Our Family Secret Santa
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22372
Printed Date: 03 October 2025 at 8:52pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Our Family Secret Santa
Posted By: Lisha
Subject: Our Family Secret Santa
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 9:40am
Has decided ( I mean my sister in law who flashes her money around, aka best friend) that this years secret santa amount is $100 per person!! 
That is ALOT of money for us and we can't afford that per person, that means $200 for xmas gifts this year, plus the girls birthdays are at the beginning of Dec. We were the only ones that complained, I mean we could have done $50 per person, and even my mum agreed that $100 per person was a bit over the top, as my SIL wanted everyone to get a decent pressie!!! 
So it looks like they have won and Adam and I are buying for eachother!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 9:51am
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Wow... that's heaps. If that was in DH or my families, I'd just say 'no, sorry, we just can't do that' too.
Sorry, I don't know you - so is Adam your DH? Does that mean you're buying for each other cos you're opting out of the SS? If that was the only option, I'd be doing that, I tell you! -------------   
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Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 9:53am
Haha yes Adam is my DH  Yes we are buying for eachother then we will have something under the tree at least!------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 9:53am
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$100 is pretty steep What a pity they wouldn't lower it so you could join in but IMO if they refuse to put the present cost at a reasonable level then it's sensible for you to refuse to join in this year. -------------  
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Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 10:02am
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I agree with Jo - it's definitely not unreasonable for you to object. Yikes  ------------- 
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Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 10:30am
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Yikes! Thats a huge amount. Our family SS is $10 per person, and everyone buys for all the kids.
For us, its not about pressies its about us all being together for the first Christmas in years. We will all put in for yummy food and are going to our family bach in Wanganui by a beautiful lake. Its going to cost a bit for most of us to get there as we all live quite a distance away, so expecting us to spend a huge amount on gifts would be unrealistic. Stick to your guns!! |
Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 10:42am
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Thanks! That is a nice one, putting in for food etc!
They may think that we are tight but that is right, it's not all about pressies. Most of our family, my brother and his family, my SIL's family are all from Hawera, Taranaki so they are making the journey down to Akaroa, where my parents are, but they will think nothing of it, money wise. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 12:11pm
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Holy moly that is waaay too much!!. Secret santa is just about having a little fun, not spending loads of money sheesh!. My DPs family does SS and the limit is $30 this year. My family should do that I reckon, since there is soooooo many of us siblings...and then there's the neices and nephews!! yikes better start making my kiddie present list. ------------- 
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 12:39pm
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Yea, not wanting spend $100 isn't tight! It's not like everyone has that kind of money to spend at that time of year (we sure don't).
I forget what we're meant to be spending on our families SS - I think it's about $30 (I should check that before I buy something!) -------------
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 12:44pm
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$100 is unrealistic! I thought the whole point of secret santas was to keep the costs down. I would have expected $20 ea. That way everyone gets a pressie. IMO.....most of us really dont need or want Chrissie pressies but feel we have to so SS is a great idea but not at $100!!!!
Stick to your guns....and teach your girls that Xmas is about being together and thinking of one another...not how much you spend on someone. |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 12:48pm
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omg that is far to much unless everyone can afford it!
We dont do secret santa in DH family as our bump will be the first bub. At the moment we spend $40 per person (we buy for 4 adults) max. no one expects much cos they know we are not made of money. My family in aus dont get anything, except my neice and nephew. I think its totally unacceptable that your SIL is not being more accomodating. How rude! -------------   
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 12:49pm
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are you serious? 100 dollars ? that just takes all the enjoyment out of buying a present and replaces it with stress instead.
You might want to tell your SIL that its the thought that counts ,not the price of the gift , sheesh . I say stick to your guns , especially if your girls birthdays are in early december ------------- 
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Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:05pm
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We are buying for eachother, DH & myself. It really sucks, as my mum still thinks that $100 is crazy and that even my brother thinks so!! Is he too scared to mention that to my SIL?? His wife!
They wouldn't have any idea what it is like to have to live in $30 for the whole week!! Typical dairy farmers!!! I was one once! Money grows on trees!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:12pm
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$100 is bonkers! Totally defeats the purpose of Secret Santa if you ask me! Lisha - if you and your DH are buying for each other, then couldn't you just spend less - it's not as if either of you will feel ripped off! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:20pm
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Jeepers! $100 each is pretty steep, even if you want to get "decent" presents. We do SS in my Dad's family because the family is so big - $50 gift for each adult. You can get something really lovely for $50 - not sure what your SIL has in mind for $100 each that's any better.
If your Mum AND your brother also think its ridiculous then tell your brother to grow some balls and say so ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:23pm
| Yep $100 is crazy! There is no way we spend that much on any one person,..except Isla! We buy for both sets of parents and our siblings and spend about $40 for a couple, and bit more for our parents combined. |
Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:30pm
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yep I agree, $100 for ONE present is a bit over the top!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4 
 
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Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:30pm
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Too right, my brother needs to grown some balls!
There is no way that DH and myself will spend $100 on eachother anyway. Maybe $50 or under. I don't really want a pressie this year anyway, more to see the smiles on my girls faces when they get their pressies! Awww I am all teary!! How soft am I?!?! 
I won a big outdoor playhouse for them on TM the other night, which my dad is going to do up. I think I am more excited than they will be. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:31pm
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Good grief! Gee, we spend $50/couple for one family SS, and $20/person for the other! ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: mrsturtle
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 1:53pm
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Oh wow thats so much! we do ss in our family and spend $25 still buy for each child aswell but try get stuff during the year while its on sale.
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 2:03pm
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If the rest of the family doesn't like it as well then someone needs to tell the woman who thinks money grows on trees that not everyone can afford $100 - which is a very high amount for "secret santa" anyway. Stick to your guns if it isn't changed and if she does ask (and god forbid her) how much it was - say either none of your business or it was on sale from $200 and I got if half price!!! ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 2:49pm
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Haha.. her mind is already made up as the "list" has been sent out!! Bugger her I say! It's her way or no way!
This "woman" was my best friend, who married my brother! Since that happened, our friendship has been no exsistant! Oh well! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:12pm
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Gosh when we do SS there is no list... all guesswork or fun stuff... and the amount is $20 Good on you for backing out! ------------- |
Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:58pm
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Thanks!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 9:26pm
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Oh man, your SIL is sounding more and more of a control freak the more you update this Lisha Good on you and your DH for opting out!
The more I think about this, the more it annoys me - Christmas is sposed to be fun! By the way, your girls' playhouse sounds very cool. I'd be pretty excited too. I'm wondering if it's too early to buy a train set this Christmas .... I could say it's for DH .... ? ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 12 November 2008 at 8:21am
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Good idea!! The girls would benefit out of the train set also
Yep, she has turned into a control freak, and I think that it is her pregnant hormones! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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