Talking to family about Christmas gifts

  • Thread starter Thread starter gmarie21
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For the past 5-6 years I’ve made treats for each household. I tell my siblings that they don’t need to buy my kids presents. Some years my kids will get things, and other years they wont. It comes down to what people can afford.

Most years my kids don’t receive anything from my sisters, and maybe 1 or 2 toys from my brother. I don’t see my sisters around Christmas (one has a large family, 6+ children, and the other I see around new years when we celebrate Christmas with my dad). We go over to my brother’s house for Christmas.

This year, the original plan was to buy a $5 toy for my brother’s children, for my kids to give them. However money grew even tighter, so that is out. Instead I’m having my daughter help me bake sugar cookies and make some frosting to bring. That way they can frost cookies together.
 
Thank you all so far for the suggestions, and keep them coming! I think what makes this more difficult is that my brother and I already have a strained relationship. I know that his wife gets very stressed about this too (though they are pretty well-off, she’s a saver to the point that she hates spending money and complains even about their water bills, whereas my brother has no problems telling everyone the tens of thousands in their savings account, as does his son who is 7 and tells everyone the thousands in his savings account). I just wish it were easier, but all your suggestions are helping to turn the wheels in my brain.😃
 
As others have said, it is HIS issue, not yours. Do not let it become yours. Be honest and don’t offer explanations. He does need to hear your business and probably won’t change his attitude anyway.

Some of the alternatives mentioned are fine if you are comfortable with them.

I am more concern that he feels the need to brag about his savings (who cares? Good for him!) and that he has passed on this attitude to his son. You said his wife is stressed as well over this – could she become an ally with you?

PS – We’ll be in Rockford for Christmas but only giving presents to the grandchildren. Us adults don’t need anything that will stretch a person’s budget
 
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