pull out should you receive a gift you weren’t expecting. Bottle of fizz works perfectly for this as do fancy chocolates. Last year I lined up a few bottles of posh Prosecco and hung mini silver disco balls around the neck of the bottles to add a festive feel. I then left a bunch of name tags and a pen so I could quickly write a tag and never be caught off guard. If this situ doesn’t arrive, more fizz for you! Win Win!
Download the Vibe Pay App
We’ve all been there. You go halves on a gift with a friend and then you get ghosted leaving you not only footing the bill but too embarrassed to ask for their half. How terribly British we are. Or, you bought all the rounds at the Christmas party and now have to chase 20 people for the money they owe you. Maybe you put the big shop on your card and are still waiting for your housemates to poppy up? Financial situations are perhaps the most awkward of all but thankfully, Vibe Pay has created a safe and secure App to take all the hassle out of getting paid back. No more awkward asking for bank details via WhatsApp. Your friends don’t need the app to pay you back… All you need is their phone number. Then you simply send a link to your friends, family and co-workers and get paid directly into your bank. *Applauds*
You can sign up for exclusive access to the VibePay App here, as it’s invite-only. The best part is that it keeps a record of who has paid up and who has yet to pay so you never feel like you are out of pocket. You can request and receive money in a flash. The App reminds your friends for payment so you don’t have to! No more awkward conversations!
*This post was a collaboration with Vibe Pay but as always the opinions stated are 100% my own.
