to be annoyed over DHs present buying

[Fibilou]

DH has 2 siblings + their partners whom we have to buy presents. I am an only child and only buy for my parents.
His family decided that, as us and SIL are both expecting babies early 2010, we would limit spending to £15 each.

So far he has spent about £75 on his Mum, £50 on his Dad, which is fine (well it's not but I can put up with it).

But what has really pissed me off is that I have just discovered that he has gone out and spent an additional £15 on a book for his sister's husband - meaning that we have spent £30 on him. Which is more than we have spent on my Dad.

He is not here for me to have a go at so I need to release my irritation somewhere.

So far we have spent about £200 on his family and £75 on mine. I am not best pleased.

YANBU.

Definitely not unreasonable!

There's serious issues here, with regards to your hunsband's attitude to money, that are just not fair.

Sit him down and rein him in.

Also agree you should take the book back, esp as his sister will be upset. Either that, or when she is, comment, loudly, that he's just a bit a spoilt little boy still, showing off for his family, such a shame that men don't get it....

Because that's what he's doing. He's showing off. He likes over-spending, he likes showering his parents with expensive gifts, he likes waving away his brother's debt nonchalantly. It makes him feel a big man and generous. It's just ego-stroking on his behalf.

The fact that it's having consequences for everyone else around him, he just can't see. Agree with PP, take the plastic off him and make him stick to a budget for a while.