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AIBU

Christmas money - how much do you give your grown up kids?

(152 Posts)
Scotchmist10 Fri 26-Nov-21 20:36:22

I usually send our adult daughter money for Christmas as she's lived away from home for years and we rarely see her for Christmas (she loves to travel a lot).
My partner and I are both disabled and retired from work so we're not exactly rolling in it, so when my sister and I were discussing what to get our kids for Christmas she surprised me when she said she gives her son and daughter in law money for Christmas too so they can buy whatever they like, but she gives her daughter in law the same amount of money she used to give to just her son when he was single, so double the cost.
Our daughter has a steady boyfriend who she's been living with for a couple of years but I've never thought to double the amount I send her since he came along - I just presume he gets a present or money from his own family.
My sister thinks I'm being a scrooge not treating our daughters partner to the same as our daughter but we aren't flush and can't afford any extra expenses.
AIBU? Or is my sister doing the right thing with her family? It's something I'd never considered until she brought it up and now I feel like I'm being mean hmm

Lockers54 Mon 29-Nov-21 11:59:44

I give my adult children & partners £50 each & a couple of gifts i.e. socks, slippers for xmas. The grandkids get presents that are approx £30 as I have 4.

icanhandthemback Mon 29-Nov-21 11:55:27

We have 6 children who get £50 each although the youngest one who is still officially resident gets some little extras to open on the day. The 9 grandchildren get £25 each and the 5 inlaws get anything between £10 and £20 depending on how flush w feel that year. We are starting to rethink this now we have so many grandchildren and we are on such a limited income. We are thinking of giving the family a present as a whole as some of our children have 3 children whilst others only have one.

Naninka Mon 29-Nov-21 11:54:22

Hetty58

Scotchmist10, you are not a scrooge! We just buy for the (many) grandchildren, not for adults. All we do for the grown ups is a secret Santa, (elfster.com) £20 limit - so we all get one little present, quite enough.

Same with us. Only our Secret Santa limit is £15.
We spend loads on food and drink for them all - they can interpret that as a gift if they prefer to.

Jaxjacky Sun 28-Nov-21 20:33:02

We all make lists, so they get 2/3 presents from their lists, AC’s and partners, GC’s too. They don’t write down extortionate items, they all then get something they’d like.

MissAdventure Sun 28-Nov-21 20:07:49

I give what I've got spare.
No hard and fast rules.

BBbevan Sun 28-Nov-21 19:54:07

We have two children , each with families. Every one gets a present then we give each family £0000 . Written it like that on purpose .

ValerieF Sun 28-Nov-21 19:12:12

Not read all replies but I think this Christmas present giving is getting out of control. If it is worrying you then just don’t do it!

I always made fabulous Christmas’s for my children and continued into adulthood but then realized they (thankfully) needed nothing! So I decided I wasn’t going to send presents they probably cast aside anyway and would donate to my fav charities. I pick a different one every year. Give my kids their due, they are in agreement with me too. What I do is make more of their individual birthdays.

Win-win for me because reduces the stress of Christmas. We still meet up for Christmas dinner and I contribute to it. Am not a “scrooge” by the way, I just hated the tit for tat and nobody really needing anything at end of day xx

janeainsworth Sun 28-Nov-21 17:38:51

grammaretto
what's a token gift? janeainsworth a gift is a gift surely
In our family it means a gift of small value in addition to the main gift of money. Just a small surprise to open on Christmas Day. Maybe a book or toiletries or a bottle of wine.

Franbern Sun 28-Nov-21 16:45:46

Must admit that it has never occured to me that presents to my Daughter and Sons-in-law should be the same as for my son and daughters. Would probably embarass them if I did do.

Once the g.children started to arrive, presents to in-laws ceased, and the monetary present to my own children dropped. Eight g.children, all get the same amount. Some discussion in the family as to whether this should stop once the turn 18 years old, but I have continued it. Not a large amount each, but all I can afford. Also a monetary gift to all five of my AC.
My ex-husband, (their father), never sends anything to any of them for birthdays (not even a card), sends the same amount of money to each of the five of them for Xmas telling them that if they wish to give any of it to their own children it is up to them. So, our son, with no children gets an identical amount as the daughter with four children.

aonk Sun 28-Nov-21 16:11:43

No money changes hands in my family. We have 4 AC all married and 7 GC. Everyone receives a present. We always buy something carefully thought out for the partners but tend to spend more on our own AC.

Granniesunite Sun 28-Nov-21 15:24:41

It all depends on what we can afford that particular year but they all get the same either money or a gift my AC and my lovely DILs prefer gifts... I don't see one grandchild but the other grandchildren get the same amount spent on them according to finances. The darling grandchild im not in contact with gets a gift delivered and money banked for her.

