advice please

onlyroz

As someone suggested in another thread, buy him and his family a goat for an African village. Sounds like he's living on another planet...

lisaloo1977

Wow, could not just read and run as i am sat her seething.

I would tell him where to stick it also. How dare someone judge you on how or where you buy your presents and even more how dare they tell you what you should buy or spend on them. :mad:

I may be on my own here, but in our family we do not buy for the extended adults apart from mum and dad and grandma. I buy my partner gifts, but my three brothers and their wives do not want anything and i would rather not have anything from them, it works out best for everyone. We are not being miserable, there is just no point in spending money on stuff for the sake of it. Christmas can be a massive strain and we figure at our age its about our children and not us.

I am so mad for you. I would buy for the children and i would buy whatever i wanted. If he does not like it, then he needs to sit down and have a word with himself and see if he can work out what Christmas really is about.

joanne0620

I'd tell the cheeky barstool where he can stick his list!!!

How on earth is it mentally damaging to children to buy their gifts online?? My DS must be seriously disturbed if thats the case!:rotfl:

I'd also definetly go with the goat suggestion.

What a horrid man he sounds :mad:

Stephb1986_2

Tell him to shove his list where the sun dont shine!

How stuck up is he!! Its not like his S!!t dont stink love.

I've bought presents off ebay for my OH's nieces and nephews got some great bargains I even got a brand new steamer for my OH he doesnt know that yet. I paid in total £10 for a brand new steamer in its box its worth over £40 am i being tight?

How dare he tell you what to spend! This is a bit like my OH's sister sending us product codes for stuff her 3 kids want from argos. We don't send her product codes of what we want, we're lucky if we get £10 in a bloody card never mind £50-£100 on each kid!! When i was a kid i had to put up with what i was given and be greatful!

I definatly wont feel bad about buying stuff off ebay. If he doesn't like it dont get them anything at all!!

Steph xx

p.s dont forget to tell him what you want for christmas make it something dead expensive from a jewlery shop

lowis

:mad:

i think you should print this thread and make your brother-in-law a christmas card out of this thread and the replies. i am STILL seething at how he has treated you.

considering you have gone bankrupt he should think himself lucky that you are bothering with him and his greedy, sh"tty little family at all!

PS - i do ALL of my Xmas shopping online - i am full abled, i just hate shopping this time of year - in fact i challenge myself to make sure i can get everything online each year!

cazscoob

no you are not hurting your children you are doing the very best for them and living within your means. we have had an awful year aslo with money and a new baby coming in feb! we have bought all my DS2 presents from ebay as i cannot see a problem with it, they are all boxed and like new! i think his whole christmas totals £30 compared to the new price of £250???? we have bought various other bits and pieces form there and noone seems to have a problem.

if i was you i wouldnt give them a thing they should understand your situation and help you out not make you feek guilty! our families have agreed to spend as little as possible this year as we are all in the same boat. christmas is about families and being together not what you can get and making people feel misrable xxxx

Zazen999

Personally, I'd get him a picture frame [from ebay] and frame his list, wrap it in newspaper and proudly give it to him.

ameliarate

On a similar but slightly different note, when my daughter was little I hardly bought anything for her for Christmas or her birthdays the first couple of years and instead put money into an account for her. Other birthday money over the years went into the same account. A friend said I was being mean because they are only little for a short time. Her kids got masses of stuff they never played with. I have 3 sisters and a brother and loads of friends so my daughter never went without and when she was 18 had a few grand in the bank.

You do what you feel is right for your kids. How buying them a few little gifts that you know they will enjoy second hand third hand or whatever, can possibly hurt them is beyond me. Your children will grow up knowing the value of money and the meaning of love.

newcook

Ooooh - I wish he was my BIL as I would have a selection of words to give him!!

At the moment I wish I could afford stuff from Ebay - this year I can only afford to get a few presents for those who I am having dinner with (even though I have been told not to) and I think even those will be from poundland or from websites I have earnt vouchers for.

Christmas is about being with those who you love and want to spend time with - its not a competition to see who can spend the most or get the biggest present.

You have already had a carppy year financially and emotionally - don’t let your spoilt BIL try and ruin your 'fresh slate' xmas.

Errata

Tell him to take a hike - he's on planet zanussi !