No gifts exchanges between SIL and me for Christmas. We take each other out for restaurants etc for birthdays or just because.

MY SIL is older than my DH, so she treats us like youngsters and wants to pay for everything. Her DH too. So we have to really put our foot down with her.

Don't exchange gifts if the other person is not giving from their heart.

We have a moratorium on gift exchanges with my BIL and his wife. Since it became a gift card exchange each year we just agreed to not bother and have no hard feelings.

Anonymous wrote:I wish my SIL still have us the $25 gift cards she used to give. Now she gives us any item she can re-gift or whatever clearance item she can find under $3. I'm shocked at the things she has wrapped as gifts the last few years.

OMG! I think your SIL is my mother!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What annoys me is the wild swings in the gifts. One year it is a pair of running shoes, another it is a check for serious money, another it might be a $50 amazon gift card. Their income doesn't vary so I don't get it. Are we being rewarded or punished for our behavior during the year?

My MIL definitely gives gifts based on how much she likes or dislikes you at the time. The whole thing is so stupid, I don't need anything from her, but I'm not going to sit there and watch her other DIL unwrap her new laptop or coach bag while I've been given a $20 teapot. We no longer participate in the stupidity. She can send wherever gifts she wants, we send cards and pictures of the kids.

Mine too! And sadly, because she is annoyed with me, she got my child much less than the other two grandchildren. I think it is so petty and immature.

This is how I feel too but hubby doesn't want to hear it. He thinks I'm being petty and should just be happy with the gift I'm given.

I know I should be grateful but my brother in laws always get their other brother and his wife (who sometimes rarely even reciprocate gifts) better gifts than they give hubby and I,( who always give gifts and we go out of their way to give nice gifts to EVERYone(. I know it seems childish but I feel unappreciated opening up gifts from my inlaws, hubby and I will get a blanket and a pair of socks vs a coat and Ralph Lauren sweater for them.

Family Decree: "We know a quite few of us are struggling this Christmas, so let's agree not to exchange gifts."

I'm 100% fine with this because there are no small children in the immediate family yet.

Come January, it is the birthday month of one of the decree makers. They expect gifts from EVERYONE & there will be hell to pay for the rest of the year, if said gifts aren't given. Most people's financial situations don't change for the better in the space of a few weeks, so I find this annoying & disingenuous.

This has happened on 3 non-consecutive years. I just laugh it off because they are good people otherwise.

Lots and lots of knitted sweaters with scratchy yarn.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My BILs send food baskets of desserts/chocolate, which I appreciate in spirit. But, one of my kids has severe peanut and treenut allergies and can't eat any of it, even seemingly innocuous stuff like Edible Arrangements. That means DH and end up having to hide the food and either eat it all ourselves, give it away, or throw it out. I really appreciate it, but it's a waste of money for BILs to send these kinds of gifts, even though they know DS has these allergies. I guess they don't remember, so I'm not annoyed with them, just at the situation. DH and MIL have reminded them, but...

I'd be annoyed that they don't remember a life threatening food allergy.

Very likely they just don't understand cross contamination.

Anonymous wrote:My BILs send food baskets of desserts/chocolate, which I appreciate in spirit. But, one of my kids has severe peanut and treenut allergies and can't eat any of it, even seemingly innocuous stuff like Edible Arrangements. That means DH and end up having to hide the food and either eat it all ourselves, give it away, or throw it out. I really appreciate it, but it's a waste of money for BILs to send these kinds of gifts, even though they know DS has these allergies. I guess they don't remember, so I'm not annoyed with them, just at the situation. DH and MIL have reminded them, but...

I'd be annoyed that they don't remember a life threatening food allergy.

My stepmother has gotten into the habit of scouring "vintage stores" (really thrift stores) and comes away with "great finds".

So this year for xmas I got: a used dog coat for my dog (that was too small), an acrylic scarf, and a rust colored crochet blanket made by some old lady.
I was pissed. My husband also got some used books.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What annoys me is the wild swings in the gifts. One year it is a pair of running shoes, another it is a check for serious money, another it might be a $50 amazon gift card. Their income doesn't vary so I don't get it. Are we being rewarded or punished for our behavior during the year?

My MIL definitely gives gifts based on how much she likes or dislikes you at the time. The whole thing is so stupid, I don't need anything from her, but I'm not going to sit there and watch her other DIL unwrap her new laptop or coach bag while I've been given a $20 teapot. We no longer participate in the stupidity. She can send wherever gifts she wants, we send cards and pictures of the kids.

Mine too! And sadly, because she is annoyed with me, she got my child much less than the other two grandchildren. I think it is so petty and immature.