I have to buy presents for teh DSes from MIL, PIL, BIL and SIL, my brother, DH's nan etc etc

[saltirehangingonachristmastree]

None of them have sent presents, they have all apparently sent money (only MIL had the sense to pay it straight into my account). I'm stuck what to get them, I don't hav etime to go trailing round the shops again, our post is very unreliable (the fact that some of the cheques haven't turned up is proof of this)so don't want to order any more online if I can help it. MIL also sent presnts for the DSes - as well as the money, but won't tell me what's in the presents, so I could duplicate. I just can't be bothered, but I know that they are all going to want to know what I've got them

Perhaps next year you could try providing these people with a list of suitable things that they could choose from?

I think it is OK for people to send money and ask you to buy a present for your DSs if they are elderly or ill or something like that, but otherwise, a bit sort of "I'm washing my hands of responsibility".

Re this Christmas, if your DSs have enough presents to open on Christmas day, then you could spend the money with them afterwards.

Poor you - it is stressful enough buying your own presents, let alone EVERYONE else's. Put all the money together and buy something bigger. Less hassle that way.

I agree with crokky, they'll probably love spending the money in january or you might see something suitable in a sale.

Depending on how old they are can you put it towards something like swimming lessons, or football classes - that sort of thing? I did that with DS1 one year.

I went shopping yesterday and it was a NIGHTMARE, I've decided I'm not going again until after Xmas.

Saltire, give them the money instead and go shopping with them in the sales for something they would like. Not such a great idea if they are very young, but then I would maybe just put the money in a savings account for them. Don't stress .

Oh I like gegs' suggestion.

They are 9 and 7, and they (the relatives) are all doing it because

"Well it will be too expensive to post things". This despite us telling them that all our presents to all of them would be sent by courier at a cost to us of only 6.99, and if they all got together they could do the same. the courier is dropping the parcel at my mums and they can collect from there. Even that's causing problems though, as MIL and step PIL are working late every night next week and weekends so can't drive to my mums, and PIL and step MIL are wanting my step dad to drive up to them when he finished work at 9pm! .

Thing is with waiting to the sales, there will be ructions on Christmas Day if the DSes say to Step MIL "oh mum said we've to keep your money till after Christmas and buy something then". There will be wailing from Step MIL/MIL about how they will think Nan/Gran doesn't love them becasue there is no present etc etc

Good God - they should get together and post the parcels if they want the children to know how much they love them then.

I know. My brother did say months ago that he would send money, which was fair enough. then as far as I knew Step MIL and PIL were sending presents, because she had moaned at DH about the cost (as always, everything is money related to them) and he pointed out that we had to post a lot more than they did.
Then suddenly over the past couple of days I get text messages from Step MIL saying she is sending £10 per child and could we go and get something and wrap it, and she will send DH and I a voucher each. then one from SIL, via MIL saying that she has put a cheque in teh post, to cover presents for all of us, adn could I go and get the Dses and DH from them and DH get mine! And so it goes on. Well I'm telling DH tonight that I'm not doing it.

I would hand the money to the kids on Xmas day, and say this is your spending money for afterwards. If the Nan/Gran don't like this system, they should have gotten organised a lot sooner.
AT least if the kids can pool the money they'll more likely end up with just a few nice things rather than loads of cheap plastic tat.

Let them have their ructions. If they didn't want that, the could have followed your suggestion of sending everything jointly via courier. And definitely don't go out spending money that hasn't arrived yet! I think they have a cheek expecting that.

God Salty, what a pain in the arse. Next year do a wishlist on Amazon and tell them to buy from that (no duplication!)

It's pretty bloody selfish, isn't it. I'd definitely say wait until the sales. Can you train the children to say "thank you so much for the Christmas money, we're going to wait until the Sales and get something EXTRA special from you!"

Have talked it over with DH. He's off now until after Christmas, but we have decided that if the money/vouchers/cheques aren't here by Wednesdays post then neither of us are going to trail into town and decide what to get them, wrap it up etc.
If it arrives tomorrow or Tuesday, DH will go into town and get them something. Provided we can think what to get them!