Cheap chocolate and presents from MIL

[nottheplan]

Mil and dhs family always buy rubbish presents and easter chocolate for our dcs. We're talking rotten own brand chocolate that nobody likes. It just gets chucked in the bin. Also cheap plastic toys from b&m in the 2 for £20 offer for birthdays and Christmas. Always break into pieces and get chucked in the bin. They are most definitely not poor. Wibu to ask them not to buy anymore for our dcs? If I phrase it that they have too much already and were trying to cut down on toys and treats?

No YANBU, it would annoy me too especially as you say they are like the finer things themselves. I suppose not too much yiu can do about the toys but re the chocolate just melt it down perhaps to make things like crispy or cornflake chocolate clusters yum!

Bin it in front of the ILs, saying your DC don't deserve their cheap shite. You'll never see or hear from them again. Problem solved.

In my experience, most people give in the way they want to, and not much will change that. This phase is quite short though - soon they'll be old enough that the grandparents will start asking what they want or give vouchers.

I think YABU wanting the money or vouchers instead.
We can’t pick and chose the gifts we or our kids get from others. It’s their choice.

Id be thankful if my MIL ever even bothered to give a gift or a card. It’s the thought

Just say thank you, no need to be a dick about it.

I think I’d be more annoyed about getting Cadbury or Nestle chocolate than supermarket chocolate! They’re greasy, yet grainy, and generally horrible!

I know people will think you ungrateful OP but it’s just a waste of money and Earth resources at the end of the day.
I know it’s harder for kids, but I just say thank you for the stuff we get and it goes straight to the charity shop or foodbank or something.
What it’s great for is the kids learning that some stuff is just crap and they don’t have to eat it because it’s there.

Maybe they base their gifts on your attitude…

How old are the IL's? £20 on toys might seem like a huge amount to them (regardless of whether they have the money!). If they see something that would have been a fiver when they were buying for their kids now costs £15 they probably feel generous.

I like this idea 😅

Oh dear…

I agree.
Cadbury’s has really gone down but I check the back of a bar and if it has OCO where the manufacturer and best before date is I know it’s made in Coolock in Dublin and is usually very nice - Twirls are made there.

What does your partner/husband/wife - the child of your in-laws think of the gifts @nottheplan.

You sound unpleasant. Describing own brand chocolate as "rotten" is ridiculous. And to throw it straight in the bin seems wasteful and ignorant. Why not make something with it like cornflake cakes?
And two presents for £20 isn't that cheap. I think your in-laws sound sensible. They know kids only play with things for 5 minutes so they're right not to waste money on toys. Even when we've spent £100 on a fancy toy the kids lose interest quickly.

Inheritance to charity …..🥳

@takealettermsjones all I am trying to say is that there is a difference between the in laws giving gifts that the OP has referred to. If the in laws genuinely believe the kids will like them that is great however there is the option that they are and doing it because it’s Easter or another occasion and they want to go down the lowest cost option so they can tick a box that they have given a gift. With regards to toys fully agree that price doesn’t always mean quality and some lower cost toys will outperform named brand time and again. That said there is a broad spectrum of cheap toys some which very much are are low quality and will break with ease I’ve taken the OP at face value that these were the type of toys in question.

I would never dream of buying the cheap plasticky toys for anyone else's kids . I give money in a card or clothes as i know they are more appreciated. Instead of buying lidl bunnies and the like isn't it better to spend £1-2 more and get Cadburys? I also like to get wooden toys for my dc where possible .

Peak mumsnet snobbery.

No brand chocolate and gift under £20... oh no, the sheer disrespect clearly you should state only hotel chocolate at minimum and gifts £100+ shall be accepted in future.

Pull your head out your ass love. Its NOT your gift and you don't have to like it, let your child have their own relationship with their own family, its not about you.

I think you've worded it badly but I do understand. My Mil always used to buy clothes for my child, hideous gypsy style outfits. I wouldn't put her in them, I had to tell her I didn't like it in the end otherwise she would keep buying it and it was a waste of her money. It probably was mean but after she used to ask. She also used to buy tat toys constantly it was unnecessary like three days after Xmas still buying things. I think she had a shopping addiction if I'm honest she was always buying things off those fb buy and sell sites. It sounds ungrateful and it is I'll admit that. I know grandparents love to spend on their kids. It's a difficult one to navigate. Probably the best thing is to say thanks and donate it yourself.

Have you got a child isa for yhem, i would say they get too much rubbish and a donation of 5 pounds to their isas would be more valuable.

I understand this OP

it's a horrible waste of money etc and landfill junk to give kids cheap toys that break quickly.

just a quess but that sounds like sarcasm from @CurlewKate

because there’s always loads of MIL bashing on MNet

Mm
Im sure the kids will enjoy playing with the receipt for that 🤣

Lovely post.

Common sense prevails 👏👏👏

They are cheap plastic and frankly you sound joyless, self centered and insufferable. When you buy a gift its for the RECEIVER not for your personal tastes, no kid is excited for and appreciating clothing or a £5 (what are kids in need of money for? he not going thank fuck I can pay of my overdraft) its the dullest and laziest possible gift you can give a child.

You beat me to it, I love the chocolate from those two and it really doesn't taste or look cheap