Is there any way I can stop buying nieces and nephews Christmas presents without looking mean and miserable??

[RogelioAndXo]

I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew, all siblings. The eldest, N1, is 20. The other two are 18 and 15.

I've vaguely had in mind that when they turn 21 then I'd stop buying them gifts. The adults buy each other gifts too. However, my family all get together at Christmas for present swapping. If I stop buying N1 gifts next year when she's 21, then at Christmas I'd be handing out presents to her parents and her two siblings, but not her. I can't possibly do that without feeling like a complete cow.

I've suggested we all stop buying presents and instead we spend the money on a family day out or meal. It went down like a lead balloon - no one wants to do it. I've suggested secret Santa. I've suggested giving to charity. Nope.

I can't think of any other way of stopping buying my nieces and nephew presents without feeling majorly awful and leaving one of them out. Is there anything else I haven't thought of? Otherwise I'm going to be buying them presents well into adulthood and, well, I don't really want to

Gift basket ($1)
Shower Gel, pot pourri, chocolates, lighters, socks, soaps, bath puffies, candle, ...numerous other items all a $1. Choose five. add a little coloured tissue paper and no more worries.

@RogelioAndXo when my niece and nephew were born I simply suggest to my brother he no longer buy me gifts and I no
Longer but him and his wife gifts as Christmas is about the kids it’s more affordable ... perhaps discuss with the adults that option explaining you can’t afford to do everyone for ever so either they don’t get the gifts or it’s just one joint family gift for everyone?

Do a secret Santa for everyone over 18 instead? That way there are still gifts, but fewer.

I had a similar issue with my cousins though there is upto a 5 year age gap as a kid I would save and buy them
All individual Christmas gifts .. and cards never got one in return or a thank you so when I was about 20 I stopped no one said anything x

Just cut down the family present budget then spend it as you see fit. I'm not sure why you spend £25 on the children as well as the adults anyway! If you cut the budget down to £75 for the family you could still get gifts either individually or a whole family gift and not be so unevenly balanced financially.
A whole family gift is a bit odd when the family don't all live together.

I think the single family gift such as a hamper is an excellent idea. Doesn't just have to be food, you could add some bath bombs and smelly stuff too. Maybe a couple of bottles of wine?

Im massively outnumbered when it comes to gift giving also, theres just me and dd but i buy for everyone and we often get not alot back but everyone says how much they look forward to my gifts and i feel stuck in a cycle.
However I do get things all through the year when i see a good offer and I’ve massively cut down on cost per person and nearer xmas you can get good deals on chocolate etc to bulk a gift out and so my gifts never look ‘tight’ but im starting to get secret joy from it not costing as much as it looks.
I am gradually cutting down on it though everyone still gets a gift but im trying not to over do it and if im tempted to buy more must remind myself they dont do the same for us and my gift is more than adequate!
So if you dont want to say right thats it no more gifts I would definitely cut down your £25 a head to £10 maximum. Same for birthdays i reckon you will be suprised what nice bits you find.
And if they dont like it maybe they’ll suggest stopping so win win

For the last 3 years we have secret Santa for everyone over 18 and over 90 . The last was introduced for my mother who loved getting presents and who was a bit confused in her last few years so we decided the secret santa idea wouldn't include her.either.

Sorry anyone UNDER 18!!

I get where you're coming from with this OP. My children are very much younger than my nieces who are both over 18. I have recently scaled back the gifts I give them (they get a gift but it tends to be something of less financial value than it would have been when they were children). I have found that my sister now spends a similar amount on my children. My nieces have yet to buy even a birthday card, let alone a gift. It does grate a little given the years of spending I've done when my children now receive so very much less.

Don’t reduce to £5 or make up hampers that just generates more charity shop tat.

Stop

Or
We do a secret Santa. Each person does a list of 5 things for £50 each and the buyer must chose from that list- no exceptions

Everyone gets 1 decent gift. No tat at all.

You don’t have to make up hampers. You can buy a pretty decent one for around 50 pounds, which is the same cost as the presents just for the parents. John Lewis do really lovely Christmas hampers.

Me and DH come from big families.
It was mutually agreed that
Once adults had children, only buy for their children (ie nieces and nephews)
As each reached age 21 stop buying that individual a gift.
It was fair as each child knew they had 21 years of gifts.
I have 15 neices & nephews so we put a £10 limit on gifts as well.

We do very same, though we stopped at 18 not 21. I have 11 nephews and nieces. The oldest five are all in their 30s and I also have 9 great nephews and nieces.