Okay, so here's the deal. My dad is married to a woman who has two young children. (One his, one not, if it matters.) I am not close to his wife at all, am never invited over to their place to get to know the kids, etc. I am operating on a VERY tight budget this Christmas season and so here is the question: If I buy something for my dad (which of course I would like to do), am I obligated to buy something for the wife and children that I don't even really know? While I don't really WANT to spend the money, there will be a big gift-exchange with all the family, aunts, uncles, etc. If I don't bring a gift for the heathens, erm, kids, I'll look bad, right?? I'm really stressing, because I have very little money to spend and I don't want to spend it on people I don't even really know!
What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance for your input. :-)
2007-11-29 10:28:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I would get something or make something for the children and not get a gift for your dad if you are that tide. You could also offer him a night of babysitting so he and his wife can go out.
I strongly believe that Christmas is out of hand. When I grew up adults did not get gifts and children did not give their parents store bought gifts. They might have done some arts and crafts or made a cart. I think this is how it should be. After all adults can buy what they want any time of the year. If you are strapped for cash don't feel obligated to give store bought gifts. At your age you should be saving your money for your own future such as education or a down payment for your first house. You might as well learn now how to budget yourself.
2007-11-29 11:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by Iris R 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that it's very understandable if you only get a gift for your Dad. It would be a whole different story if they extended you the opportunity to really get to know the kids and his new wife. It's obvious that they haven't gone out of there way for you to really get to know you etc so I don't see why they would expect a present from you. I think that maybe it would be best to give your dad his present when you specifically aren't around everyone else so it doesn't look like you didn't care about the rest and so you don't feel more obligated to get to them. It's hard everyone has a budget to work with for presents I'm sure they would understand.
2007-11-29 10:38:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you are not obligated to buy anyone anything. But if you want to the best thing is to buy one gift for the whole family; maybe a family movie or some kind of gift basket set or a gift certificate to a family resturatunt.
Another way to get to know them--- get your father and his wife a gift certificate to a fancy resturatunt and offer to baby-sit the kids on the night they go to the resturatunt. That should endear you to the wife and make your father notice you and then you get know the kids.
2007-11-29 16:50:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's a tough situation but you can always find cheap toys on clearance for the kids at w-mart or k-mart 5-7 dollars and then get something for your dad. I would not get anything for the wife unless you feel that will help the relationship and w-mart has nice fragrance gift baskets for cheap. Hope this helps some
2007-11-29 10:41:59 · answer #4 · answered by Lovinlife 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buy them a family gift like a hot chocolate set and a personal gift for your Dad.
2007-11-29 10:37:14 · answer #5 · answered by Elizabeth M 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If money is really that tight, forgo getting something for your dad, and get something for the children instead. I think your dad would appreciate you thinking of them, and Christmas is for children after all.
2007-11-29 16:23:18 · answer #6 · answered by missbeans 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would buy your dad a present, and just give cards or baked goods to those you don't really want to buy anything for.
2007-11-29 10:58:16 · answer #7 · answered by Cass 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get whatever you want, for your dad, and for the rest, how about an inexpensive DVD.. for the kids and their mother...
2007-11-29 11:49:16 · answer #8 · answered by Foggy Idea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