Ever wish you could have asked for cash instead of that fondue set for your wedding? Now, brides and grooms, expectant parents, and anyone else who has something to celebrate can do just that. At the Deposit a Gift Web site, people can create personal Web sites with registries that ask for funds to pay for things such as a down payment on a home and all you'll need for it (think dishwasher, refrigerator, and door knocker) or the arrival of a new baby (think college fund, dresser, and crib).
The site, which features a little birdie for its logo, is easy to use and provides fun graphics for the personal Web sites. Even if your wedding is over, you might find this useful for a baby registry if you're expecting a child or for another big event, such as a graduation.
Although I like the idea of having friends and family give you money for life's big events, especially in this economy and especially when most people have their fill of toasters and blenders, I find it hard to ask people for gifts. It felt strange to me to fill out the traditional wedding registry and let people know about that, never mind asking for money. Registering for cash is a little out of my comfort zone. Then again, when you get married or have a baby, people want to give you something special, something you will use. Telling them what you need might not be such a bad idea. What do you think?
Interesting. I think the issue tends to be less about asking for gifts; but more about directing people who want to give you something towards things you want. Cash seems to be an easy one – especially if you’re linking it with something that you want – that’s not easily purchased off a traditional registry, like swimming with Dolphins on your honeymoon. As someone getting married next year, and have already started to get a lot of stuff I don’t want, this seems like the best solution.
When my children were small every gift of cash we put in a savings account for them. When they were ready they all had something to put down on their first house. This is a great idea!
We are using a website that lets you make cash funds and register for things from any store you want. It’s called myregistry.com and I really like having the option of non-cash gifts for people who are opposed to that type of wedding gift.
My friend reads your blog all the time and forwarded me this post because we had been trying to find something to help us nicely communicate that we would prefer cash as gifts for our wedding, if someone wants to give a gift. We actually started using Deposit a Gift after we read about it here and it is AWESOME. Thank you so much for sharing!
Jess, I’m glad you found this information useful. How have your guests reacted? I’m just curious.
great! already got some gifts
We used a site called Traveler’s Joy for our honeymoon and was able to extend our honeymoon 5 days including a trip to Rome!
This site looks cool too.
http://www.travelersjoy.com