Gift giving where do you draw the line

[sweaterweather21]

I'm just wondering where do you draw the line when buying birthday presents for family?

My husband and I will buy for our immediate family members (parents, siblings, siblings spouses, nephews and nieces), then for other family members (aunts, uncles, cousins) we tend to just buy for significant birthdays same for friends we just buy for signifiant birthdays.
For the likes of Christmas we tend to buy gifts again for all our immediate family but if we were going to see a distant relative we would have a bottle or wine or box of chocolates or small toy if there were children and if we were invited somewhere would always turn up with a small present for the host.

The reason I'm asking is my husband was told by his mum not to forget his cousin's partner who is 40 next week and to make sure we send n something. We don't know him very well and only see him occasionally at family get togethers so I'm a bit 🤨 at the suggestion. Obviously if he was having a party and we were invited I definitely wouldn't go without a gift.

Just wondering what is everyone's thoughts?

I would send something…a card!

I think you have the right concept, otherwise you would have a birthday gift to buy every other week if you have loads of extended family.

If there’s no party you are attending and you barely see this gentleman then I’d not really send anything to be honest x

It's nice to be acknowledged so a text or a card is fine. Presents are just for those you are very close to and even then i tend to stick with flowers, wine etc for adult birthdays. Make more of an effort at Christmas but otherwise it's just "stuff" that people don't really want or need.

Does your cousin's partner buy for you? Are they having a do?

I've never even met most of my cousins partners or generally only see them at weddings and funerals. We've never exchanged gifts and I see no need to.

I agree that when you get to this level of 'relations' you're basically exchanging stuff that no-one wants or needs and many cannot afford.

I'd maybe send them a card if I actually knew them, and buy them a drink or take a bottle if there was a party or other meet up.

Urgh, my mum’s like this. ‘Don’t forget it’s uncle Bob’s partner’s son in law’s birthday next week’, drives me round the bend.

I wouldn't buy for a cousins partner.
Me and my cousins don't buy for each other either. Only time I would buy a present for them was if we were invited to a party for their event.

I wouldn't buy for my Cousin nevermind their partner.

Nieces/nephews on both sides siblings and partners on both sides and parents are plenty for us. Perhaps for a friend if we were to see them on their birthday a card but unless its a party no present as standard. Might get friends' kids' selection box.

Your cousins partner??! Total madness.
We don’t do gifts for adults at all at Christmas,
Get nieces and nephews something from Amazon but it’s rarely on the day for their birthdays if I’m honest.

@Howshouldibehave

I would send something…a card!

I'd send...... a text message saying happy birthday. Maybe with🥂🎂 if I was feeling flaithulach