So when your parents, or ILs had 60th birthdays what did you get them and how much did you spend?

[saltire]

It is MIL's 60 tha nd PILs three days later (april). They were both having parties, but MIL found out that PIL was having his the same day and an almighty row broke out, with much name calling between her, PIL and step MIL.
Anyway, she (MIL) was on the phone last night talking to DH,and saying she was going to spend £40 on him since he was 40 this year. SO later, DH says to me, "we had better spend £60 each on my mum and dad for their 60ths".
Why? Why should I have to (for those of you who remember my iron thread, Step MIL has already sent me an email pointing out £180 BFA models for PIL)It was my mums 60 last year and she got a huge bouquet of flower worth about £30, which is what I was going to spend on the ILs. Now though, DH thinks that they - especially his mum - will be mortally offended if we don't spend a lot of money

[RedFraggle]

It was my MIL's 60th birthday a few years ago. Her children clubbed together and bought her a necklace and locket for about £70. But that works out at about £23 each. I certainly wouldn't be spending much more than that.
The idea of money being linked to age is rubbish! Does that mean that if she knows a two year old child she will only spend £2 on them??? Stick to the £30 to be "even-handed" for both your families, you can always say that if he is spending that much on his parents that you'd best book to take your mum on a spa day or something to make up for the fact that she has been so short-changed

[bogie]

It was fil 60th last week and we are a bit skint (and i hate him so was not going to spend all my money on him even if it was available) so we only spent about £20.

And started to feel a tiny bit guilty because he isn't liked by many people and only had about 4 cheap prezzies.

[saltire]

Glad others agree with me. I can't stand PIL, he is an absolute arse. The problem we ahve is that Step MIL's neice and her DH are always buying him expensive gifts, for Christmas they bought hima BFA model which cost about £100.
Mil usually only gives DH or I a £10 for our birthdays, so the £40 is splashing out for her, but we can't afford big presents, well we could stretch to it, but I'd rather spend the extra money on DH'#s 40 th present (since the boring fart doesn't want a party)

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

For my dad's 60th b'day we threw him a surprise party (which he later tried to give us money for!!!) It did cost a bit and took a bit of organising, but we are very close!! MiL would have got a bunch of flowers if she waa lucky, but she chose not to tell anyone if and when she was 60!

I don't think you should feel obliged to buy a big pressie- they are 60, not 6!! It should be enough to have your presence at their respective parties