Mum brands daughter’s six-year-old friend a ‘cheapskate’ over birthday gift

People were NOT happy.

A mum has been slammed for asking if her daughter's six-year-old friend is a "cheapskate" because of the birthday gift she gave her. She turned to the internet for advice on if she was overreacting about what the pal had turned up to the celebrations with. She said on Mumsnet:

"It was my daughters birthday recently and she wanted a party. Her friend turned up with a free toy from a magazine as a present. "The card was a crumpled folded over bit of scrap paper that was drawn on. (It was a scribble that I couldn’t even tell what it was supposed to be. The girl is 6)."

She admitted that she knows "it's the thought that counts", but she was still bothered. The woman added:

"I know it’s the thought that counts. When my daughter makes cards for her friends I say it’s to be neat and you’ve to make it your best job because a birthday is special. "I wouldn’t allow her to pass off a scribble that would take her 5 minutes. "I know all kids abilities are different but I know her friend and have seen her drawings etc. "And as for the free toy, I feel it’s cheapskate. I honestly don’t care the value of gifts! "Another friend made her a friendship band and I think that’s lovely to give homemade gifts. And another gave a colouring book."

The other users on the parenting forum told the original poster that she had come off in a bad light, with many disagreeing with the mum. One person said:

"Wow. Grabby, unpleasant and downright mean! You, that is! The child gave what she had to give..."

Another wrote:

"Are you about to say her parents are millionaires who usually hand out yachts, and this was a pointed snub? Because otherwise you look like a total jerk."

A different person commented:

"There's someone who doesn't come out of this story looking good, and I can assure you, OP, that it isn't your friend."

Others said that they felt the woman shouldn't pass judgement if she wasn't totally sure about the financial situation of the family. Another parent added:

"You don't know their financial circumstances. I went through a dire struggle with money a few years back and it was to the point where I even had to budget 25p for a packet of noodles. “When you're totally on the bread line £1 is a lot of money.”

Someone else wrote:

"Do you know her personal circumstances? Perhaps they are short of cash before payday and this was the only option for them? Maybe they’d come from somewhere else and forgotten the card/present so needed to improvise? "They came to your child’s birthday and brought a card and gift, I think it’s a bit mean spirited to sneer about the quality of it."