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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To dread Christmas every year because of this

34 replies

GemGem85 · 10/09/2021 17:16

Just so I’m clear, I actually love Christmas itself and the build up but there is one thing I hate about it. My SiL (dh’s sis) clearly thinks it’s a competition and it absolutely drains me. Every single year around August she’ll ask me what I’m buying my dc and more often than not I’ll say oh I don’t know because I can’t be bothered to get into it. She will then proceed to rhyme off everything (and I mean everything) she has bought not only my nieces and nephews but also dh’s parents, brother, aunt, cousins etc. She has also asked me how much I spend on my dc which I find plain rude but what I find even ruder is when last year she called round and actually went though my bags. I’d just been to Smyths to get a few gifts for my dd and I’d placed the bags on the table. She was like oh what have you bought. So I said some Christmas gifts. She then decided to look through my bags! If she’d wanted to see what I’d got I’d have shown her. She also insists on knowing what me and dh have bought their parents and believe me, it isn’t so that we don’t buy the same thing, it’s so she can cost up in her head how much we have spent so that she can buy something more expensive. I know, it’s ridiculous. We see her on Christmas Day as she’ll call round to give our dc their presents and she’ll look at literally every present that they have got. She has even asked my teenage dd how much money she got. Please tell me I’m not being unreasonable to think this is pretty bizarre behaviour?

OP posts:
nanbread · 11/09/2021 10:49

Oh I LOVE the idea of making up presents! Haha @PullMeInToTheScreen

"Oh the kids are DESPERATE to get their hands on some Playtons, it's all they talk about - I've managed to track some down on eBay but they're going for crazy money"

PaperhouseLegs · 11/09/2021 11:05

Just give totally ridiculous and made up answers back. My friend has this with the in-laws. They feel they absolutely HAVE to have everything that friend has and usually one better. New car? Next week they get a new car. New BBQ? Next week they get the same one. Friend had a new sofa, they came in and ordered one while they were there. It is beyond bonkers. So they started to fib about things they were buying; a hot tub, friend left brochures out for a swimming pool and a cruise, when asked what colour they are painting rooms they say colours they would never use. In-laws get all in a froth trying to compete. I don't know why the inlaws do it as they are actually really pleasant people, just bloody irritating when it comes to "keeping up" 🤷‍♀️

SmokeyDevil · 11/09/2021 11:13

@nanbread

God that sounds annoying.

I'd probably tell her you're only doing token gifts this year because you're reining in spend, then go all out and buy them ponies or a new car to wind her up.

No no you do it the other way around.

Like say the mil likes handbags. Tell the sil you've bought her an incredibly expensive bag that's new out. Even show her the picture of it and say its getting delivered a few weeks before Christmas. Or if the nephew likes gaming, tell her you've bought him a ps5. Way more funny to see if she will try to out spend you then.

gnarlyauldboiler · 11/09/2021 11:23

Guilt trip her about being a rampant consumer by reminding her about over consumption and environmental impacts.

"Remember Sandra, every time you buy a plastic toy, a baby dolphin dies" kind of thing Grin
(disclaimer: intentional hyperbole)

Tell her it's so passe to over consume now and it's all about reduce, reuse, recycle. She's being socially naff by going overboard at Xmas.

KidsAreMean · 11/09/2021 11:25

I think I'd tell her that the past year has brought home how much more important people and time are than money so you're all going to make homemade gifts for everyone. Nothing so [insert adjective that will annoy her most] as a shop bought gift!

Heckythump1 · 11/09/2021 11:29

My Mum has this really bloody annoying habit of telling me at both birthday's and christmas that I spend to much/have got them too much..... and then buys them just as bloody much herself!

nexus63 · 11/09/2021 11:49

my sis used to be like that (have not seen her in 20 years since she battered our mother), i would tell her all the things i was buying (i lied) anything she got for mum always had the price tag left on it, the look on her face when all the gifts i bought were not the ones on my list was the best christmas present i ever got...lol, most of the gifts my other sis and i got we kept and gave her back the following year usually some high end perfume that neither of us liked (i am a tweed and panache person which she knew). just play her at her own game and not pander to her, tell her you are giving vouchers to everyone and to stop being nosy.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/09/2021 11:49

Just give her the classic MN
It's September Xmas Confused

Now , about the ponies , who in my family lurves me .........?

AgentJohnson · 11/09/2021 12:03

Your SIL sounds annoying but letting her behaviour impact on your enjoyment is your choice. Pull her up on her bag rifling rudeness and point her in the direction of her brother for inane Xmas questions responses. Job done!

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