Have you finished - Part 2 / Do you Get the same kind of present back?

[Blueflowers2011]

Following on from the earlier thread of how much you have spent or are intending on spending, there are some very generous gifters out there.

The question is do you receive the same sort of standard of gift back or can you see the same amount of effort has gone into the present you receive from the recipient?

Whilst I am very generous and never give to get back (really, honestly) , apart from DH and my parents i don't neccassarily get the same back, a lot of the time without any thought.

Am I overdoing things then? Curious about you and your families.

I used to spend a lot of time thinking, looking for, and ultimately buying gifts that I knew the recipient would really enjoy. Only to receive something that was probably the only thing left in the chosen chairty shop. Every year. So I've stopped doing it, not because I give to receive, but because I was putting so much effort in, and they obviously didn't think as much of me.

DH usually spends lots but puts minimal effort and thought and just compensates by spending crazy money. After mildly moaning for 15 years I totally lost my shit on my birthday this year. I am expecting a massive improvement this year. We have done advent calendars and he has way outdone me in the thoughtful stakes. My mum gives very good gifts but is really hard to buy for so I usually spend ages on it and still fail last year I nailed it but I'm worried this year

Depends on who it is. Me and DP set a rough budget and usually give each other gifts with similar sentiment/price etc. However my mum and stepdad spend a lot on us as they are very well of. We have nowhere near as much as they do so the idea of us buying them expensive gifts seems silly. Instead, they buy us quite 'expensive' things that we need and we go cheaper but more thoughtful with their presents.

We don't really bother with DP's family now though. I used to put a LOT of thought into their gifts, whereas we would always receive tat from them. So now I just buy his mum/sisters Yankee candles and his dad/BILs get socks etc.