I hate Christmas gift shopping for my in laws

[EarthwormFrittataBugEnchilada]

I spend ages finding thoughtful gifts and they end up unused and unloved at MILs house. I am so tempted to buy them all Oxfam goats this year.

Give me a reason why I shouldn't.

moondog - past presents have included Bialetti coffee pot and aerolatte whisk with cups and assorted coffees, jewellery, fine cognac, Molton Brown/Decleor gift sets, make up, perfumes/colognes/gentlemans shaving stuff, assorted scarves/gloves/sweaters and miscellaneous clothing, bathrobes, CDs & DVD sets, yoga mats and books about yoga (MILs yoga phase), Alessi kitchenware, books, magazine subscriptions.

It's not that I have a problem per se with getting gifts, it's just that after 6 years I'm flagging a bit. It takes loads of my energy. Also, all the BILs/SILs have become very successful in their careers and there has been year on year "gift inflation" leading to one poor old retired uncle saying he is not giving or receiving any presents this year and making donations to charity instead.

In short, I think I have become turned off by the materialism in general, hard to buy gifts or want to spend a lot of time on it when you're feeling that Christmas fatigue, and everybody already has everything they want because instant gratification is the modern way for those with a bob or two. Speaking for myself too, I couldn't give two hoots about getting presents and actually would rather that people gave to charity instead.

[bah humbug emoticon]

Right.
I think you'd be better off either making them sometihng (cake or chutney?) or just throwing in towel. I'm with you on not wanting anything. I don't mean to be rude either but am sure you would agree that nonone really needs an aerolatte whisk.

Give it up (nananananananananna baby give it up, give it up,baybeee give it up as KC and Sunshine band exhort us)

Strangely enough the aerolatte whisk is probably the one thing that gets used! MIL is partial to a frothy coffee

Someone bought me one once.She said her dh snorted and said 'Who on earth would use thaT?'
She answered 'MD will!' and by God, she was right.

dh does his family
I do mine

he gets off lightly - he has 3 relatives - mum dad and grandma

I have 3 siblings all with 2 children each and my mum and dad to buy for

he usually gets them books off amazon

he is very good though, he braves toysrus in his lunch hour for me if I tell him to get neices and nephews something

of course each to their own (and goats are a great idea!) - this is why mumsnet is good - it shows that not everyone does buy pressies for partners family so there are other options and you can choose what suits you without feeling concerned about it

I'm going to give my MIL a goat! Brilliant idea.

goats good

i have got MIL a pear tree and some "partridge" notelets to go with it.
Fil no idea

I love shopping and buy everything except DH's presents to me (and he is very good at choosing me things but doesn't like doing loads of shopping). However, my inlaws are always appreciative and I would always check DH was happy with my ideas first. Earthworm, the pressies you have bought in the past sound amazing so I am not surprised you are fed up. Don't have any advice tho' except maybe you could give it one more year, then if you get the same response you could say, actually it was a joint present and I chose it as I have done before as DH too busy that time of year etc. so I would appreciate a thank you too (if you could go through with it...).

Or you could get them one of these

www.sciencematters.biz/store/giant-microbes/head-louse-toy/