To suggest we don't do presents this year?

[InMemoryOfSleep]

AIBU to suggest to DH's family that we don't do Christmas presents this year? We are so broke (due to house move, job change, etc) and I feel like we just buy presents for the sake of it anyway. This is especially the case with FIL & step-MIL, for whom we have bought several expensive presents over the years which have never seen the light of day so I really don't want to waste our money! My parents have already told us not to buy anything this year, as they know we are tight with money. So AIBU to suggest this, and if not, how do I phrase it?

YANBU. The idea that you should put yourself in debt to get gifts for people is madness!

There is a really good podcast by the Minimalists here about how we feel obliged to give gifts and that there are other ways to show love. It also tackles having those conversations with family.
We stopped doing gifts a couple of years ago except for the children. It means buying 11 fewer gifts each year. It enables us to actually enjoy getting gifts for them. DH and I don't do gifts either. We have a sort of Christmas bonus which we can each spend how we want. I know some people think this is really unromantic but we show our love in other ways.

www.theminimalists.com/p038/

It's not last minute at all really though is it? And given that some people start their Christmas shopping in the January sales, it's always going to be too late for some isn't it?

Well no not really. When we did this it was discussed the Christmas before.

Getting towards the middle/end of Nov is very late imo to have the conversation.

The other thing is that it doesn't have to be unilateral. Have individual conversations with people, explain the situation and ask how they feel. Much easier and less likely to cause an international incident than trying to get everyone on the same page

I don't care if I've already done xmas shopping or not - if a family member told me they couldn't afford to do Christmas gifts this year I'd say that's absolutely fine! I'd still send them a gift anyway, unless I thought this would upset them then I'd return what I'd got them.

Do handmade food gifts - cheap and thoughtful, and warn in advance that you don't have much money this year. Anyone who has an issue with this is an asshole.

@Ausparent that's really helpful, thank you! And @BishBoshBashBop last Christmas we weren't in the financial situation we are in now, so we couldn't have discussed it then!