In Laws Who Give You Shite

[monkeymagic]

Yes I know 'tis better to give than to receive and I should be grateful for any gifts etc etc. But what would you say is the best response to inlaws who always give you shite for Xmas?

In the past I have attempted to rise above it, and have gone for tasteful & thoughtful gifts (whilst they opt for tasteless & thoughtless). But this year I am hacked off with (say) giving SIL something nice from Clarins, and receiving manky raffia in return. So I am still putting a lot of thought into presents, but am spending a lot less.

I do feel like an ungrateful old goat, though. At the heart of it, it's not about the money - it's about putting more thought into others than they do for us.

but it might not be shite to them. they might think the stuff they buy is fabulous.

Fair point.

Maybe they think our gifts are shite and are moaning about it right now

ime some people (e.g. half of my family) just don't think that spending time choosing pressies is worth it. In the case of my family they also think it places them in the moral high ground. They think shopping is a frivolous activity even if it is for some-one else.
one easy answer is just to suggest doing something for each other. i.e. giving a baby-sitting voucher or something, another is to suggest oxfam unwrapped

I could not agree more, monkey.

I have one SIL who is absolutely brilliant and always buys a good, appropriate gift. That to me is the most important thing - buy for the person you are buying for (IYSWIM). So many people buy something they like, regardless of the recipient and that is thoughtless. I have had some shocking tat over the years, as have the DDs and DH. I would rather get a nice card and a box of biccies or bar of chocolate than know someone wasted their money on something that will end up in a charity box in years to come.

Or even nothing at all. I get obviously-recycled-from-last-year stuff from PILs and DD gets some cheap'n'nasty plastic tat. SIL is a waste of space, we always get her DD something but she has never bothered with our DD, it's always "Oh, I didn't think of getting her a present" WTF?.

I've told DP he has to sort out his lot this year.

I have suggested to DP that we either stop buying for adults or buy charity gifts, but it seems it is very much Not The Done Thing in his family.

Buy them 2 things each from the pound shop - then you won't feel too bad if they give you cruddy gifts!

is anyone thinking about WWB and her elastic???????

By them a goat per household. You know you want to.

Spot on Plowder. I am thinking of starting a Buy A Bog for BIL campaign but apparently this would unleash untold family horrors.

Should explain I mean one of these in case that sounded a bit random.