do you stop buying Christmas presents for siblings children when they turn 18?

[papayasareyum]

my eldest is 18 and both of my siblings said quite recently that they're not going to buy any more Christmas or birthday presents for her, as she's now an adult. I can't decide if this is very sensible of them as Christmas pressies are only for younger children, or a bit mean of them as we have a very small family and they're not having to buy lots of pressies for lots of people. What do you all think? Do you carry on buying gifts for nieces and nephews or do you stop?

We all buy until the kids are 21. My kids are the adults so it was easy for me to suggest it. My After their 21st birthday they get only get cards and maybe a token gift such as a bar of chocolate for birthdays and christmases.

My parents have 12 grandchildren and are too nice for their own good. They were shelling out £50 for each child’s birthday and each child’s Xmas present. It was ridiculous. I suggested they stop giving presents at 18 but they pushed me back to 21.

My kids all thought it a good idea too. The thought that the eldest at 22 would feel sorry for himself because he wouldn’t receive a gift whilst his younger siblings and cousins did is crazy. You would have to be a particularly bratty 21 year old to feel sad about that.

The most important thing is that everyone knows the plan.

It depends on the relationship, surely? I have a much-loved aunt who I'm close to and she carried on giving me (and my sister & her partner) Christmas presents until a couple of years ago, at which time I was probably mid-50s (and she was mid-80s). And we gave her presents as well. I'm still sending her a present, but she's now a bit too frail to reciprocate - I really don't mind.

I've also got nephews who have no living grandparents, and only a couple of aunts in total. The oldest one is 18, and is as skint as his younger brothers, and I'd imagine I'll carry on sending them Christmas and Birthday presents as long as we remain close enough (together with the occasional small cash gift for exams passed!). I now ask them what they want, and they're never grabby and always appreciative.

Stopped ages ago for my side of the family, dh's side it will be 18 and I'd stop it now if I could - it's all so silly - they give our dcs a few notes and we do the same...