It’s that time of year when you want to thank your cleaner with a Christmas gift.
But what should you give your cleaner for Christmas? Here’s my simple guide to gifts they will love, and well-meaning gifts to avoid.
Say no to flowers
Festive florals might seem like a lovely thing to give your cleaner for Christmas – but let’s think about the practicalities for a moment. Your cleaner may be travelling to work on public transport, and juggling a bouquet amongst the Christmas shoppers could turn your gift into a massive headache. Imagine if they are visiting several clients on the same day. How will your flowers be bearing up by the time they make it home? I recommend spending your money elsewhere.
Hamper dilemmas
A hamper can also be a bulky thing to carry if you’re on the bus or the Tube. And it’s tricky to choose hamper contents that will hit the mark. Cultural differences, and personal tastes, could mean your foodie gifts go to waste.
Why not to give wine
A decent bottle of wine is an expensive gift to give your cleaner at Christmas. But unless you know their tastes very well, it could go unappreciated. Again, there’s cultural considerations here too. Your cleaner may not drink alcohol. And my Bulgarian colleagues prefer whisky or rakia. Plus, it’s another heavy item to carry home.
Resist the chocolate
Everyone likes chocolate – don’t they? So it might seem like an easy choice when you’re choosing a Christmas gift for your cleaner. But your money is really better spent elsewhere – which brings me to my favourite recommendations for what to give your cleaner at Christmas.
Give a gift card
Shopping vouchers or gift cards are the ideal Christmas gift for your cleaner. They are easy to carry home, and easy for you to buy and wrap. But most important of all, you’re giving your cleaner the opportunity to buy something they really want. It could mean an extra gift for their child or family member, a special treat for themselves, or a boost to the family budget at an expensive time of year.
A supermarket voucher is a good option because there’s so much choice. But it’s worth doing a little covert research on where your cleaner shops, or which branches are close to where they live.
My favourite choice is the One4All giftcard, available to buy online or from most branches of the Post Office. They can be spent in a huge range of high street shops and restaurants from Boots to B&Q, and Primark to Pizza Hut.
But for the ultimate in flexible, easy gifts…
Cash is king
Truly, popping some cash in a Christmas card is the best gift of all to give your cleaner at Christmas. Cash is the ultimate flexible gift, of course. So write a heartfelt message in a pretty card, pop in the cash you were thinking of spending on that hamper, and give it to your cleaner knowing it will really make a difference to them and their family this Christmas.
How do you feel about giving cash at Christmas?
