The cost of living crisis means it will be a very different Christmas for many people this year as they make cuts where they can. But the state of the economy and the strain on people's wallets seems to have gone over the head of one mum-in-law (MIL), however.
That's the experience of an anonymous woman on Mumsnet, who has had enough of her relative's selfish antics. Her never-ending list of expensive gift demands are putting a strain on family relations and squeezed budgets.
The woman explained: "We are having an issue with my MIL and Christmas presents. I’ve been with my husband 9 years married for 2. Ever since we got engaged my MIL has insisted on buying me a gift for Christmas. Lovely idea and in the past she’s gotten me gorgeous scarves, or a really fancy umbrella which I love and use regularly. I’ve always bought her a gift too."
But there is trouble looming on the gift front, as the continued: "My husband is the eldest son of three. His parents are divorced 5 years now. Every Christmas since the separation MIL sends him and his brothers lists of what she wants for Christmas. I’m talking €100+ for gifts from her sons."
She explains that money is tight for all three brothers and mother-in-law's demands are putting pressure on them all. But she and her husband made the exception for her father-in-law, who generously gave his time to do some building work in their new home.
"He saved us a fortune! He has a particular Dior fragrance he likes but didn’t want to ask for as it was €120 to buy but we bought it and some extras for him to say thank you for all the hard work. "
The mother-in-law was not happy with this arrangement, however, and still presented her Christmas gift list with the 'usual price tag'.
"When my husband said no, it was too expensive and we were scaling back, she kicked up because she somehow found out about what we had bought father-in-law, and she was angry," the woman explained.
In an attempt to avoid the Christmas gift list dramas of recent years, she decides to buy a perfume her mother-in-law likes and a necklace too, all within their limited budget.
Despite this, and knowing how strapped they are for cash, the relative was unimpressed and insisted they take her Christmas list of gift demands.
"My DH [darling husband] is excellent at shutting her down and telling her how rude she is being but it doesn’t stop her.
"The gifts she gives me now at Christmas are trinkets she finds in charity shops or a set of wine glasses she used to own in her house, complete with dust on box.
"This year my husband has told her in no uncertain terms that if she's buying a gift, get one for the two of us to benefit from. (Something like a nice chopping board for the kitchen. Nothing more than €30) She said she would think about it but I know she is going to come at me with trinkets again!!
"Would it be awful of me to not accept them this year?" she asks.
There was an outpouring of sympathy from fellow Mumsnet users, as one wrote: "I'd just stop all the presents all together. She sounds very greedy."
Another chimed in with: "Choice of gifts is the decision of the giver. It's traditional for children to write a list for Santa but adults issuing a list without being asked are, in my opinion, very ill-mannered. It's only acceptable to do this if the giver asks for ideas".
"Buy her what you can afford - ignore/bin what she gets you. Let your husband keep calling out the general disrespect and in general lower your own contact with her to the minimum," another suggested.
