To not want to buy MIL a Birthday present?

[Ishouldprobablywax]

Basically goes back to last year, I bought her a Chanel perfume and a big box of champneys products, really nice I thought..
Anyway, last week she popped over to visit and brought me a nice big box of champneys things for me, I asked what the occasion was and she said ' ohh I think some girl from work (she's a nurse) got em for me for Christmas so you can have them'.
Grr! Was obviously the same box - I put the recipients initial on them in pencil so I don't get mixed up etc as I start buying Xmas bits and pieces around now.

I just find it so rude because
a) she didn't even remember that it was ME that bought it.
B) it's not cheap stuff
c) I think it's really ungrateful!

She does like pampering things but only if it's dior/Chanel etc - ie she recognises the name, even if it's off the Market etc.

Aibu to not bother this year? Wwyd?

Why isn't it DH's job to buy his mother a present?

my mil is like this, so now we buy presents we fancy getting back six months later

that is phenomenally rude. I think you should tell her that it was you that bought it for her and see what she says to that.
I agree with a MuminScotland though - as far as I am concerned my DH's mother's Bday is his problem!

I'd have already done it - I'd have blurted out "actually it wasn't a girl at work, it was me who gave them to you. It's last year's birthday present". I am completely lacking in tact .

I'm with AMumInScotland - it is your DH's job to buy her pressies. Mine occasionally asks what I think about what he's planning to get, or if I know a shop which might have what he wants to get someone, but he shops for it, wraps it up and presents it. And I do the same for my family.

Why not buy her Chanel/Dior off the market, then? (Or send DH to do it.) At least you know she'll use it.

Leave it to your DH to sort out her gift and if he dosent then she can go without

Dh does buy her a present but she buys me a bday present so I've just always gotten her one too.
It's just really embarrasing and shitty, I wasn't too good last year financially so I had to put in extra hours to buy her a nice present. Grr.

Give her it back for this birthday, see if she realizes

what did she say when you told her it was you?

YANBU btw, the woman sounds horribly ungrateful.

Sorry, question was for WhereYouLeftIt!

Ooh, definitely what tomorrowslookingfine said.

If this goes well, you could have her birthday present sorted for the next decade! Suppose she might notice after a few years though..

taintedpaint, was answering OP's WWYD, have never been in the position thankfully as my MIL is a lovely lovely woman. But I am very tactless , tend to engage mouth before brain IYSWIM.

I laughed aloud at giving her the present back.

You have to do it!

What a topping idea, Tomorrowslookingfine.

Ooops, forgot to namecheck nikkershaw as well for this most practical idea.

My Mum passes presents on....i don't really care that much....she's given me drawer lining paper before(?)that someone else has given her,i do find it all a bit funny,and don't tend to spend too much on anyone these days(apart from bloody kids)...have always left DH's family to himself......if i would like something i will get it for myself,i think other people mainly do the same...to me,presents at christmas and birthdays are sort of tokens,i get what i think they'd like within (a monetary)reason

Well, if you and DH both get her presents, fair enough - can't you both get her a big joint one (that he chooses) though? He must know better what his mum likes.

I wonder if his mum didn't re-gift because she was worrying about getting a regular gift of something she hates? It isn't great, getting into a routine where someone buys you a disposable present you can't stand every damn year.

My mum once gave a book she had to my sisters ex for a christmas present, it was his and my sis had borrowed it, we found out when they split he knew it was his as it had a ripped page in the back lol

Its called regifting, quite green if you think about it.

If someone gave me a gift I'd given them, I'd

a. Think it was hilarious

b. Be pleased as I only give things I like.

Why not ask people what they want for gifts, if they won't tell you buy them a Christian Aid goat.

My DD got a set of colouring books as a birthday gift from one of her school friends that had been partially coloured in she was quite pleased.

Perhaps she really did just forget that it was you who bought it. DH and I don't get seperate presents for MIl we by one between us. The same as we don't get seperate presents for my parents.

I love the idea of "re-gifting" it back to her next time around, excellent! you could even write all over the box in gold marker pen so that she can't possibly pass it on...

very rude of her not to remember who not to re-gift it to though.

I spent £70 one christmas on origins stuff for mil. She just said, 'Oh Smellies.' Might aswell have got her Yardley Lily of the Valley or something.