To be disappointed about the book?

Is that thoughtlessness of the gift, rather than the cost that is the real cause of your upset OP? If it was an out of print edition of a book you wanted then that is different but it doesn't seem to be the case.

It’s not that tight by the sounds of it!
£2.50 is fucking miserable for a Christmas present. It’s clearly not a common theme for the OP or she wouldn’t have posted. If daughter was going cheap this Christmas she’d have said something to her mum.
More like some fall out or an issue between them that OP is completely ignorant to

@AnnaSewell rather than feeling offended by it, if this is a dramatic change from usual gift giving patterns within the family, I'd be concerned and checking that she's actually doing as well as you think.

Could she be struggling financially? When I was starting my career there were a couple of years where present-buying was a huge financial stretch and even £10 per person was something needing planned and saved for due to rent, uni debt, training expenses, travel costs, etc eating up a starting salary that hadn't kept pace with inflation.

Could she be struggling with her mental health? Depression, anxiety, etc can all make it harder to plan and follow through with activities.

Could she be having other difficulties in her life that have put so much stress on her that this was the best she could do?

I think it was clear from early in the thread we are not talking about people who can't afford to be generous, but people who could and choose not to be.

I can't believe People are still expecting OP to be delighted with the thoughtful gift.

The daughter didn't even take the time to rub out the price!
Did she write a card or inscription explaining why she thought this book would be a great read for OP?
Or a heartfelt note expressing her love and gratitude?
Wrap it beautifully?

There's nothing to suggest the gift was especially well thought-out.

I would love to know the back story as to why someone would only spend £2.50 on their mum’s Christmas present because there absolutely must be one.

Tbh I would never expect my child to gift at the same level as I do to them.

Really @Noyesnoyes , why is that?

@DodoTired the OP has decided that she can afford it, no conversation has taken place...

I would also have been disappointed in a charity shop book as a gift, unless it was from a person, who was short of money and had put thought into the choice.
From an adult daughter in a good job I would have thought it was some sort of strange joke.

Of course it may be the subject matter that is more disappointing.

It wasn't this one was it?

The daughter in question can afford more.

Clearly it is a lack of thought here. A random charity shop book, NOT by a favourite author, seriously?

Or they can't afford more .....?

Cost of living and high rents, mortgages etc?

So you enjoyed the book? What does it matter what it cost she saw it and thought you'd love it? Which you did . I really can't stand materialistic people , my friend got me something free of fb market place for my birthday I couldn't care less as I love what she got me and she went to the effort to find it for me

I wonder if the people arguing this is fine would want to think their own adult DC turned up at a friends wedding with a set of tea towels from the charity shop as a gift? Or handed their host a can of lager as their party contribution? The boss known for putting 50p into leaving collections? Because if your child is mean to you, either they're tight fisted by nature, which personally I'd be ashamed of, or they're making a special exception and being tight fisted with you, which isn't great either. If people are happy raising misers, that's your call. But generally they're not well liked.

Second hand’s fine, I bought my DD two second hand hardback books for Christmas on a topic I knew she’d enjoy. We had a good laugh about it.

However, if you think she was just being lazy, tell her you saw from the price ticket it came from a charity shop so you’re happy to donate it back to the same one if it’s a cause she likes to support? Hopefully it might embarrass her into a bit more consideration next year.

My mattering is not connected by cost of presents.

Yeah you're probably the "insta" Christmas present person, look at all the wonderful presents I got, so expensive, so thoughtful, so incredible that everyone thinks so much of meeeeee!

Whilst really your relationships are broken.

We all know those people.

This would be like spending significantly more on one child than the other. Yes - if the second child is a baby. No if they’re 8 & 10.

The argument that some posters here are using would apply- the monetary value is irrelevant. How many of us would actually spend £100 on one child and £10 on the other, because the financial value is irrelevant and does not reflect our love for them ? Seriously?

God its such a depressing race to the bottom on here! All these ' oh just give me a twig or a pebble - I'm happy with any old shite' brigade!

I'd like to know if all the people preaching this genuinely gave their mother's a £2.50 charity shop book on its own as their Christmas gift?

Why are we conditioned into thinking that we don't matter. That our role is to make everything good for everyone else except ourselves. I hate it.

I have a dh & dc & we all treat each other equally. And have done from the start. We all make an effort to show each other that we care & that we appreciate having each other in our lives. It's important.

I wish women would stop making such martyrs of themselves.

Your daughter did not act nicely towards you & I understand why you feel overlooked & undervalued.

Exactly this!

The apps saying just don't buy her anything are not even considering a conversation with the DD!

Unreal!

Yes, I agree. Context is everything here - financially struggling, it’s very understandable. But if not, and - crucially- if other family members or partner received more thoughtful and/or expensive gifts, then this appears to be very hurtful.

Very nicely put.