It is hard to stay at 25. I have no talent and had to purchase everything. Had I stuck to the 25 they may only gotten one gift... You can not buy much these days for 25 dollars. I am excited about the next one and have already started shopping..

I don't have any objections to a $50 limit. I join because it provides me a little escape from reality (Not saying "some" of us don't live in a real world ;)) where I can "almost" always go for a smile, pick me up, laugh, you name it, and get to know others and make friends. Our box is always just a bonus. It's not about what we get, but the thought throughout the GE process that I enjoy so much.

I also would not have a problem with it being $50. However, I feel that way now that I am more financially stable. I had never participated before bc I could not even afford the $25. I think the $50 will scare some first timers off. Honestly I heard that some were pretty generous with their boxes, but after I participated in the last one, it seems like EVERYONE was overly generous. I think I didn't include enough! So that said, I think there should also be a capped amount, maybe at $200?

I have noticed that most of those that participate are overly generous and most put some personal thought into the gifts which is so nice. You can't put a price on sincerity.

I also agree with Jodi's comment about if you order something special (personalized) for your SB, it is going to cost at least $15 which doesn't include shipping. It is very difficult to just spend $25 (or even $50 on an entire SB box.

I think $50.00 would be a much more accurate amount for a minimum spending limit. All the boxes I have seen on the smileboxes seem to have much more than even $50.00 of goodies in them....not to mention the cost of making those wonderful handmade items. I know I have never spent less than $50.00 on my ge gifts.

I know it really isn't about how much we spend, more on how thoughtful the gift is, but I do believe that $50.00 minimum is realistic.

I think the minumum is fine. I never stay near it but if it raises I would be concerned that it would hinder new members from wanting to join.

I think the thought behind the gift comes out no matter how much you spend.
That is the most important thing to me anyway.

I try to think of my SB and their Mom and shop accordingly.

To be honest, I am a little intimidated by all the smileboxes I watched just cause everyone receives so many amazing, absolutely beautiful, and incredibly well made items. I don't know how to sew which would help a lot, but I'm going to try incredbily hard to make Geno's buddy sosososo happy! Geno and I already have a few items in mind to get a little guy or girl. :)

I mean it is apparent that some people definitely do go above and beyond, and there is nothing wrong with that. I think having different money levels to sign up for is a really good idea. Unfortunately it'd probably be a lot more work on the admin, but be able to better match people up with someone who is going to put in the same amount of money as you will. I mean honestly it's not even about the money but at the same time, I still need to be aware of how much I'm spending. I'm sure we all have bills and whatnot to pay as well. I dont know, just my opinion.

I agree w the $50 minimum limit. I also have no talent, so I have to buy dresses, bows, etc. It is very easy to go over the $50 minimum limit as custom dresses are $25-40. It might help so that there is nobody left out.

I also agree with $50. I have never spent less than that amount in a GE. The price category thing is nice but what if each person participating was required to PM Admin after signing up and choose one of the spending amounts? Then Admin could match the buddies BASED on those chosen amounts (people with $25 limits are only matched to each other--$50 limits matched--and there could even be a larger amount too $75?) , but all of us participate in the same section, the same hint threads, etc. so that no one would feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. That way there would still only be one GE, not two separate ones. The amounts would be between each individual and Admin and not announced. No ones feelings would be hurt--if someone spent over $75 they would not be receiving a $25 box. Hope that makes sense. Would be a lot more work for Admin of course, but that might be a better way to keep everything fair.

I am going out on the limb here..

I think the people who are posting here all send wonderful ge boxes. I think the problem is there are feelings hurt because someone puts a lot of time, effort, money in a box and then they are disappointed in what they get. We are speaking to the choir here!! !

I also feel we are like children at our Birthdays party.. we all get cranky!

I think a max should be set. If someone goes over that then they do it because they want to not because they can expect the same in return.
It will take the pressure off of a lot of ge participants to not to have go too far above and beyond if they can not. So maybe a $50.00 min and $100.00 max????

I have no problem with $50.00 I can sew and make custom items, beleive me by the time I buy fabric, and accessories, $50. can go Super fast...:p

:thumbup: to the $50 minimum and as far as caps on spending limits...that would be a :thumbdown for me.

I would like to have the freedom to spend till my hearts content...:D

[I think a max should be set. If someone goes over that then they do it because they want to not because they can expect the same in return.It will take the pressure off of a lot of ge participants to not to have go too far above and beyond if they can not. So maybe a $50.00 min and $100.00 max???? ]

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Now I'm going to go out on a limb. I too had the same SB as Lil Sis in the GE prior to the one that just ended. So when Shinja said I think the problem is there are feelings hurt because someone puts a lot of time, effort, money in a box and then they are disappointed in what they get I understand completely. It is very disappointing to open your box and see dollar store items with the price tags still on them. Not to mention that some of the items didn't look new. I felt so bad for Shinja because I knew what she was going through. And my box arrived about two weeks after it was supposed to be mailed.

I am thrilled that Admin is having this poll on whether to increase the minimum amount and am happy to see that a majority of people feel it needs to be increased. I have only participated in two GE's but in looking at everyone's Smileboxes, you can tell that most participants put a lot of love, time and thoughtfulness into their gifts. Our first GE was awesome! I'm seriously considering getting in this one. They are fun and our furbutts likes presents just as much as humans do!

Thank you Admin for putting this out there for consideration.

i think lots of us spend more than 25 on a gift box. usually it's due to the costs that are actually behind home made gifts. i think one thing in each box i've done might be 25 and the rest of the things can be from a few dollars to several dollars but the total is never 25 it's always closer to about 100 a box.

i think 50 is fair. it might help keep out those that can't or won't put their full effort into it. it's not fair to give so much love and work to someone and get dollar store crap so defin raising the price some is good. maybe a slight raise now and slowly increase it to 50 in the future.

this coming GE i have to sit out because i just don't have the time or money with a baby coming. some people still try to do too much and then don't get gifts out in time or spend nearly enough to make the gifts nice for someone else. i wish everyone would not sign up if they can't do it. but people sign up and then let someone down and that hurts bad. i've been one of them. and the rest of us can't afford to pick up the slack and shouldn't have to honestly but we all love and care too much about everyone to let them get nothing because of a jerk in the GE.

anyways i think maybe going up to 35 or 40 for now and work ourselves up to 50 or so in the future would be good.