My husband's family does a $10 swap of presents for Christmas. Since everyone now has jobs, I suggested increasing it to $20 which others agreed with but MIL didn't and let the matter die. We lived overseas last year and although my husband and I bought for those we had names for. My husband received his gift and I did not. I didn't panic because his brother has had me before and sent it late courtesy of my MIL. Now, it's October and still no present and we're going to be picking names again next month. What would you do? Would you ask for someone to be held accountable for not reciprocating the agreement? Would you back out of this arrangement? How would you do it?
2006-10-24 04:27:44 · 10 answers · asked by ChristmasPresent 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
do whats right, just participate, if they wanna do $10, do $10, if they wanna do $20, do $20, if you get him, get him a gift that says "I put no thought into this" like a Hanson C.d.
2006-10-24 04:39:45 · answer #1 · answered by zorro1701e 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're kidding, right? You are 'panicking' over a $10 or $20 gift? Please! Christmas is all about giving, giving, giving -- and not at all about receiving!
My dear, forget about the gift that you didn't get, and start this Holiday season with a fresh slate. Let everyone know that you'll be sending out 'family' gifts, and order each family a nice box of goodies from a catalog!
Christmas is all about children, anyway. As long as they have a gift to open, everyone else should be happy - God bless!
2006-10-24 11:42:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
When I was working at the bank 10 years ago they had a "birthday envelope" that they sent around the office, it would have the birthday persons name on the envelope and we all had to put money in the envelope, then the manager would buy a gift with that money.
I remember my birthday, I turned 19, I saw another envelope going around and put money in ... I just assumed they sent an envelope around for me, but they didnt. I went home and cried.
the point is ... it happens to all of us. forgive them and move on. Take the money and buy something for yourself and say it was the gift. Dont let last years dissapointment ruin this year as well.
2006-10-24 15:10:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is similar to what happens every year to my brother.
Tell them you don't want to play with cheaters. ha
MIL is the one with the problem. Tell your people you don't want MIL to draw your name as it isn't fun getting nothing. But ask them to give you MILs name. Get MIL nothing. If you feel bad, get him a card. Make it yourself. Put play money inside. Or, get and old sock and put a lump of coal in it for MILs gift.
My eldest sister likes to play dirty Santa. That is okay at one's employment but not with family. She has a fit if she doesn't recieve a nice gift. But her gifts are always gag gifts. A gum ball ring or a matchbox car. Or even the hair she lost from chemo, she gave to my brother as a gift. She thinks it's funny.
2006-10-24 11:48:10 · answer #4 · answered by MoonWoman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I would have made a polite enquiry, oh say in January... since you didn't, I think I'd have let it go by now - and don't hurt yourself buying them things this year. A card, with a generic (like WalMart) gift certificate, maybe. If you want to back out completely, just tell them, since they had no courtesy for you, you can't feel towards them as you need to in order to purchase a gift. Give something to a charity they don't like, in their name, that would be funny, cool (the charity benefits) and pretty sweet revenge. (My inlaws dislike me, too - every time they get their son alone, they try to talk him into a divorce; they've even offered to pay for it! I usually 'nice em to death' as maman always said: Just act like you adore them - to their faces - as they do to me.)
2006-10-24 13:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by Baby'sMom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't give it a second thought. Maybe he forgot or is making a statement on how he feels about you. You shouldn't even worry about it.
I would still participate in the exchange, if you get his name then just a card and write sending you the same thing you sent me last year. Make it funny and let it go.
2006-10-24 11:35:21 · answer #6 · answered by sideways 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The proper way to handle this is to treat others how you would like to be treated. Just because they didnt give you a gift doesnt mean that you make them feel left out.
2006-10-24 11:52:26 · answer #7 · answered by pegasis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I do is: at Thanksgiving I announce that I will not be exchanging gifts this Christmas.
(Thanksgiving is the time most families ask each other what they want for Christmas - around here.)
2006-10-24 11:38:04 · answer #8 · answered by Saffernellie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is one of those things you're just going to have to forget about. I've had this happen with our family exchange, and it's better to keep the peace and forget that it happened.
2006-10-24 11:36:25 · answer #9 · answered by dph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give to receive :)
2006-10-24 13:19:14 · answer #10 · answered by im_david 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