Christmas gifts and children

Ok, so I am the youngest of all my siblings. I am the only one without children and I make the smallest salary.

DH and I have 8 nieces and nephews. We lowered our amount to spend per child, because $100 per child could not fly this year. I spent between 50-75 on each. I also ALWAYS get my siblings a little something, even if it is just an ornament or something. They tell me not to, but I feel like just because you have children, you should still get something to open...

ANYWAY, After dropping about $400 per family, how can my SIL by us a candle from the dollar store fromthe family???

This year, I gave everyone a list of options of stuff DH and I either need or want.

Do you think that is wrong??? Do you think I should have sucked it up and taken my dollar store picture of a duck with a smile???

For example, I had my sister get DH a Jets hat. If you are going to spend 15-20 dollars, I don't care, but at least have it be something we like, ya know??

My Mom keeps trying to tell me that Christmas becomes great again when you have your own children, as for us this year, it is just an expensive busy day...

BAH HUMBUG...

I didn't re-read this, so I apologizefor errors

Re: Christmas gifts and children

Don't take it ask for what you want. You are nice, the dollar store. My family couldn't have shut me up.

Re: Christmas gifts and children

I hate spending $400 and getting a "Pull my Finger Santa Claus" from a family of five.. Im so old and cranky this year

Re: Christmas gifts and children

I think it's really horrible of them not to get you and your husband "real" Christmas presents. No, you don't have children but since when does that matter?

I don't have any kids, I spend about $50 each on my niece and nephews (I have four total) but then I buy my siblings each a present or two totaling about $50 each as well. You're siblings, why wouldn't you get real gifts for each other?

I never understood the whole, we have kids so we don't need gifts mentality. I get that they feel badly that you're spending more but IMO that's even more of a reason for them to get you a nice present.

Not to mention, at least IMO, it has nothing to do with how much you spend on someone, it has to do with getting them something that they'll actually like and/or appreciate. It's the thought. Getting someone crap, IMO, is a reflection on how they feel (which I'm guessing is FAR from the case).

I don't think you were out of line at all for telling them what you'd like for Christmas.

Re: Christmas gifts and children

Thank you!!!

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Re: Christmas gifts and children

that stinks! My brothers & I don't exchange gifts anymore just to make life easier...but my brother w/ 3 kids always gets DH & me a really nice gift or GCs somewhere kind of as a "thank you" from the kids

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I think you are generous with the amount you spend on the kids! DH & I spent around $30. But, they aren't nieces & nephews, they are our cousins' kids. We don't exchange with the cousins, so it is just us buying gifts for the kids.

Re: Christmas gifts and children

Message edited 8/24/2013 3:06:45 PM.

Re: Christmas gifts and children

I feel for you because I don't find it fair at all.

When I was CF, I would spend 50-75 on my neice/nephew, as well as on my brother and SIL. I would get a dollar store candle or a walgreens picture frame. This bothered me so I dropped the gift for the parents down to about $20 each or got them a combined house item (40-50 bucks).

Now that I have children...nothing has changed!!! My children will only get a gift if we see them for the holidays (same goes for their birthday's). I will still get the special dollar store item(mind you my brother makes twice as much money as me).

I still stay in the same monetary bracket for this family but I expect nothing in return so I don't get upset (though I still feel bad).

For my BIL who is single and CF, I make it a point to spoil him with gifts because I would hate if he ever felt slighted.

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I've spend on 40$ for two kids! on this Xmas. they are not my relatives, just our neighbor kids. But they love me and i like them too. I've gift them lovely clothing dress. They like it so much.