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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

To say thank you for a significant sum of cash that may or may not be meant for me?

41 replies

Allisquiet · 25/12/2019 09:51

Inlaws are quite wealthy and always give DH and I separate cards with sums of money inside at Christmas. Although the gift is always very generous in my world, DH receives significantly more than myself.
I find this a little insulting as my family are extremely traditional and treat us as equal partners, always giving joint financial gifts, albeit much smaller. I don't feel ILs see us as an equal partnership. We also have children together and have been together for 10 years.

They are staying with us over Christmas and yesterday morning, FIL asked DH for his bank details to transfer thousands of pounds to his account for Christmas (much more than usual) . DH has told me and assures me it's a gift for us both. I think DH is naive as nothing about the money has been mentioned to me at all by ILs. If the sum is for both of us, I need to say thank you, but I don't know if it is so not sure what to say.

Do I thank them when I am not convinced the cash is intended for us both? DH has transferred it to his own account before he transfers it to the joint one which makes me question how much DH is intending on keeping for himself anyway.

The whole family seem so guarded when it comes to money, including DH, I feel very uncomfortable about it and largely like an outside threat.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 25/12/2019 09:56

Are you married?
Either way, I'd just say thanks in passing to them. If the money wasn't meant to share, that's when they might say so. If they don't say it's his or shared, just assume it's for both of you!

Hundredacrewoods · 25/12/2019 10:00

It’s for both of you whether they like it or not. Shared property comes with the territory of marriage.

Babymamamama · 25/12/2019 10:00

I don't really see what you can do about this. It is up to them although they are being a bit rude. I wouldn't make a big deal and try to remain optimistic you will benefit in the end from your honourable DP sharing.

GetUpAgain · 25/12/2019 10:01

I guess they will give the children presents so I would say/send a generic broad "thank you for all the wonderful Christmas gifts and treats, we feel very lucky and spoilt and it was lovely seeing you, with love from OP, DH and DC"

Maybe a bit of a copout but it covers all of it.

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 25/12/2019 10:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Sparkle567 · 25/12/2019 10:50

It’s for both of you whether they like it or not

Well it’s not as they transferred it to his account. It’s up to him if he shares or not.

MMmomDD · 25/12/2019 11:24

In the end of the day he their son. And they are allowed to give him whatever gifts they want. Doesn’t mean that they disrespect you or somehow don’t accept you.
And your parents are allowed to make any choices they want. Same or different value gifts or joint gifts - it’s all their personal choices.
There are no universal rules.
Why does it matter so much to you? Do you somehow feel that they haven’t fully accepted you?
If your H kept all their monetary gifts and not shared at all - sure, then you can complain. But if he keeps some for himself and shares the rest - it’s perfectly fair. It’s HIS parents.

You say his family are weird about money. But you seem to be the weird one in the post making it an issue and comparing amounts and wondering which share you will get.
Just tell them thank you for coming and the generous presents. Everything that comes your way from them is extra to the family budget - so being thankful for any and all of it is probably the best way to go.

minipie · 25/12/2019 11:39

Sounds like the real issue here is you don’t trust your DH to share it with you.
Don’t worry about the thank you. If it’s for you both then DH can say thank you on both your behalves.

starfishmummy · 25/12/2019 11:51

If the DH thinks its a joint present then he shoukd have given them detsils of the joint account

stanski · 25/12/2019 12:02

I agree with @MMmomDD its his parents they can give him what they want.

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 25/12/2019 12:04

If the DH thinks its a joint present then he shoukd have given them detsils of the joint account

This!

Why didn't he just give the joint account details for it to be transferred into their - why does it have to go through his account first?

NameChangeNugget · 25/12/2019 12:08

I don’t see the problem.

NC4this123 · 25/12/2019 12:11

My mil has done this 😂 she put money in a card say £60 and put £40 for xxxx and £20 for xxx, weird if you ask me

PleasantVille · 25/12/2019 12:12

I don't see the problem either apart from why they don't already have his bank details if this is a regular thing (off topic I reralise)

They can give money to whoever they choose, my DC aren't old enough to be married but when they are I really don't think I'll feel obliged to give equal money to their spouses.

It's up to your DH if he wants to share with you imo.

onanothertrain · 25/12/2019 17:27

I'd expect your DP parents to spend more on his gift than they do on yours. Surely that's normal?

misspiggy19 · 25/12/2019 17:37

I agree with @MMmomDD its his parents they can give him what they want.

^I agree with this too. You sound controlling over money.

VivaLeBeaver · 25/12/2019 17:40

I wouldn’t say thank you. Even if it is meant for both of you one thank you from your dh is enough. They haven’t mentioned it to you, the havent asked for your bank details.....they haven’t given you anything. Though hopefully your dh will share it.

DillyDilly · 25/12/2019 18:12

Your DH is their child, obviously you are not, there is absolutely no reason for them to gift you the same amounts. It’s nothing to do with being equal partners.

I would think it strange to gift equal amounts.

Possibly this latest transfer if larger than usual some is something to do with their estate/financial planning and usually parents gift/leave money, etc to their children and don’t gift/leave to their children’s spouses.

Allisquiet · 25/12/2019 18:39

The point of the post really is whether or not I ought to thank them for a gift I am not sure is intended for me too.

Obviously, families values vary hugely so there is no set way to gift, I only have own family experience to draw on where married couples receive joint financial gifts, which is possibly an odd way of doing things.

The confusion has arisen and therefore this post on whether to thank for a very expensive gift of money. DH says it is for both of us, but the gift has not been given or mentioned to me. If the gift is intended for me also, it would be extremely rude not to say thank you considering the sum of money.

OP posts:
MrsL2016 · 25/12/2019 18:44

You mention in your OP that they usually give separate cards with money for you. Have you received one this year? If not then I would assume the amount transferred to your DP is for both of you and say thank you.

mummmy2017 · 25/12/2019 18:48

Look at the money put into the joint account as a bonus.
It is better than a kick up the bottom.

Allisquiet · 25/12/2019 19:02

We received our usual separate cards on the evening of Christmas Eve as always- (adults open gifts on christmas eve in our family so that we can enjoy the opening of presents with the children on christmas day.)
Each card contains the usual sum of money inside. DH's amount obviously more.
The thousands transferred on the morning of Christmas eve to DH was done completely separately. DH was excited to tell me about the joint gift and yet, the ILs have said nothing to me at all and are staying with us until tomorrow.
I am not convinced as we have had our cards as usual?
I probably won't say anything, if they had wanted to give us a joint gift, they would have given it jointly I think.

OP posts:
onanothertrain · 25/12/2019 19:05

If you got your usual Christmas gift then surely this is not a Christmas present. It was paid to your husband its up to him whether he shares it but I don't see why you would say thank you for it. Surely that's up to your DH?

MMmomDD · 25/12/2019 19:07

OP - so no comments about looking into gift (your H’s) horse’s mouth?
You received your usual gift already.
What exactly is the issue with PIL giving extra money to your H.

Butterymuffin · 25/12/2019 19:10

I really don't think the etiquette issues are the main ones here but since you ask, I agree with @VivaLeBeaver that you don't need to thank them for something that hasn't been given to you or mentioned to you. Thank them for the money in your card and leave off mentioning anything else. How is your DH in general at sharing finances with you?