MIL offended that we didn’t use a free voucher

[Pinkfranny]

AIBU to think if someone gives you a free entry voucher (National Trust in this case) that they cut out of a newspaper, that you aren’t obliged to use it??

My MIL cut it out of her newspaper and asked me if we would like it as they wouldn’t use it. She had 2 and I said we might use one of them and I thanked her for thinking of us.

Since then she has asked me once a week when we are going. As it happens we’ve had a very busy couple of months and haven’t used it. We were at a BBQ today with her and she asked again as there are only 2 weekends left before it expires. We said we didn’t think we would use it and she then proceeded to ask exactly what we had on for the next 2 weekends which meant we couldn’t go 🤷‍♀️

She seems genuinely offended that we weren’t using it. I am baffled that it matters so much to her. Lesson learned, next time I won’t accept it unless I am 100% sure we’ll go!

People clip free stuff out of newspapers and then post them on facebook groups begging for wine or chocolates in return?

It takes all sorts to make a world, I guess.

She thought she was doing a nice thing for you and the family, and providing you with a free day out. She got it a bit out of perspective and was sad that you didn't really care about going.

It's irritating, but I can understand it (maybe because I'm old and like to help my kids too).
All you needed to do really was to say how you'd have loved to go, how thoughtful of her it was, and how disappointed you are that there simply wasn't a gap in your calendar.

There are worse MIL habits.

I hate the 'be kind' thing, but sometimes it really doesn't cost to make someone feel that you appreciate a minor gesture. And it would also have shut her up.

Thank you everyone. I have found someone to use the voucher on my local FB and let my MIL know 👍🏻

Yay! Win win

Good you've got rid of it.

MIL is being slightly odd, especially when it sounds like she didn't even use one of the vouchers herself.

MIL needs a hobby.

Throw any vouchers my way; I'd love to go to an NT property FOC. I'm sure MIL just thought you'd enjoy chance for a free day out and that she would be the one to enable that.

You’re right I’d probably not ask for anything in this case as the OP clarified it was a token out the paper.

Oh god we get loads of these. I tell MIL I probably won't be able to use them but she insists and we end up with loads.

In fact every single time there is a free NT voucher in a paper we get at least 2-3 from her.