To not bother with presents this year?

[Hairyfriend]

Last year I was super organised and finished my Christmas shopping by Oct. In passing, I mentioned it to MIL who said she'd decided the family wont be giving any presents between them! No gifts to MIL/FIL, SIL/BIL etc. No reason given- but I assumed financial. Christmas day comes and we all sit down to exchange presents! MIL claimed she didn't remember telling us it was gift free!!!

This week- she has told us its a gift free year. When I brought up the embarrassment of last year- she claimed to not remember! She can be ditzy, but I'm unsure if she is just being spiteful.

Would you bother with gifts this year or not?

Yes I'd get gifts...but maybe gifts that I also like so if it really is no gifts then you can pretent you didn't get any and then keep them.

Yikes. I think I'd get vouchers for places I like, and keep the envelopes in my bag until I see how things play out.

Text her to 'check' if it's gift free or not, get it in writing!

Why not just ask SIL / BIL and see what they are doing .

@Floralnomad

Why not just ask SIL / BIL and see what they are doing .

Yeah, don't rely on second hand information 😂

Just ask?

Spiteful? - or possibly starting with memory problems?

Why not just ask SIL / BIL and see what they are doing .

This. Maybe MIL is doing it for herself. Just text them and see. I text mine asking about gifts and they know we usually concentrate on the kids (getting something from their Christmas list) and then us getting something for the adults we know they enjoy. One group has told us that they don’t want any presents this year and to concentrate on the children and that’s what we’re doing. Simple.