What do you do at Xmas with your adult kids & partners?

*Louise*

Well, going by what my mum does....she buys token gifts for partners until they are 'serious' (ie. engaged/moved in together etc) then she treats them the same as her own children present wise.

She usually spends £50 on each of us, and our partners. I would rather have it that way. If one day she can't afford to spend that amount, I would rather she cut back on us both equally rather than going back to getting hubby a token gift and still spending on me.

Quackers

My Mum did not buy my boyfriend a gift for xmas & I was really offended.

He wasn't. Not that we've spoke about it but i know he wouldn't even notice :rotfl:

She didn't last year either but they'd not met before Xmas day so I didn't give it a second thought.

Ok, She's only seen him a couple of times since but I was still really surprised that she didn't buy him a small token gift.

kettlefish

This year was our first Christmas since living together/getting married - we got a really nice pressie between us (cost about £25) and a stocking full of bits and bobs each from my parents. To be honest though there was nothing we needed/wanted especially, although it is nice to have something as a "treat" for the home. I think it is difficult to buy a joint pressie unless the couple are living together, unless it's an 'experience' like gig tickets or a night away rather than a 'thing' iykwim. Before we married, I'd say I probably had more spent on me, but think that's because my mum could actually think of things I'd like... Men are such pains to buy for!!

nearlyrich

DD has a BF they have been together since Summer 07, I usually spend about £40 on him and a bit or a lot more on DD and DS (thry both had about £250 this Christmas as I had a a decent bonus and they asked for a contribution towards things they wanted which cost around £250. If they were living together I would probably buy them a joint gift or spend about the same on them.

shiningdove

We get joint prezzies off both presents.

aliasojo

Lol....I know what you mean though. :D

MrsAnnie

My parents spend more on me, than DH. However DH does get a really nice gift that he very much appreciates and now looks forward to each year; therefore probably doesn't notice (or would even care) that there is a cost difference between my gift and his.

He just thinks it great that my parents send gifts that thought has gone into them and that are individual. Not just off of the shop shelf, so to speak.

red_devil

i dont buy my son anything and he dosent buy me anything. We send a card and we speak on the phone on the day or the day before to say Happy Xmas.

It hasnt always been like this but this is the way it is at the moment. It may change again one day! It may not sound much fun but its less stressful and no unwanted presents. Its the way it is for us.

katieclampet

I usually spend approx same amount on each of 3dds and parners, or I have given them money, in which case they all get the same. However I am fortunate that I really like my s-i-l-s, and have a good relationship with them all.

It might be a lot harder to be so evenhanded and fair, if they were a useless layabout:rotfl:

katiex

pavlovs_dog

we live with OH's parents. they normally spend more or less the same on us for birthdays and christmas. Sometimes i get more, sometimes it's OH - i think it all depends on what MIL has seen to suit us. The trend for the past few years has been a few small token individual pressies and then money for us to put towards whatever we want (normally our holiday). she does the same for OH's brother and his wife.

my mum on the other hand (when we were exchanging presents) totally ignores my OH which made me very angry and upset as we've been together more than 5 years so it's not as if he is a passing fancy. Luckily we're not speaking at themo because if we were I would have made a stand and told her not to bother buying for me anymore if she won't include my OH as well. The rest of my family on the other hand treat him as one of their own and they spend the same on him as they do on me.

alias you could always get them a joint present - something for the house, a dvd rental subscription, a hamper of goodiesthey might not be able to afford, vouchers for a meal (if you get busy on pigsback etc it could even be cash neutral)!