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Brother in Law is Upset with Us

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  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 11,238 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    jemb wrote: »
    I think he's a bit miffed at your lack of thought more than anything. Same as my Hubs was when his mate bought him a scratch card for his birthday.

    Would he have been miffed if the scratch card won him a lot of money?
    Make £2025 in 2025
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    Total (4/9/25) £1573.21/£2025 77%

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  • thorsoak
    thorsoak Posts: 7,166 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Frankly, I am shocked at the number of people who think that it was "offensive" to give a chocolate orange as a token Christmas present to a 30-year old!

    If the OP and her husband had made it clear that they were not giving big presents because of their house purchase - why should they not give chocolate oranges? After all, it should be the thought that counts - and they had got him a present!
  • balletshoes
    balletshoes Posts: 16,610 Forumite
    thorsoak wrote: »
    Frankly, I am shocked at the number of people who think that it was "offensive" to give a chocolate orange as a token Christmas present to a 30-year old!

    If the OP and her husband had made it clear that they were not giving big presents because of their house purchase - why should they not give chocolate oranges?
    After all, it should be the thought that counts - and they had got him a present!

    Did they make that clear to OH's family?
  • Domayne
    Domayne Posts: 623 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    Did they make that clear to OH's family?

    Why should they have too.....?
    Saved so far - £28,890.97
    ~Selfish is the name that the jealous give to the free~
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  • purpleshoes_2
    purpleshoes_2 Posts: 2,653 Forumite
    Wasn't a token Christmas present. Was a 30th birthday present. And was something that had been given to them and regifted.
  • Domayne
    Domayne Posts: 623 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    and did no-one happen to read that the BIL had also given the OP maltesers as a gift?? What's the difference between that and a chocolate orange?
    He didn't give much thought to his either....so why he expects thought put into his I have no idea!
    Saved so far - £28,890.97
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  • suicidebob
    suicidebob Posts: 771 Forumite
    Was this thread just posted so OP could gain some MSE points?

    Anyway, the whole family sounds petty and childish, as well as completely miserable.
  • purpleshoes_2
    purpleshoes_2 Posts: 2,653 Forumite
    He also gave his brother a book. I actually think this whole issue has little to do with a chocolate orange. The op and her husband clearly saved every spare penny when she was pregnant. When they were saving for a house.


    I wonder house expenses aside just how much money was ever spent on treats. Saving 900 pounds a month and living off the other 900 might have allowed them to get on the property ladder, but how much fun is your life when you are counting every penny and handing over second hand chocolate oranges for someone's birthday.

    There's a fine line between thrift and coming across as just being miserable.
  • notanewuser
    notanewuser Posts: 8,499 Forumite
    Domayne wrote: »
    and did no-one happen to read that the BIL had also given the OP maltesers as a gift?? What's the difference between that and a chocolate orange?
    He didn't give much thought to his either....so why he expects thought put into his I have no idea!

    A) he bought the malteasers
    B) it wasn't a significant birthday
    C) he probably wasn't saving £900+ a month

    With DH's birthday being just after new year I have a fair bit of sympathy with the OP's BIL. He probably got forgotten or had register things from others too. Doubt he expected it from his own brother though!
    Trying to be a man is a waste of a woman
  • Jagraf
    Jagraf Posts: 2,462 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    I had a Great Aunt whose presents at christmas were dreadful. However, it became funny after a while as we knew they would be dreadful.

    I also had another auntie who made every christmas present into a christmas cracker as she couldn't be bothered to use cellotape.

    Actually these are happy memories of christmas.

    Having said that, its no good having a lovely house but no visitors :eek:
    Never again will the wolf get so close to my door :eek:
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