Cheap birthday gift ideas for cousin?

babysonia

Hey all,

I was wondering if any of you could help me choose some cheap birthday items for my older cousin.

Background info-
This may sound harsh but the past few years i have always splurged on her, Every birthday i spend over £50 on her gifts and pay for her meal and every year she palms me off with cheap gifts that i really dont need or want.

For example last year i got her make over and photoshoot for £57 and paid like £40 for our meal and what i got in return was primark bra and primark nailpolishes- Dont get me wrong im not dissing primark and i hate to sound selfish and greedy but it makes me think that i do soo much to make her happy but she in return palms me off with items i dont want or need without any thought.


I do love her loads but this year i am really skint as i spent all my money on christmas gifts and do not get paid until the 14th dec, I wanted to get her something nice but not so expensive. Probably under £10 if i can as i have bought her a expensive manicure kit for christmas.

Have any of you been in a similar situation?

Any ideas are appreciated.

gingin_2

It is possible to be overwhelmed as well as underwhelmed by presents. Maybe she can't afford, or doesn't want to spend as much and doesn't know how to say it. My cousin is my best friend but a gift is £10 - £15 at most.

I know it's a cliche but you don't give a gift only to expect to receive the same back in return - well, I don't.

You can get a lot for £10 in Primark, if she's happy to shop there then why not pick her up some bits from there. I quite like their winter scarves they have at the moment.

Sambucus_Nigra

Give her a scarf and a pair of socks.

Surely you must be able to come up with something she likes for under £10? You know her, we don't.

heretolearn_2

£50 sounds like a lot to spend on a cousin, to be honest, and if you are resenting this now then it's definitely time to stop. It's fine to have unequal present giving due to unequal circumstances, or if you genuinely don't mind spending more, but this is not healthy for your relationship if you are unhappy about it.

It doesn't mean she values you less as a person than you do her. there could be lots of reasons for it. (for example, my son has two cousins on his dad's side and he is their only cousin, and 13 cousins on mine. Neither side of cousins is aware of each other as the two families don't really all get together. What if he felt he should buy for all. His two cousins might be able to afford to spend £50 on him as there is only one 'cousin' gift for them, but he'd have to spend 15 x £50 to treat all his cousins equally. You might be thinking that as she is your only cousin/one of few you can spend more, but you don't know how many other people she has to buy for.)

You can get lots of nice things for a tenner. Make up set, scarf/gloves, posh choc from Hotel Chocolat, book, CD, smellies from Lush (my favourite), etc...

cutestkids

You really dont need to spend loads of cash to give someone a gift and let them know that you care about them, perhaps your cousins is trying to gently tell you this by not buying such extravagant gifts in return.

Really gift giving should be because you want to not as a show of how much you have spent and then a moan because the recipient did not go out and spend the same on you.

You state the following it makes me think that i do soo much to make her happy but she in return palms me off with items i dont want or need without any thought.

Have you considered that she may feel the same way about the expensive photo shoots and manicure sets that she may not need or want.

I have to say that you do sound quite selfish and greedy with your opening post, it is as if you resent spending on her as you will not get the same value (in your eyes) back.

balletshoes

gingin wrote: »

You can get a lot for £10 in Primark, if she's happy to shop there then why not pick her up some bits from there. I quite like their winter scarves they have at the moment.

I agree - their PJ's, dressing gowns, winter scarfs/hats etc (loads in chunky knit at the moment) are all lovely and all are under £10.

I think you need to stop spending so much on your cousin's pressies full stop, and don't feel guilty about reducing the cost - honestly £50 is a lot to spend on a cousin.

Tish_P

Perhaps in some parallel universe your cousin is posting the following message to a forum:

What shall I do about my cousin? This may sound harsh and ungrateful but the past few years she has spent an embarrassing amount on my birthday present and it makes me feel awkward and obliged to her. I have always spent only what I could afford and felt was appropriate (£10 ish) on her, but she keeps responding with £50 gifts and meals.

Cut down the amount you spend on her to a level at which you feel no resentment about what you get "in return". She's likely to be as relieved as you are.

sedment

What about a cosy onsie suit? The flanelette pyjamas in Primark are fab value, wash well and are cute. Maybe a small gift bag with a bottle of wine and a big cake of chocolate.

babysonia

cutestkids wrote: »

You really dont need to spend loads of cash to give someone a gift and let them know that you care about them, perhaps your cousins is trying to gently tell you this by not buying such extravagant gifts in return.

Really gift giving should be because you want to not as a show of how much you have spent and then a moan because the recipient did not go out and spend the same on you.

You state the following it makes me think that i do soo much to make her happy but she in return palms me off with items i dont want or need without any thought.

Have you considered that she may feel the same way about the expensive photo shoots and manicure sets that she may not need or want.

I have to say that you do sound quite selfish and greedy with your opening post, it is as if you resent spending on her as you will not get the same value (in your eyes) back.

These are things she has specifically asked for, she says hints herself saying i really want this and this around her birthday- I dont buy her unwanted gifts.

You read my post in the wrong sense, i have mentioned that i dont mind what she gives me its just gifts that i dont need so it makes me think that i should reduce my spending on her.

I dont gift her to get the same value back its just nice to know someone has put some thought into what they buy you- Not turn around and buy you items that they know you dont need or in the colour they know you hate! It seems like she just picks up items and gives them to me without any thought.

She earns more than i do and has no real expenses apart from shopping for herself. Im not eyeing her wage nor to i want hundreds spent on me- I would rather her spend time and think of what to get me rather than pick something up as a last thought.

babysonia

sedment wrote: »

What about a cosy onsie suit? The flanelette pyjamas in Primark are fab value, wash well and are cute. Maybe a small gift bag with a bottle of wine and a big cake of chocolate.

Thanks for the idea's, shes looking for a onsie but shes tiny and even kids ones are big for her.

I am baking her a cake and i might get her a bottle of bubbly aswell

babysonia

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Give her a scarf and a pair of socks.

Surely you must be able to come up with something she likes for under £10? You know her, we don't.

She has expensive tastes and will turn her nose up at anything cheap as a gift or just say 'oh , nice' with a face liek shes sucking a lemon - I have seen it happen as she makes a big deal of opening her gifts infront of people lol

Thats the reason why i spend so much as i want her to be happy with what i buy her- I just wanted idea's as i couldnt come up with many.