Last year I think I was a bit mean. Me and Stuart got my mum, MIL, FIL, SMIL, SIL a present between us (eg Sanctuary set or btl perfume or shirt & tie etc), and then from Caitlin they got a photo mug & keyring.
I then felt a bit crap on xmas day when MIL and SIL had bought us seperate presents at maybe £30-40 each & then spent another £40 on Caitlin each. SMIL & FIL gave me £50
plus pj's, smellies etc, plus stuarts presents plus loads for Caitlin.... (My MIL really isnt well off, she obviously saved alot, FIL is comfortable enough but by no means rich)
This year im trying to get people a bit more (which is hard cos we've less money). My mum is insisting I spend £5 max on her and has given me loads of photo frames to put a pic of Caitlin in & says to give them as presents to family. My MIL on the otherhand is already requesting cash (no hiding how much we spend there
) & we had bought her a sanctuary set for her bday this month but then she went & bought herself a coat which she wants the £30 for
(I actually think this is a bit rude
, the sanctaury set is now going to SMIL for xmas)
Im gonna end up spending £30-40 each on MIL & SIL at xmas to try & not look mean. If i dont spend the same on my mum i'l feel bad, yet if I do spend £40 on her she'l complain I shouldnt have wasted money on her....Then there's the dilemma that I cant spend £40 on MIL and not on FIL & SMIL who give Caitlin so much during the year.
Do you spend more on certain relatives than others? Do you give seperate gifts form LO's? (This is where I think spending can go mad, im basically buying the same person twice).