To not want to have to ask for my IOU birthday present?

[TreeTrunkThighs]

MIL gave me a card on my birthday that had at the bottom, "IOU one hairdo".

I had my hairdo on my birthday. DH and I went out and she came and met us for a drink late on in the evening so saw my 'do' at its best and most obvious.

I thought that I would be reimbursed for this hairdo but so far haven't been and really don't want to ask for the money.

Should I chalk it down to experience and accept that I am coifed but out of pocket - I haven't had my hair done in years and wouldn't have had it done were it not for the IOU.

Or should I just ask?

Maybe she plans on buying you a wig?

What sort of person sticks this on the bottome of a card????

Put this down to experience. IOU's mean bugger all.

Hmm tricky one - I'd like to say you should ask her outright but I know that if it was me I'd be too scared!!

How about you say that you liked it so much last time in the salon that you'd like to rebook but can't afford it, so you are technically asking her for the same amount of cash, then you obviously don't have to rebook if you don't want to...

Sounds a bit rambly but you get my drift....

PB&R - helpful!

I'm in the 'too scared' camp too but...

Do you think she was expecting to be told in advance that you were going to get your hair done? Or was expecting to organise it herself - at a salon of her choosing? or, heaven forbid, do it herself?

Did she realise that you had had your hair done on your birthday - did you say anything explicitly then? I know you think it was obvious but some MIL can be very obtuse when it comes to noticing such things.

It was a very vague IOU as they go - rather than ask her explicitly for the money, could you ask her for clarification - or even better get your dp to bring it up for you . You also haven't mentioned how long ago your birthday was - if it was a day or two or a month or two - which also might make a bit of a difference to how easy (or not!) it is to ask. How do you get on with your mil - and what is she like, do you think that she put the IOU there deliberately so that she would get out of giving you an actual present?

Good luck, let us know how you get on!