Gifts that require you to spend money

[cheshireqt]

I've got one to top it off. My in laws bought my brother in law a lawn game for his birthday. But it cost them more than they usually spend on him for his birthday. So they told him that in order for him to get it, he would have to pay the difference between what it costs and what they spend on him! He didn't even want the darn thing!

They wanted him to pay them for his gift?

 

[scrapquitler]

I've got one to top it off. My in laws bought my brother in law a lawn game for his birthday. But it cost them more than they usually spend on him for his birthday. So they told him that in order for him to get it, he would have to pay the difference between what it costs and what they spend on him! He didn't even want the darn thing!

YOU WIN! This is totally outrageous!

 

[Katy Belle]

OP again... Wow! Some of you have really gotten some doozies! It reminds me of a friend of mine. When she married her DH his parents gave them a Time Share for a wedding gift... but the newlyweds had to pay all of the yearly fees...or something...it cost them a bunch of money anyway... AND they were both 30 when they married and started having babies ASAP, so they couldn't even use the Time Share for a few years, due to being really pregnant during the week chosen for them by the In Laws. Sounded so crazy to me!

I agree on the movie ticket for a child's birthday. At work DH helped with "adopt a family." The 11 yr old boy asked for a movie ticket. We bought enough for the entire family to go to the movie. AND for snacks. DSIL bought us movie ticket vouchers one year...for HER hometown, not ours, and only enough to cover the tickets, no snacks. AND they expired in April. We were there a few days over Christmas and not back until Summer vacation. I gave them to a friend, not back to SIL. I think she was thinking we would give them to HER!

 

[BSil]

I once got this serving tray, which was apparently "bulletproof"?!!?

Even though I don't serve anything when I have people over (nor does my non-existant butler), and I am very, very rarely shot at, it was "the thought that counted." Wait what?

I try to live in that fantasy of "it's the thought that counts," but let's be realistic, and admit that it isn't always the thought that counts. I'd prefer a big bag of nothing, instead of some odd bright red and royal blue serving tray that is supposedly bulletproof.

I told a friend that I had this tray that was bulletproof, and just amazing for serving things, you know if you are into that whole thing. Well he didn't really do any serving either, but he did hunt. He took that tray with him to test it out, and let's just say that I thankfully never relied on it to serve as a flak jacket, because I wouldn't be writing this post if I had.

Moral of the story is never wear a serving tray to protect you if you ever find yourself in a position where you are being hunted or shot at; and simply don't give a gift if you don't have the aptitude to think of something even moderately worthwhile to give someone. A gift should bring the giver and the getter a little happiness, not be something that requires an explanation of what else you need to use it, how nice it would be to play with if you had batteries, how cool it will be when the child grows into it, how much it will cost you to have it, or last but not least the "bullet-proof" properties of an item which clearly would have no purpose being made out of a bullet proof material.

 

[Katy Belle]

I once got this serving tray, which was apparently "bulletproof"?!!?

Even though I don't serve anything when I have people over (nor does my non-existant butler), and I am very, very rarely shot at, it was "the thought that counted." Wait what?

I try to live in that fantasy of "it's the thought that counts," but let's be realistic, and admit that it isn't always the thought that counts. I'd prefer a big bag of nothing, instead of some odd bright red and royal blue serving tray that is supposedly bulletproof.

I told a friend that I had this tray that was bulletproof, and just amazing for serving things, you know if you are into that whole thing. Well he didn't really do any serving either, but he did hunt. He took that tray with him to test it out, and let's just say that I thankfully never relied on it to serve as a flak jacket, because I wouldn't be writing this post if I had.

Moral of the story is never wear a serving tray to protect you if you ever find yourself in a position where you are being hunted or shot at; and simply don't give a gift if you don't have the aptitude to think of something even moderately worthwhile to give someone. A gift should bring the giver and the getter a little happiness, not be something that requires an explanation of what else you need to use it, how nice it would be to play with if you had batteries, how cool it will be when the child grows into it, how much it will cost you to have it, or last but not least the "bullet-proof" properties of an item which clearly would have no purpose being made out of a bullet proof material.

LOL!!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

One gift I don't really get is a movie theater gift card for one child. Obviously, the child can't go alone, and for our family, movies out aren't frequent, because of the cost, so when one child gets a gc, it costs me quite a bit.

I love when my daughter gets those! We go to the movies all the time so it lets us go even more if she has a free ticket!

