Both of our grandmas like to give junk from five below or the dollar store so they can see the kids open it. Then it breaks a couple days later and I have to deal with the tears, or clean up all the crap, and eventually send it to the landfill. Even $5 for ice cream would be better.

The experience thing is a pain in the butt. Just because you want to clear your house of clutter doesn’t mean your kids would prefer a crappy museum visit over a toy or game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get it. You’d rather just send another unwanted plastic toy than take your grandson or nephew to a museum.

DP here. I’d rather dispense with gift giving all together! None of us need anything anyway, especially your kids!

+1000. Our kids are so spoiled with junk. So was our generation and now all those toys just sit in a landfill.

Seriously - the “experience” can be a gift card to an ice cream shop. My kids would love that and it’d set you back $20 for the family. It’s also fine to just pay what you were planning on and let the parents pick up the rest if it’s something they suggested - I.e. your sister Rose suggests movie tickets, to which you reply “oh, great! My budget will cover two tickets for the kids and some popcorn - but that means you’ll be stuck with the bill for the rest. Is that okay? Or should I just get some my little ponies like I originally planned.”

The “experience” doesn’t need to be sky diving lessons!

Anonymous wrote:I get it. You’d rather just send another unwanted plastic toy than take your grandson or nephew to a museum.

DP here. I’d rather dispense with gift giving all together! None of us need anything anyway, especially your kids!

I am giving an annual family membership to a family friend to a children’s museum. Pretty sure it save me money by the time I buy gifts for both kids.

I see your point. $10 towards an experience only gets them excited. Then you get to pay the rest.

I have never asked this, but if someone does I would have no issue with it. I hate all the cheap plastic crap anyway.

There are cheap or free experiences you can give...if you don't want to give a free one, give a 10 dollar gift card to the froyo place or something.

8:33 and 8:34 nailed it.

?? In the past I've asked for gift cards to Jumping Joeys or Scramble or places like that. The nice thing about a gift card is you can make it for any amount you want. So it can be just $10. And we will definitely use that, the kids love it, and will be excited to open it. Much better than the $50 piece of plastic that will be ignored after 2 days.

I get it. You’d rather just send another unwanted plastic toy than take your grandson or nephew to a museum.

Are you my mother or MIL who insist on littering my house with more crap so you get an ego boost on birthdays and holidays?

You don’t need to give an experience if you don’t want.

Give a gift card instead.

It triples or quadruples the cost every time. Accept your small gift and if you don’t like it donate it!