Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Cheap chocolate and presents from MIL

314 replies

nottheplan · 23/04/2025 16:15

Mil and dhs family always buy rubbish presents and easter chocolate for our dcs. We're talking rotten own brand chocolate that nobody likes. It just gets chucked in the bin. Also cheap plastic toys from b&m in the 2 for £20 offer for birthdays and Christmas. Always break into pieces and get chucked in the bin. They are most definitely not poor. Wibu to ask them not to buy anymore for our dcs? If I phrase it that they have too much already and were trying to cut down on toys and treats?

OP posts:
OMGitsnotgood · 23/04/2025 16:43

Chocolate to a food bank, toys to a charity shop. Then tell MIL what you’ve done with them and hopefully she will get the message.

ClaredeBear · 23/04/2025 16:43

as @PlanetOttersays, you could explain you’re cutting back and perhaps ask them to contribute to a larger gift or put a few quid into their accounts. As for the chocolate, are you telling me your kids can tell the difference?! Who doesn’t like?

nottheplan · 23/04/2025 16:42

I'm not saying it's inedible. The kids try it, don't like it and it gets left there. What's wrong with a Cadburys or Nestlé eggs? They are always eaten.

OP posts:
Boomer55 · 23/04/2025 16:42

How ungrateful. Get over yourself.🙄

montelbano · 23/04/2025 16:40

TomatoSandwiches · 23/04/2025 16:19

Use the chocolate to make a cake or biscuits/muffins to give back as a thank you, donate the other gifts to children that don't get any presents at all, I'm sure they'd be grateful.

Seems somewhat mean to donate poor quality toys to children who don't get any. They will be understandably upset if the toys break quickly

Endofyear · 23/04/2025 16:40

You could tell them you're trying to cut down on plastic stuff for the kids and ask for vouchers so they can choose a book or puzzle instead. I wouldn't be bothered about the cheap chocolate - own brand stuff is perfectly edible and can be donated to your local food bank.

PlanetOtter · 23/04/2025 16:39

You ungrateful so and so! If it’s not your sort of thing, thank them nicely then donate.

MyUmberSeal · 23/04/2025 16:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

takealettermsjones · 23/04/2025 16:38

Oh heavens above, your poor children.

(Of course you can donate an opened toy to a charity shop 🤨)

hehehesorry · 23/04/2025 16:35

I like fancy chocolate but you can't act like cheap chocolate is inedible garbage, makes you sound like a massive twat. I agree with you on the plastic. Some people who have alot of money still spend like they don't, it's a gift so you don't get to choose what it is

WeHaveTheRabbit · 23/04/2025 16:34

Not <gasps> cheap chocolate! How very dare they? You should definitely go no contact.

On a serious note, I think it would be fine to say that you are trying to cut back on toys as the children already have enough. But it would have to be phrased tactfully and there is no guarantee that your MIL would abide by your suggestion.

nottheplan · 23/04/2025 16:27

Dc play with the toys for half an hour or so and then they are left to one side. Tomatosandwiches - if only we could do that but they want them to open the presents in front of them. Therefore we can't donate. That would be the ideal solution though. I just wish they would give money or vouchers instead. Or something nice to wear. I think my issue is with disposing of the tat.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 23/04/2025 16:19

Use the chocolate to make a cake or biscuits/muffins to give back as a thank you, donate the other gifts to children that don't get any presents at all, I'm sure they'd be grateful.

Stickortwigs · 23/04/2025 16:17

Yes YWBU. Just because a gift isn’t what you’d choose doesn’t mean to say you should tell people to stop. They probably enjoy buying the gifts for GC. And do the children genuinely never enjoy the toys? Even for a short time?

Swipe left for the next trending thread