Organize a group gift in 6 steps
Choose the gift together
One idea each, then a vote: the gift most people like wins. In Rimbi, everyone suggests ideas on the recipient’s profile and the others vote, without the recipient seeing any of it.
Set the target amount
The price of the gift, plus any extras: shipping, engraving, wrapping. Divide by the number of people to announce a suggested share; Rimbi works it out for you.
Choose how to collect the money
An online money pot, a bank transfer to whoever orders, or cash: one method, simple for everyone.
Decide who orders, and by when
One person places the order, and fronts the money if needed. Set a deadline, early enough for delivery.
Ask everyone to pledge their share
Each person says how much they’re putting in, then confirms once they’ve paid. You always know where the total stands, without a spreadsheet.
Remind, then order
A few days before the deadline, remind the people who haven’t chipped in yet, then place the order. In Rimbi, the reminder goes out on its own if shares are still missing.
How much should each person give?
There’s no standard amount: it depends on the gift and the group. Three ways to split it:
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Equal shares | The target amount divided by the number of people | A close group with similar budgets |
| Suggested share | A guideline amount that everyone can adjust | A good middle ground for most groups |
| Give what you like | Everyone gives what they want, with or without a target | A big group, coworkers, very different budgets |
So nobody feels judged, keep the amounts private: participants see who has chipped in and whether the target is reached, not how much each person gave. That’s the default setting in Rimbi.
Run your Secret Santa with Rimbi
Name draw with exclusions, guests without the app by text or email, wish lists and group gifts. Free for up to 20 people, no ads.
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Money pot, bank transfer or cash: where does the money go?
| Method | Upside | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Online money pot | Everyone pays from their phone, and the money ends up in one place | Check for fees and how long it takes to get the money out |
| Bank transfer | No middleman | Whoever orders has to share their bank details |
| Cash | Easy when everyone meets up | Hard to track from a distance, and someone has to hold it all |
Rimbi never touches the money. The organizer can add a link to the money pot of their choice: everyone pays there, then confirms in the app that it’s done. Rimbi tracks each share, pledged then paid, until the gift is ordered.
Keeping the surprise
- Don’t talk about it in a chat the recipient is part of: one message in the wrong place and it’s over.
- Give the money pot a discreet name if the recipient might come across it.
- Have it delivered to whoever orders, not to the recipient.
- In Rimbi, the group gift is hidden from the recipient, just like the ideas and chat on their profile.
For which occasions?
- Birthday: friends or family team up for a bigger gift.
- Christmas: the kids chip in for their parents, or the whole family for the grandparents.
- Wedding: a gift from the bridal party, or from the guests.
- New baby, farewell party, housewarming: each coworker or friend gives what they like.
A group gift also completes a Christmas list: a wish too expensive for one person becomes a gift from several.
Mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting the extras. Shipping, engraving or wrapping: include them in the target amount.
- Leaving the order date vague. Without a date, the collection drags on.
- Using several payment methods. Stick to one and tracking stays simple.
- Calling people out in public. A reminder to everyone who hasn’t chipped in, or a private message, embarrasses nobody.
- Ordering before the money is in, unless whoever orders is happy to front it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you collect money for a group gift?
Open an online money pot, or pick one person to receive bank transfers, then share the link with everyone, along with a target amount and a deadline. In Rimbi, the organizer adds the money pot link to the group gift, and everyone confirms their share once they’ve paid.
How much should you put in a group gift?
There’s no standard amount: it depends on the gift and the group. Simplest is to divide the target amount by the number of people to give a suggested share, which everyone can adjust.
How do you remind people to chip in without being awkward?
Send one reminder to everyone who hasn’t chipped in yet, rather than naming people in the group chat, and mention the order date. In Rimbi, a reminder goes out on its own a few days before the deadline if shares are missing, and the organizer can nudge people in one tap.
Does Rimbi collect the money for the group gift?
No. Rimbi never touches the money: it goes through whatever you prefer, an online money pot, a bank transfer or cash. Rimbi only tracks who has pledged and who has paid, until the gift is ordered.
Can you hide how much each person gave?
Yes. In Rimbi, the organizer can keep the amounts to themselves: other participants see who has chipped in and whether the target is reached, not how much each person gave.