What do I do about MIL this Xmas after last year's drama??

[Itsme93]

Hey all,
I've currently got the boyf of 2 years asking me what I'm going to get his parents for Xmas.
I wouldn't usually mind as I love Xmas & buying presents however last year I had a few problems....

1. I bought his parents a fancy coffee machine as they love coffee but strangely enough they never bought themselves one so I thought, great gift. A few days after Xmas, the boyf said his mother was not happy because I 'showed her up'. I asked him how? Apparently my present was too grand as she had only bought me a size 8 crop top (which I think was a recycled present as its definitely not my style and I'm a size 12 - before anyone jumps on this about accidental wrong sizing, his mum is fully aware I'm not a size 8 nor would I ever wear a crop top!) I said it was fab etc thanks so much on the day though.
2. instead of buying his sister, I bought gifts for her little girl instead. Apparently MIL was not impressed by that and that I should have got his sister something.
3. one of the gifts I got his neice was a rocking horse which the little girl loved and Xmas day wouldn't get off it. MIL was not happy that my gift overshadowed hers and said 'I wish this gift had been from me'.
4. last Xmas I bought boyf an updated ipad as his had broken, within 6 weeks he gave it to his sister because the mother said the neice would like it to play games on. I wasn't impressed and said I'd rather have it back. Boyf still gave it to the niece

I rarely see any of his family, find them quite socially inept however I am happy to get them something. I told boyf for him to sort it out this year but he wants to do it seperately and with already asking me what I'm getting them all, he's obviously got expectations which has actually p*ssed me right off.

Do I finish with him lol I really feel like he's part of the problem and I'm fed up of these expectations of me having to impress his family like I'm not good enough, as that's how I feel.... Or do I act like nothing and just do vouchers?

If you ditch him, you don't have to buy his family any presents!

This sounds horrible and grabby tbh. I don't like the sound of your BF. He sounds just as bad.

Exactly what Seaweed said.

Wouldn't spend more than £50 on your boyfriend either, if he is going to give his presents away!

Just buy flowering plants, booze and give the little girl some money in a nice card. Who could possibly object to that?

@Finfintytint you are my kind of girl. Your comment really made me laugh 😂

Jesus. I hope he's been as generous with you!

I said how about we don't do gifts at all and he looked dissapointed

He sounds like a gold digger and you sound FAR too generous!

Ditch him and next time don’t buy such expensive gifts! £20 pp is plenty!

What did boyf/MIL/SIL buy you?

I don't why everyone thinks I spent loads of money?
The coffee machine was on special offer £40 in makro and the rocking horse was £16 on Groupon?
He bought me an iPhone for Xmas last year. My birthday was a few months before that and he got me an expensive bag which I didn't ask for, I was a bit taken aback but loved it, so I suppose from that I may have thought there's expectations. (somehow feel I'm going to be started on now by sharing that..... )

Sounds like a situation for an Oxfam Goat (or similar) preferably a family size one so you only have to buy one thing for them to share.

I’m pretty sure this is what Boots 3 for 2 was designed for.

Buy mum some sort of sanctuary set
Sister some sort of make up set
Niece something frozen 2 themed

Job done.

"A fancy coffee machine" is not £40 from Marko when on offer. That's just a big standard coffee machine, which you can pick up in Tesco. That's why people think you spent a fortune. You got them a normal coffee machine, and people are imagining the fancy barista ones which are £2/300.

Just give them a box of Quality Street and remove all the purple ones

Brutal! I love it!

Thornhill58, haha, there’s a special place for us!

I bought that dulce gusto coffee machine for £40 in makro on offer, is that the one? To some people that might be fancy?

You bought him an iPad that went to his niece????? I wouldn't buy anything dump him in December and if you most get back together in January.
He isn't a good boyfriend really. Also I hope he spoiled you last Christmas.

Dolce gusto makes coffee from pods and the milk is also from a pod. That's not what most people call "fancy".

The real bean to cup barista machines with the milk frother are the "fancy" ones surely.

There's "coffee pod machine" and "fancy coffee maker". I was imagining one of the super expensive guys.

I thought you had purchased a Nespresso coffee machine £350 worth but £40 it's ok.

Didn't your OP say it was a fancy coffee malachite though? That didn't make me think of something reduced to £40 in Macro!

I still don't understand why he cannot just get joint gifts from both of you?

If you are determined to stay together just get smaller gifts or gift sets. If you and bf want to exchange expensive gifts why not just do it in private and have stocking filler gifts to unwrap at his mum's so she doesn't get jealous.

To me one of those nespresso things is a fancy coffee maker. It makes fancy coffee.

Ugh, just ditch him and his boring Ma. So much bitching (him and his mother) and handwringing over consumer products all year round, just imagine all the fun you could be having without this dude and his mother.

I'm not into coffee so I wouldn't know but boyf and his mum said it was fancy

Yes a dulcie gusto one with the pods, that makes fancy coffee.. I thought

I assumed that the coffee machine and rocking horse were £100+ purchases.