Mine is nothing compared to some of these stories but what a wonderful place to get it off my chest finally...
BiL is quite young, and has just got engaged to a single mum who is younger than him still. They are planning their wedding for this year, as long as her parents give consent, that kinda young. Anyways, its a known fact (I have no idea why) throughout DP's family that BiL has a fair wad on money saved up because he's just never spent anything, until new gf comes along. BiL and I have good relationship, it was me he first asked did I think it was a good idea to propose (what the hell can you say to that without upsetting anyone? I'd met the girl once!). After saying, well, why not, you only live once I suddenly became MAID OF HONOUR. Yes, she asked me this after meeting me once DP's nans birthday dinner.
Anyway, I digress.
BiL texts to ask what DP, myself, and Ds1+2 would like for Christmas. I'm thinking a tenner each, maybe 20 on DP as he is his brother. I came up with SUGGESTIONS. DVD boxset for DP for £20, diary for me for £10, rattly things for baby DS2 for £8.75, and some play food or something for DS1 who has just got a kitchen for his birthday from biological dad (only 2 months late...). BiL says he was thinking about 30 on DS1, they already have a few bits for DS2 so that makes 20 on him too. Ok, I find something for 20, trying to be thoughtful. Then DP gets an email from MiL saying Ive asked for way too much, its 62 quid in total, its out of order blah blah blah. Where on earth did I go wrong??? He asked what we wanted, I thought of as cheap things I could that would actually be used, and I'm still in touble! Soooo glad I spent (out of MY money, not DP's) so much on all of them now!!! And I'm on sodding disability benefit as is DP but if I can afford it I dont begrudge spending money on my own bloody family! (I went on to spend about £250 on my parents combined, that frigging showed them!) Yes its not about the money BUT HE TOLD ME WHAT HE WANTED TO SPEND!!!! And mummy then wades in and says I'VE asked for too much!!! Arghhhhh!
And for anyone else as money-orientated as me, yes I did spend more on BiL, SiL-2-b and stepniece, even though theres 3 of them and 4 of us
.
*Just to add, it was only the 4 family members we have that I accepted gifts from. And 1 friend. Everyone else I asked for donations to the Barely Born Foundation where my premature son spent the first 3 weeks of his life.