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Original poster

Christmas Gift Rejection

112 replies

ellie09 · 08/11/2026 17:09

Hi all

I have three sisters who are all coupled off now and in fairly serious relationships, so with Christmas coming up, I decided I was just going to get them all vouchers as couple for Christmas.

They all enjoy the cinema, so I went and bought vouchers - enough for tickets, some snacks etc rather than buying individual "tatty" gifts like gift sets etc they don't really need.

I went and got the vouchers last month because I have some hefty bills this month and next and want to concentrate on my own child during those months and getting food shop etc in.

One of my sisters found out from my mum what I got them, and has requested if I can instead give her cash as she wants to get a tattoo.

I explained to her, I wasnt doing individual gifts this year and was getting each couple a gift they could use together.

Well, to say she give off is an understatement.

Apparently she will be far too busy in the 18 months the vouchers are valid for, and if she received it, she would just sell it on for the cash.

She wants me to split the cash I would have spent between her and her partner. The vouchers have already been purchased and I don't have the budget to start buying other things.

I simply asked her why she thought she wouldnt have two hours spare in the next year or so, and she told me to "f### off".

AIBU to just keep the vouchers now for myself and my partner to enjoy and just think bugger off to my sister and her partner this Christmas?

I have no idea how as a society we have got to a position where we are dictating to others what to buy us, acting ungrateful etc.

OP posts:
HeyThereDelila · 08/11/2026 23:00

YANBU, your sister sounds rude and incredibly ungrateful. I’d love cinema vouchers - what a great present idea!

Don’t get her anything else.

whippersnapper55 · 08/11/2026 23:11

I'd give her nothing. And if she asks you why, tell her to fuck off!

Oxaloacetate · 08/11/2026 23:14

Right well then she gets no gift definitely use it yourself. If someone is going to look a gift horse in the mouth then they do not get to have anything.

This is what happens when people see themselves getting a gift as a given and not, well, a gift! The meaning of gifts has been lost to many… they don’t consider a world where they don’t get any if they’re an arsehole

Gall10 · 08/11/2026 23:29

LintRollers · 08/11/2026 17:29

Wow.

I detest tattoos but this is such a nasty thing to say, especially knowing there'll be MNetters reading this who have them.

Show quote history

Oh please…it’s Sunday evening…can’t I end the weekend I am light note!

Netcurtainnelly · 08/11/2026 23:56

ellie09 · 08/11/2026 17:09

Hi all

I have three sisters who are all coupled off now and in fairly serious relationships, so with Christmas coming up, I decided I was just going to get them all vouchers as couple for Christmas.

They all enjoy the cinema, so I went and bought vouchers - enough for tickets, some snacks etc rather than buying individual "tatty" gifts like gift sets etc they don't really need.

I went and got the vouchers last month because I have some hefty bills this month and next and want to concentrate on my own child during those months and getting food shop etc in.

One of my sisters found out from my mum what I got them, and has requested if I can instead give her cash as she wants to get a tattoo.

I explained to her, I wasnt doing individual gifts this year and was getting each couple a gift they could use together.

Well, to say she give off is an understatement.

Apparently she will be far too busy in the 18 months the vouchers are valid for, and if she received it, she would just sell it on for the cash.

She wants me to split the cash I would have spent between her and her partner. The vouchers have already been purchased and I don't have the budget to start buying other things.

I simply asked her why she thought she wouldnt have two hours spare in the next year or so, and she told me to "f### off".

AIBU to just keep the vouchers now for myself and my partner to enjoy and just think bugger off to my sister and her partner this Christmas?

I have no idea how as a society we have got to a position where we are dictating to others what to buy us, acting ungrateful etc.

A prime example of how giving presents needs to be dropped.

OrangeBlouse · 09/11/2026 00:04

Give her a pack of temporary tattoos and a kick in the bracket.

Millytante · 09/11/2026 11:48

ellie09 · 08/11/2026 17:20

She does have young kids, but two sets of grandparents on hand that babysit and have them overnight etc.

Her main issue is the fact she's in her final year of uni and placement. The vouchers are valid long after she graduates and when questioning how she can find time then to get a tattoo but not two hours at the cinema, she couldn't answer it.

Its not something I did randomly - most of their date nights have been at the cinema.

Show quote history

Don’t give it another thought, except to decide you are keeping the voucher. Rudeness like that is beneath contempt and need not bother your conscience at all.
I certainly wouldn’t spend five minutes in her company at any Christmas bash this year. Who needs that negative energy, any time of the year?

BusyGreySnail · 09/11/2026 12:07

How rude. Your sister clearly doesn't understand that gifting isn't an ordering service. I'd give her her gift as you had planned as you've already bought it and not bother going forward.

ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer · 09/11/2026 12:25

God OP she sounds so ungrateful and rude, keep the vouchers for yourself and give her absolutely nothing, I would be livid if either mine or my partner’s sibling reacted like this (they wouldn’t in a million years) and they wouldn’t be getting a present ever again!

Biker47 · 09/11/2026 12:33

I'd cellotape a pound coin into a Christmas card and say "For your tattoo, Merry Christmas".

housethatbuiltme · 09/11/2026 12:54

Absobeautely · 08/11/2026 17:18

Posters are being weird suggesting other gifts for the woman.
Obviously don't bestow any gift on someone who tells you to fuck off. Ever again.

Tell your mother to not involve you in her gossip.

Because the 'higher ground' can protect your own arse from the fire.

Anyone with a dysfunctional family knows this. Even if your right its not hard for the drama queen to make life so uncomfortable for everyone that they will turn on the innocent scapegoat.

If they have a 'legitimate' sounding claim to being a victim like 'ellie bought everyone but me a Christmas gift' then you open yourself up as the easy target because people will see you as bad as each other and will be less likely to have your back, you'll likely get 'why didn't you just give her the voucher, why rock the boat' etc...

However if you buy a poundland box of chocolates and they are like 'ellie bought me a gift I didn't like, I told her I didn't want it and wouldn't use it so she just gave me cheap chocolate instead' then its much harder to turn people as she just sounds incredibly rude, childish and ungrateful and you are the wonderful person putting up with their insanity.

WilliamTopazMcGonagallPoorPoetFromDundeeBeItTold · 09/11/2026 13:31

Pretend that you seriously misunderstood - apologise to her for getting her cinema tickets that she didn't want and give her an envelope instead... containing tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Grin

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