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Flameworthy Selfish Christmas Vent (long)

SoulChildSoulChild member
in Working Moms

Hello Ladies;

I might get flamed for this but I am SICK and TIRED of going out of my way for MIL and SIL's Christmas presents every year and get CRAP in return.

I know the Holidays are about giving and all of that nice stuff but it also feels good to receive once in a while.
Every year I go out of my way to get them classy (but reasonably priced) gifts. That means extensive shopping around looking for a deal.

What do I get in return? Some examples, a Yankee Candle (best gift yet!), a travel clothes line (Yes! a rope to hang my wet underwear in the hotel bathroom when I travel!), a tiny fake emerald hanging by a thread and a plastic massager that broke when I pulled it out of the box in front of them to attempt to use it.

Keep in mind all these gifts were over a 6 year period. So, I think this year I am not going out of my way and just buy them anything I see in the store. They obviously do not put much thought into my gift.

I know thats selfish but I am done with being nice.

Ok, vent over!

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Re: Flameworthy Selfish Christmas Vent (long)

  • murphyecmurphyec
    I see nothing wrong with putting no thought into their gifts, sounds like they have been pretty crappy to you in the past.
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  • JLSBWGJLSBWG member
    I could have written your post, except it would be about my DH's Aunt (his mother is deceased).  My DH always asks his aunt what she wants for christmas and we get a list.  Does she ever think to ask us, nooooooo.  This year he asked her and she said she wants a gift certicate to get a pair of UGGs.  First of all, my DH had no idea how expensive they are.  When I told him, he just about fell over.  We were planning on getting her a pricier gift this year because she does babysit for us often and we don't pay her.  But still, I am tired of getting clothes I don't like and crap I will never use.  I would much rather get a gift card and I can buy my own thing.  I think she doesn't spend any decent amount of money that's why she buys me junk.  My DH gets aggrivated too, but won't say anything to her.  I'm in total agreement with you.
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  • ElizCElizC

    Not selfish, DH and I are selfish.  We do not buy adults christmas present and no one buys us presents.  This year my list consists of about 10 people all which are children under the age of 5.

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  • NWIbrideNWIbride

    I started doing that last year with my in-laws. It took so much stress out of my holidays! Instead of fretting over coming up with thoughtful gifts for 6 of my husband's siblings, they all get the same stuff (all guys get same, on-sale shirt, all women get same candle). Christmas of 2006 was my last straw with my in-laws. The gifts I got from them were something you'd see in a funny movie. Just unbelievably bad.

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  • hilltophilltop
    The presents you listed reminded me of the type of gifts I buy for someone I care about but really do not know well enough to get anything that they really want (example- father in law). Maybe you or DH could drop some hints to help them know what you would really want, or better yet go on a shopping trip together. You can really find out a lot about a person when you spend the day together shopping.
    Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker Lilypie Expecting a baby Ticker
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  • SBMBride406SBMBride406
    Ditto pp - we are not buying gifts for adults this year. With a new child and all of our extra income going into daycare, we can't afford to buy for everyone. You could tell people you are only buying for kids and save yourself some $ and frustration with crappy gifts:)
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  • Taylor44Taylor44
    Ditto PP - On my side of the family, the adults exchange names with wish lists and a max gift amount of $25.00.  So, we don't waste our money on things that people don't want or need.  It really works well.  On my husband's side of the family, we don't buy gifts for the adults.  We buy gifts for the children, and we try to get the adults together for a night at the movies or bowling.  However, we still receive those unwanted gifts from my husband's family.  I really don't know what they are thinking, and it is really hard to say thank you with a smile on your face.
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  • beckys96beckys96 member
    I understand.  I have always spent so much thought in gifts for my MIL (usually hand crafted either by me or something bought) and have gotten either nothing or something crazy in return.  What kills me is she expects us to get her something, and then when she opens it she throws it down and moves to the next gifts.  I think the best was the year my DH and I were engaged, graduated and moved into a house.  All month long she kept saying how much stuff that they (her and SIL) had bought us for our house.  So we travel there for the holidays and on Christmas day, my DH got quite a few gifts (which is fine, its his fam) and then she looks over at me and says oh did't you get your gift...I said no, no biggie.  She looks under the tree pulls out this package (with no name tag) and says here.  I know this gift wasn't intended for me but I open it and its a pair of Christmas socks.  As for the house, they got us glasses and a checker board.  I could tell my DH was embrassed by them, he even said that on the way home. So now I don't put a lot of thought into what I get any of his family.  He doesn't care, so why should I.  This year I did a little photo book of our DD.  We live 5 hrs away and my DH never wants to travel there and she says she can't find her way here so she has only see DD once. ARRRH she gets on my last nerve...thanks for listening!
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