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What do you give the MIL from hell for Christmas?
In the past I have given her, photos, travel mugs, platters, candles and homey stuff. She always gives me utter crap like ugly $2 shop handbags or tea towels or just a block of chocolate. I don't want to spend a heap of money, maybe about $20.
I've got FIL a weather station. He should like that.
Block of coal...
Mmmmm... A photo calendar of all the ugliest pictures of her and the kids you can find
The most cheapest disgustingly block of chocolate
Reducta gum!
I'm having way to much fun... I will stop - lucky I don't have a MIL to give to hehe
PiL bought DH a bucket of chicken manure one year. The same year they gave their other son a huge model train set that really steamed.
Both boys were around 30 at that point, think it was 5 years ago?
But yeah, chicket s... as a gift is my most amusing bad present list topper. Certainly when vs a steaming hornby set.
Gift voucher to a $2 shop
An open pack of Depend.
In the end, if it's a must to buy her a token gift. Be the bigger person and get her some nice chocolates or a voucher to spend at Big W or one of those places. If she likes a tipple of something, then get her that.
It's hard to buy for people you don't really like, it's even better to go to more effort than them (going by your original post ;) ).
Wow I can't believe how many people have such negative things to say about their inlaws! I hope we ladies don't grow up to be the hated MILs of our sons wives!
I'd go with a voucher to a store you know she likes. Easy, not much time needed, and not much chance of complaint because she can choose what she wants.
Make a donation to a charity on her behalf.
I did that, bought a goat, water and all sorts ( I have a family of 5 siblings).:
That is an excellent idea N2L.
I won't be hated like this, cos I like my son and want the best for him. I'll be hated for wanting to see my grandchildren too much and inviting them round all the time rather than my being frustrated with the ignoring that we get.:
I always get her nice presents, I'm not nasty to her at all. I just don't want to spend a fortune on her.
I will never be that kind of MIL.:
This is an opportunity to appeal to her better self, or to show her something about your better self. Think about her better qualities (there must be something) and buy something that acknoeledges them in a small way - or come off your own to find/buy something that shows her who you are. One year I made my MIL a patchwork quilt themed around their interests in travelling & country music, and the sun has shone outta my bum ever since then LOL. Obviously $20 might not get you very far, but even a well chosen book shows you have put thought & effort in.
That's what I do every year MD but this year I'm stuck for ideas, hence this thread - which has made me look like a horrible person. The quilt is a nice idea and she does like that kind of thing but I'm not much of a sewer, I'm afraid. I'll have a wander around the shops and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the ideas though :)
Tinks I wasn't saying you were a horrible person. I understand that there are some really lousy people that we don't get to choose to have for family. And I get that it must be very hard to be insulted by that person but still rise up to treat them well - which it sounds to me like you are really trying to do. What I thought was pretty ordinary was the posts with insulting suggestions like adult nappies for gifts...., while there was a sense of humour behind these they did seem quite nasty and missing the point of Christmas and actually makes the 'giver' look like even worse of a human being than the person being given to.
I just think in this miserable world we find ourselves in these days, a whole lot more love and forgiveness is needed to those close (whether we choose them or not) to us, as hard as it is to acheive - believe me I know full well!!
I've done the charity gifts (I love love LOVE the "T.E.A.R. International" ones, because you get a card (can be physical or an e one) which says what has been given, and has a picture. They go from $5 to $5K and are just fabulous. I also know people who work there, and have confidence about the charity, which helps :)
I generally do that, or get books - book depository has a spectacular range and posts for free to your home/work, which works for me. I find it simple enough to get something in the general area of their interest (golf / biography / commerce / humour for FIL, art / culture / history / contemporary upperbrow literature for MIL, etc) and I rarely need to spend more than $20.
And it's always something in the ballpark of acceptability, so I feel good about my choices.
The last killer one was a biography about Alice Cooper, who went from shock rocker to semi pro golfer, and everywhere in between. Gave it to FIL last year, it went down VERY well. Was maybe $15. I've got the "Humans of New York" book for MIL this year, which I actually wanted to get last year, but it just wasn't going to be out in time. Can't wait to give it to her, she's going to LOVE it.
I ended up making a calendar with photos if the kids. I also wrote the kids birthdays in it because she seems to have forgotten when they are. I'll also get her something small to go with it.