Mother in law offering to give us money to buy Xmas Presents

[girlfriend44]

Bit hard up and told family we won't buy presents this year.

Mil has said she will give us x amount to buy some presents.

Would you accept or do you think we should kindly say no thanks.

I'd say no thank you - unless it was for children's presents.

But then again I hate the pressure to buy "stuff" for grown adults that have plenty already and need for nothing!

Unless it's to help with your own kids I would stick to your guns or this will be a dilemma every year. Best to just keep it to immediate family. That's what I think anyway. But it's very kind. I would get mil a little something just for being so nice.

Depends how wealthy she is and much she's offering. A few hundred from a woman sitting on thousands is very different from the modest savings of someone getting by on minimum wage or pension credit.

I can't work out what you are asking if you are being unreasonable amount, but I would say "That's generous of you, but no thanks"
I would suggest either a secret Santa or a 'no presents for adults' or whatever suits you.
Or just stick to your original plan and say, thanks, but no, we'd rather just not get involved with any present exchange this year.

I wouldn't want to set that precedent. What if next year is the same? Or what if other family can't afford it next year and she feels obliged to help them as well? Many of us can expect a tough financial time ahead. It might be better to be firm about cutting back now. That way, nobody will be put in an awkward position in the future.

I wouldn’t accept and stick to your original plan about cutting back. I’m sure lots of people will be in the same boat.

theres also a Christmas topic where you can discuss Christmas all year round, come on over

If you are confident she’s not going to cause herself financial hardship then yes accept, what a lovely thing to do.

"That's very kind of you MIL, but I'd feel really awkward and embarrassed having people thank me for gifts that someone else had paid for"