Charity Days at work - Are you sick of them?

I'm a workaholic since self employed. Is your days off a monday too much of the vino from the weekend?... lol

I agree OD that's an awful lot of money. Perhaps you could say you will contribute a sum but not as much as you seem to be paying. Why do people expect you to spend £50 in five week's. Another way would be to say you already contribute to many charities of your choice and would rather do that than pay into any more. That would give you a breathing space. I must say I often say that as I do give to charities of my own choice. Don't be brow beaten into something you have reservations about or cannot afford.

We've had similar, and there is a collective groan when they're announced! I don't really care about following the crowd so unless its a charity I'm keen on I don't contribute

Thank goodness I'm retired, Omen.

I contribute to what I want with no pressure from others.

I'm pretty sure that you would never be browbeaten into something that you do not want to do or cannot afford Omendata. I agree with Sabre that you have to refuse if you don't want to contribute. Charity is big business these days and fundraising is done in all sorts of ways doubtless dreamt up by focus groups and marketing departments.

Isn't it a pity that so much money must now be paid to the organisation that runs the big charities? I very much dislike this expectation that you will give to a work charity day. Marketeers know that most people feel comfortable being one of the majority and that if most people are giving to the office collection then you will feel highly pressured to do the same. It's a basic human reaction and the charities have learnt to use it.

I find it very difficult to refuse in these situations but have decided where I want my donations to go and cannot give to everything.

I must admit that I am quite grateful that now as self-employed I don't have to feel pressured into the whole 'charity day' at work thing. I agree Omendata that it does make you look stingey, and other 'colleagues' who normally wouldn't give you a second look seem to spend the whole day going out of their way to make you feel that you didn't contribute.
In my last job they seemed to have a 'Jeans for Genes' day every couple of weeks, as well as Comic Relief, and no doubt they contributed to children In Need. I am not against charity fundraising, but I find it much more productive and satisfying to donate a small amount each month, which I used to do to Cancer Research or Marie Curie.
But sadly at the moment the phrase - charity begins at home - springs to mind. If I had the money I would donate more, but why should my son suffer as we don't earn enough to take him anywhere or really do anything nice - we just about cover all of our bills.
But donating would now be on my terms, to whichever charity I decided - not that someone made me feel bad for not partaking in their choice of giving.

Well you know the score the office rich cat or boss puts in a tenner and so everyone is obligated to feel like they haev to put in ten or more.

I already donate mponthly to the pdsa and sspca so i dont seen why i should be giving any more besides half of the money seems to go into the pockets of the organisers and staff.

I have a funny feeeling all these charities have conned us for years.

I mean how long has cancer research been about and i havent actually seen any cure or real innovations - in world war ii it only took 6 year to develop the rocket and the atom bomb - cmon something isnt right in the state of Denmark!

70% OF THE MONEY FROM LIVE AID WENT INTO THE POCKETS OF THE AFRICAN DICTATORS AND THAT PAKISTANI WHO RIPPED OFF THE CHARITY BIG TIME BUT THEN AGAIN THEY CANT EVEN PLAY CRICKET WITHOUT CHEATING SO GO FIGURE.

I hate those sponsor forms too when they start with the boss who puts £20 down and when your next your £5 looks a bit mean so I try to go after someone has brought the price down a bit. Especially when it's the race of life or one of those for breast cancer as my daughter-in-law runs it and I always sponsor her for £20 then a couple of friends do it too so it's a bit costly. I sound a right greedy s-d but £30 is rather a lot.

I'm soooo pleased that I'm retired Omen so that I don't have to be pressurised into looking like the office 'stinge'
So I guess I'm with you, two wolves together on the outside of the office 'whip round'.
BTW I also never mentioned when it was my birthday as I would have been expected to pay out nigh on £30 for cakes for everyone else !! I just couldn't afford it and in the end everyone else kept quiet about theirs as it was just getting ridiculous.