Gift money dilemna

[Ellien C]

Both my father and my brother sent me money for Christmas for the 10 month old baby. At this point, I don't need anything for the baby. He's my second. Earlier in the year I bought stuff like- more fuzzi buns, fun organizing things (60% off at Joanne's) $40 moby wrap, used pants new bottles and breastpump tubing. While I didn't necessarily put these things on my credit card, the money I spent on them has effectively kept me from paying on the CC.

So -should I just apply the money I got from them to my CC and make like it bought those other things? This somehow feels not within the spirit of gift giving, but some of those things were total wants - the fuzzi buns and the organizing stuff for sure, the wrap kind of, bottles and tubing, not so much.

Baby's room will also need some major plaster repair and new paint due to a roof leak. It could also be applied to those things. At some point he will need furniture, but not for now and also a closet remodel - oo maybe I should put it toward a closet remodel. That would be VERY cool! OK - I think I've solved the problem.

other ideas? Of course it can be saved, but I'd like to tell them what they got me, rather than - it paid household bills!

[la mamita]

I've never been expected to report back on what I spent a gift of cash on, but I think it would be fine to say "I put it towards his diapers, moby wrap, clothes, etc" and use the money to pay off those expenses on your CC. Even though it was an older expense, if you haven't paid it off on your CC, the money IS going towards that....

eta: ok I just re-read your post and grasped that you spent money you would have put towards a CC bill on these items, not put the items on the CC. my original opinion still stands though, i don't think it's a faux pas to use it on your CC.

[Rani]

I agree...they gave it to help with those early days for baby.  If it were me, I would perhaps buy at least one outfit or whatver then use the rest. 

[Ola_]

When we give money gifts "for the baby" it's normally just because we want to help out and the parents might balk at having money given directly to them.  I can say that for me I do not care one bit what the money is used on (I'm sure the parents can figure out where it should go) and I'd never expect them to tell me what they did with it.  Maybe that is a local custom though?

[doubledutch]

definitely use it however you want/need.

[Sharlla]

we opened a savings account and put all her gift money in it.  we went through a local bank that has decent terms and interest rate.

[JudiAU]

If you need the money to pay for those things then I think it is fine to apply it towards them.

If you don't need it then I would open a savings account with you as a joint owner. You can withdraw if it is needed or wanted or it is a safe place.