to be asked to contribute?

I feel sorry for you in this predicament. I'm with the folk who suggest ignoring it.

I had to leave a book group I joined because they were all very wealthy people. Each meeting was in someone's home and the hostess had to provide food and good quality drinks for up to 16 people. I just couldn't afford to do that. It's a shame as I did enjoy it.

If a round robin, just ignore it.If a personal note to you, say you don’t know this lady but will contribute something (£5.) for the goodwill, and sign her card.

I would neither give a penny or explain myself

I'm in the fortunate position of actually being able to afford £15 but I would not give a penny. You've met this lady once and had the merest of conversations? No brainer. My verbal best wishes and nothing else. If for any reason I had to re-address the matter (and I sincerely hope not) with the gift organiser I would simply say 'sorry, but I've already decided on my gift but thank you for including me'. Blimey!

I expect it was a 'round robin'- no-one would expect you to contribute after only one session.

I would ignore it too. I would not mention it all unless someone asks you directly.

That is a ridiculous amount to contribute to someone you have only met once. Don't be put under pressure and do what you feel comfortable with - especially if the others have known her for much longer - even so you should feel free to do what you want.

Oh dear! No way would I give £15 for a leaving gift for someone I don't know regardless of my income. Politely tell them your pension won't stretch that far rather than get into other difficulties. If they don't like it and they ask you to leave, I hope they will each be just as generous with you and proffer £15 per head towards your leaving gift!

£15 is IMO ridiculous.
There were several leaving- collections at work before I retired not all that long ago, and a fiver was considered plenty, even for people we knew quite well. Anyone particularly friendly with them might give more - IF they could afford it. But it was never expected, still less demanded.

I would imagine the email was a round-robin one for all the members of the group. I'm sure none of them would expect you to contribute so much after such a short acquaintance. A carefully chosen bookmark or a couple of pounds would be fair in my view. Explain if you feel you should, but please don't feel under pressure. x

I hate it when collections do the rounds and you are asked to give a certain amount. Peoples financial situations can vary so much - you should be asked to contribute what you feel is appropriate for you

Was it a "round robin" request, just sent to the whole group without much thought? In which case the advice above is right and appropriate and you wouldn't be expected to contibute much, if any.

I would expect it's an email that just got sent to everyone, I would either just ignore it or reply saying you've only just joined and so don't feel able to contribute, I think anyone would understand that. It is a lot of money though even if you had been there a while.

I know how you feel where I work we are often asked to contribute to presents for those I hardly know .I am on a small income compared to other colleagues so I either just give what I can afford or if it's someone I know well I buy my own small gift .Don't stress about it if these people don't accept this then maybe it says a lot about the type of people they are.

I would just give a card

I totally agree Hurdygurdy my feelings also

And I don't think you should be justifying why you can't/won't donate or if you do choose to donate, justifying the amount you give.

Blimey - I must be tighter than tight. If I'd only met her once, and had no more than a brief chat with her, I wouldn't be contributing anything at all.

Not wishing to sound unkind, but she would mean nothing to me, and wouldn't leave any kind of a gap by not being there.

It would be different if I'd known her for a long time. But even then I think £15 for a leaving present is a lot. Donations should be voluntary and only what the donor wishes to give.

Even in an established group I wouldn’t give £15 and for someone I d only met once for a brief chat I m afraid I would ignore it totally surely with most ‘group buys’ it’s either left to you to put what you can in or given a small token amount like £2 or £5 at the most
I certainly wouldn’t give her a personal card and/or gift as you don’t know her at all

Just ignore the request.

I agree. Either ignore it and they can assume what they like or explain why you don't feel you can contribute so much.

If you ignore it and someone chases you then simply explain why you don't feel £15 is appropriate and that you would rather do a small thing yourself than contribute less than the others as that would be unfair to those who had contributed the full amount. No one could object to that but they might to you giving less than everyone else.

I'll bet you are not alone.

I agree that £15 is a lot, even if you knew her better and had been in the group for a while. It would have been better to just ask for contributions rather than setting a figure.

I do think you should just say that you are happy to give £x as finances are tight and leave it at that.

What a peculiar position for you to find yourself in.

I'm really at the amount requested, even if you'd been a member for a longer time! It would be far more diplomatic and sensitive to have a collection bag/box/whatever and let people donate the amount they wish. Even long-term members may feel rather ambushed!

Perhaps the email went out to all the members of the book club automatically. Just ignore it.

That is a ridiculous sum of money requested even if you had known her a while. I do not see why you contribute anything other than maybe a card especially as you have never had any dealings with her.