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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not get MIL a Christmas present this year

68 replies

5ThingsUnderTheBed · 22/10/2012 11:29

Given that DH and I have just spent £200 buying her a mobility scooter?

She was here yesterday and we told her we weren't getting her one and she seemed ok with it. She has just called DH regarding something else and had a right go at him about the lack of present.

She is already coming here for her dinner on Christmas Day, I bend over for her by doing what she wants for dinner rather than my family's traditions so I think she is just going to have to suck it up and stop acting like a spoilt child!

AIBU?

OP posts:
pigletmania · 22/10/2012 16:20

Get her a small gift, there are so many nice cheap things in the shops

pigletmania · 22/10/2012 16:22

Well get her a gift card to her favourite store. Get her a token gift anyway, if she complains let her know of the scooter

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 22/10/2012 16:22

Why don't you go on the bargain Christmas presents thread in the Christmas section? Bet you'll be able to find something for under a tenner that looks a lot more.

ohdoone · 22/10/2012 16:30

I would get her a box of chocs or some bath stuff to unwrap on xmas day. However I would also ask her exactly how much of your familys income she thought she was entitled to, as you have just spent £200 on her and can't help but feel taken aback that she would expect more out of your bank account.

ENormaSnob · 22/10/2012 16:31

Seriously? She deserves a further gift despite acting a spoilt entitled cow?

Her attitude since would ensure naff all from me.

I loathe people like this.

BonaDea · 22/10/2012 16:36

Get her a zimmer frame to remind her of how lucky she is.

WandaDoff · 22/10/2012 16:40

I would get her some suppositories.

Then I would shove them up her arse. Smile

Narked · 22/10/2012 17:36

'A picture of the scooter in a frame so she won't forget what you got her? You could put a festive bow on it'

That is class Shodan Grin

Original poster
5ThingsUnderTheBed · 22/10/2012 17:39

We bought her the scooter, not because she as desperate for one but because she wanted one, all the ladies in her sheltered accom have them. She wanted a brand new one so we said we would pay the £300 deposit for one after christmas if she wanted and she would pay he rest in instalments. By chance someone was selling the one we bought second hand for £200 and so we bought that.

And it wasn't a case of "oh by the way, you're getting oohing for Christmas" more "would you mind not receiving something Christmas da seeming as we've bought you the scooter".

Like I've said, she was fine when she left yesterday.

She does not at chocolate, she would not appreciate hand cream and she certainly wouldn't be happy with a token gift.

Perhaps I am BU, but there is nothing I could buy her under £10 that she would appreciate. I spend £10 limit on everyone else, she just seems to be the exception.

OP posts:
NUFC69 · 22/10/2012 17:46

It's MILs like this who get the rest of us a bad name. I do, however, think you ought to get her something, however ungrateful she might seem. I think the idea of a blanket that she can put over her knees when she is on the scooter would be a great idea - I'm sure you can find one which won't cost a lot of money.

zipzap · 22/10/2012 17:55

On the 4th (or maybe 3rd) big bargain xmas thread that is currently growing rapidly, somebody put a link for a hideous blanket from betterware (if memory serves correctly) that was only about £3.

And whilst it was £3 too much - it truly was hideous - it might be a worthwhile investment if you say that it is to keep her warm on the scooter or at home and to watch her face as she looks at it.

And if she never uses it - doesn't matter. It was £3 (instead of about £20), cost of a box of chocolates - and you have given her something that is quite 'big'.

Seem to think it had picture of an angel or something on it so you could be all sickly sweet and super nice and say it is for your angelic MIL - she can hardly say that she isn't without being miserable Grin

Will see if I can find a link to it...
sorry, can't find it and need to go, will have a look later.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 22/10/2012 18:08

Buy her an Oxfam goat, or similar

CrapBag · 22/10/2012 19:54

"May i suggest a lump of of coal"

" How about a picture of the scooter in a frame so she won't forget what you got her? You could put a festive bow on it."

"Take the scooter back and wrap it up for Xmas day"

All great ideas. Grin

CrapBag · 22/10/2012 19:57

I wouldn't give in to someone who throws a hissy fit because they aren't getting a present. She didn't need it, she wanted it and the OP and DH kindly offered to buy it for her, originally at a much higher cost.

She deserves nothing, ungrateful cow.

squeakytoy · 22/10/2012 20:24

And what does her son have to say about it?

YerMaw1989 · 22/10/2012 20:28

I think I would get her something, chocs gift token, wine , perfume etc something small.

austenozzy · 22/10/2012 20:37

shodan's idea was a funny one, if a tad passive-aggressive!

I'd get a token small gift (tenner's worth, max) just to avoid aggro and leaving her out. Something from Halford's for her scooter, like a car polishing kit or some of those handlebar streamers that kids' bikes have.

LittleMissFlustered · 22/10/2012 21:14

Get her the ugliest blingy-tat letting you can find for the keys to the scooter. Beg/borrow/steal a posh jewellery box to put it in. Cxn you see where I'm going here?:o

LittleMissFlustered · 22/10/2012 21:15

Letting = keyring!

Longdistance · 22/10/2012 23:55

I reckon a bag of lemons, so she can chew on them when she gets served the Christmas dinner she doesn't want..........

MidniteScribbler · 23/10/2012 03:12

I wouldn't have mentioned anything, and then just got her a small gift at christmas time. I think it's pretty mean to get nothing for her when everyone else will be sitting around opening presents. I just paid for an elderly relative to get a pergola on their property, but I've still got them a bunch of little gifts to open on christmas day. But then again, I actually like my family.

pigletmania · 23/10/2012 06:49

Well she should sop acting like a spoiled child, £10 present it is then

DorsetKnob · 23/10/2012 06:52

Well as the OP said 'WE told her she wouldn't' seems to me that her son agreed with OP.

pigletmania · 23/10/2012 07:29

Asda do some lovely clothing, get her a nice jumper or top. They even have beautiful winter coats for 25 pounds

pigletmania · 23/10/2012 07:30

If she does not like it tell her to grow up