Grammaretto Sun 28-Nov-21 14:50:25

what's a token gift? janeainsworth a gift is a gift surely.
The price is irrelevant.

I have 7 DGC so it would be very expensive to give them money. I try to find something each would really like. The same for birthdays.
4yr old loved her hot water bottle with a knitted bear cover for her recent birthday. She cuddled it as she went upstairs to bed and then asked "when can I drink it?"
I have left it a bit late this year but I will come up with something

janeainsworth Sun 28-Nov-21 14:25:18

Hi MissA grin

MissAdventure Sun 28-Nov-21 14:17:02

Oh, hi! smile

janeainsworth Sun 28-Nov-21 14:12:38

The hi wasn’t addressed to anyone in particular ?

janeainsworth Sun 28-Nov-21 14:11:52

I’m another who would rather the DC had the money now, when they need it, than when I’m pushing up the daisies. Our DiL and DSiLs get the same as DC.
Token gifts to unwrap on the day but mainly £s. Hi

crazyH Sun 28-Nov-21 14:00:21

Token gifts plus a substantial cheque - they have young families and need money now, rather than later…….

glammanana Sun 28-Nov-21 13:24:31

My 3 ACs all get Hampers which they all use towards Christmas all the same value they are a gift for them to share with their partners as they don't need anything for themselves personally they all have well paid jobs and are hard to buy for individually.

Juno56 Sun 28-Nov-21 12:34:59

My husband and I have a very small immediate family: DD, DSiL DGD and DS. We give the same quite substantial sum to each of the adults in the form of a voucher, experience or subscription (or money if they prefer). We spend the same amount on our granddaughter but half goes into an account for her and half on toys suggested by her parents (she's only two). I have a brother and my husband a sister and they get hampers. It would certainly not occur to me to spend less on my son in law than my daughter. Right from their first Christmas together when it was obvious he was 'the one' he has been one of my children and treated as such.

Teacheranne Sun 28-Nov-21 11:57:52

Due to mobility problems, I find going round shops very difficult so I started giving my siblings gift vouchers a few years ago. This year I’m giving £100 for each couple, together with a small present each to open on Christmas Day. They choose which shop they want a voucher from, usually John Lewis or M&as, so no concerns I hope of them closing down soon!

My adult children get a substantial amount transferred to their bank account together with a few small presents. The amount varies according to the state of my bank balance! I am very fortunate to have made good provision for my retirement and want to share it with my children now when they are young. They never know how much it will be and are very appreciative whatever I give them - as long as they know that I have also spent my money on things for myself. My son in the US will get a little more as he buys something on my behalf for his two children, I don’t post them anything.

This year they both have partners so I’m giving them a small gift and an Amazon voucher for £50, I think that is a decent amount for them to be able to treat themselves to something and it’s the same as I give my other relatives.

Ali08 Sun 28-Nov-21 11:32:52

chocolatepudding

Gosh i am amazed at the generosity here. MIL gave her DS1 my DH and me a cheque for £20 and a small gift each for Christmas and birthdays .
Her DS2 the favourite, got a gift and a cheque for £1000.!
This went on for 20 years.

Gosh, how to make your child feel unloved!!
The poor man!
I'm assuming the favourite never thought to share/half it with his brother?

sazz1 Sun 28-Nov-21 11:20:39

I give the exact same amount to my 3 adult children - cash to the sons and presents to the daughters. DIL gets same amount as DGC but as a present usually spirits,wine and chocolates. One of the DGC who is a teenager wanted cash last year as they were saving up for a game which was fine. The other DGC get presents as they are much younger.
I'm expected to write a Xmas list each year of what I'd like and text it to DC end of November. I put lots on it and they choose, everything from a box of chocolates to a holiday in Spain for a laugh

Barmeyoldbat Sun 28-Nov-21 10:17:52

I only give to to son, daughter, Mr B and 2 neighbours. The Gd all had driving lessons and money towards a car, it was a life time of Christmas presents, so now just exchange Christmas cards. Son and daughter always have presents bought,around the same value.

Niobe Sun 28-Nov-21 09:33:20

When our son was single we gave him about £ 200 for Xmas. When he married we gave the same amount to his wife but a few years ago we all decided that as a family we would set a limit of £20 per person. That works fine except when it comes to our grandson when we often go over but not by too much.

Urmstongran Sun 28-Nov-21 08:04:52

Our two daughters and one son in law and the parter of the eldest daughter all get the same amount each. We are very lucky in how much we value the addition of these men to our tiny family group.