Gift v. money

ndearmond

My uncle is marrying a woman next month at a ceremony that I will be unable to attend.  He and I are not close and I have never interacted with her.  In the invitation, there is registry info.  I know nothing about her and only saw an angry birds towel on their registries that might be something he wants.  Everything else is starter-home stuff that may or may not get used.

These two are around 40 and he is widowed.  She is out of work and he is high in debt.  I'd love to send something that they picked and hope that they will use it and cherish it and feel like part of a larger family, but I am also tempted to send them money that they can spend how they choose.

Anyone have any thoughts to help me decide?

lls31

I personally would send money.

jessicabessica

Money is a gift.  Everyone appreciates it, and if there is something that they really want on their registry that they do not receive, they can use your gift to buy it.  I also think it's fine to pick something from their registry and give it to them (preferably with a gift receipt), if you'd rather give a boxed gift.  I would assume that they actually want and plan to use everything they put on their registries.

rlavach

Money is always a good idea. You can never go wrong with that.

meganb1977

You don't necessarily have to choose, depending how much you were going to spend you could give a token physical gift along with a money gift.  If you're not able to attend it might be easier to just send money though!