You don't give to receive but...

moreofthegoodstuff

As a family we don't go mad when buying presents for each other, £10-£15 each and a little bit of thought into the present in order to make it a nice Christmas.

Every year we get something nice for my husbands brothers and their partners. This year for example we got them a set from Joules and from the Body Shop (and got no thanks!). Nothing fancy but something they would like. In return they bought us a thermometer. They coloured in the price (£2.99) and there was a sticker left on the bottom saying £10. This is of no use to us and to be honest - just totally rude...If you are going to colour in the price you don't leave one saying £10. It's not about the money, if they can only afford £3 then so be it but a bit of thought would have been nice and don't pretend it's more because you shouldn't leave prices on!

Last year his other brother got us a bright yellow glove/scarf set from Poundland and it was horrible and obviously not our style nor theirs!! I always say to my husband I don't know why we bother, we should Poundland their presents and get them any old junk that we can find but he always defends them. :mad:

I know I'll probably be hounded with loads of ''you should be grateful for whatever you get'' comments but I'm not being funny, a box of £3 chocolates would be more thoughtful than a thermometer or not bother at all.

Anyone else have experience of this? I just get so fed up of working so hard to give them something nice and feel that their gifts to us is a running joke to them all.

alias*alibi

Save the gifts they have given you; wrap them up and give them back to them next year and stick a £15 price tag on it.

I know we don't give to receive but some people are so lazy and rude it does pee you off when you put thought into their gifts.

starrybee

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

Last year his other brother got us a bright yellow glove/scarf set from Poundland and it was horrible and obviously not our style nor theirs!! I always say to my husband I don't know why we bother, we should Poundland their presents and get them any old junk that we can find

This is exactly what I would've done!

elantan

I can understand you being annoyed ... Why then do you bother with getting them anything ? Maybe next year state sorry we are no longer buying for anyone but ourselves ?

No point really in getting upset about it all ... Just make sure you change it for next year

moreofthegoodstuff

I'm feeling relieved that I'm being agreed with so far, thanks guys! My mum found the whole thing hilarious because my side of the family are really kind and thoughtful and she cannot understand why they are like the way they are.

I think my husband defends them because he is used to their ways! Mind you I just heard him on the phone to his mum asking if it's only him that gets the crap presents so I think it has got to him slightly! :rotfl:

moreofthegoodstuff

elantan wrote: »

I can understand you being annoyed ... Why then do you bother with getting them anything ? Maybe next year state sorry we are no longer buying for anyone but ourselves ?

No point really in getting upset about it all ... Just make sure you change it for next year

I think I'm upset more for my husband, he tries so hard for them and does so much for all of them I just feel it's a slap in the face.

Ladyhawk

My experiences are not nearly as bad.... but I said this year I didn't want to do presents. I just don't see the point when we are earn a reasonable wage, we all have far too much "stuff" and anything we want we buy. My siblings are also very difficult to buy for and if you get it wrong they (unintentionally) make me feel very bad about my choice. So now we email out a list of items that we would like and then the siblings choose of that. Don't get me wrong, I love giving gifts, especially when I just know that they will love it.

Over the last year there has been much squabbling about presents as well... about when to give them, the budget, why should I buy her something when she hasn't invited me to her party (there was no party)...

So this christmas when I received the email asking what I wanted, I said very specifically that I didn't want anything. One of my siblings has chosen to ignore my express wishes and has bought me something. Now I know I will be very grateful for whatever it is and I know they are meaning to give it with love.... but now it has put me in a difficult position. I haven't got anything for any of the siblings... just a little something for my nephews. I am going to stick to my guns but I am cross that he has ignored my wishes.

Anyway... my point was... presents cause more issues than they are worth.

charlies-aunt

For Xmas 2013, can you re-gift the thermometer back to the scarf & glove givers - and - the scarf and gloves to the thermometer givers?
:T
And with the money that you save - buy yourselves a nice gift??

moreofthegoodstuff

I totally agree Ladyhawk! With certain people I wish we could just not bother! I would happily say to his brothers, next year we are just buying for the children but I know it would cause an argument...Probably because they wouldn't get the nice things we buy them each year!

moreofthegoodstuff

charlies-aunt wrote: »

For Xmas 2013, can you re-gift the thermometer back to the scarf & glove givers - and - the scarf and gloves to the thermometer givers?
:T
And with the money that you save - buy yourselves a nice gift??

I would love to!! If it was down to me I would but unfortunately every year we have the same argument and I'm forced to buy them something nice. I would find it hilarious to give them a bit of junk back just to see their faces. :rotfl:

Goldiegirl

I do understand what you mean

My husband has a long standing friend, and him and his wife have always been the ones who are keen to carry on the present giving tradition. My DH and I don't exchange presents with other friends, just this couple.

Over the last few years the presents we receive have been getting odder and odder. Last year I was given something that was originally a present to the wife, it still had a gift tag addressed to her in the box!

This year I got a t shirt which isn't my style at all, which judging from the price tag still attached, was bought from the bargain rail on a cruise ship they went on last May.

I don't want or expect expensive presents, but they are the one who are keen to carry on with the present giving, you'd think they'd put in a bit of thought.

We are now trying to think up a really bizarre present for them next year!