 

[quigs3]

My husband (at the time) borrowed $20 from his mom when his wallet was stolen while he was home for a visit. I was 9 months pregnant at the time. The next week we received a card in the mail from her with a check for $5. She said she was going to spend $30 on our baby gift before he borrowed the money from her. She deducted the $20 plus another $5 for interest, which left us $5 to use as we saw fit for the baby. Funniest part was that we'd ready put a check for $20 in the mail to her!

 

[Sagginit]

my future sister in law got a car from her parents while she was in college. they went to the dealer picked it out, put the down payment on it, and handed over the keys. then she got the loan book in the mail! yup they weren't paying another penny towards the car and didn't even ask her before they bought it. they were college students on a serious budget so she was not pleased. they still have that car 7 years later.

i got a kindle for christmas. yes i should be happy, but i need to buy a cover and books for it. i know you can get them for free but the cheapest cover i can find is $30. and im dont want the screen to get scratched so i need the screen protecter. and i commute at night on the bus so i will prolly need a light for it. i hardly have time to food shop some days, kindle accessory shopping is not in my near future. its taking a nice nap in the box until my next vacation.

if you give a mouse a cookie......

 

[starrzone]

My husband (at the time) borrowed $20 from his mom when his wallet was stolen while he was home for a visit. I was 9 months pregnant at the time. The next week we received a card in the mail from her with a check for $5. She said she was going to spend $30 on our baby gift before he borrowed the money from her. She deducted the $20 plus another $5 for interest, which left us $5 to use as we saw fit for the baby. Funniest part was that we'd ready put a check for $20 in the mail to her!

OMG, this is BEYOND tacky!!! I can't even describe what I think about this, except give a big virtual head shake!

My mother is the exact opposite of this; she REFUSES to take the money back if someone borrows a small amount ($20 or less). I've practically had to stuff it in her purse while she isn't looking

 

[Pigeon]

I don't think people are looking at this right. it is the thought that counts. Now i do understand that you can't use the ball with out the stand, but a gift without batteries, well go out and buy some. Just think about this my daughter had a birthday party and one of the girls bought some of her own too small and old with holes clothes and a wallet that was wrecked but you know what my daughter still said thank you and said that the birthday party was fun as it had all her friends there to celebrate with her.

While I will thank the giver graciously, this type of gift to me says, "I didn't think" or "I thought, but was too cheap to give you the entire gift." Nine times out of ten, I chuck the gift afterward because it's no gift if it's going to cost me money I don't want to spend.

If you know the gift is going to cost the recipient money that you aren't 100% positive they'll be thrilled to spend, keep thinking until you think of a different gift.

When we first adopted our oldest, the inlaws asked specifically what kinds of toys we planned to have. (No batteries, no noisemakers, no war toys or guns, no Barbies or Bratz)After getting our input, they went out and bought the direct opposite for every event for about the next five years.

They gave us one gawdawful Winnie the Pooh and friends set of figurines that talked to each other and had no off switch. It cost $27 to buy batteries.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My husband (at the time) borrowed $20 from his mom when his wallet was stolen while he was home for a visit. I was 9 months pregnant at the time. The next week we received a card in the mail from her with a check for $5. She said she was going to spend $30 on our baby gift before he borrowed the money from her. She deducted the $20 plus another $5 for interest, which left us $5 to use as we saw fit for the baby. Funniest part was that we'd ready put a check for $20 in the mail to her!

Wow! 25% interest is pretty steep. Is she planning to go into the loan shark business?

 

[cjnix29]

My husband (at the time) borrowed $20 from his mom when his wallet was stolen while he was home for a visit. I was 9 months pregnant at the time. The next week we received a card in the mail from her with a check for $5. She said she was going to spend $30 on our baby gift before he borrowed the money from her. She deducted the $20 plus another $5 for interest, which left us $5 to use as we saw fit for the baby. Funniest part was that we'd ready put a check for $20 in the mail to her!

WOW!!!! I noticed you said husband "at the time"....the in laws did you in, eh?

 

[cjnix29]

They wanted him to pay them for his gift?

Yep! My in laws are really something. Volumes could not describe it all!

 

[Carlyzmom]

Oh, my goodness! These are outrageous!! Keep them coming! Very entertaining!!

 

[clintswifeymomof4]

I don't think people are looking at this right. it is the thought that counts. Now i do understand that you can't use the ball with out the stand, but a gift without batteries, well go out and buy some. Just think about this my daughter had a birthday party and one of the girls bought some of her own too small and old with holes clothes and a wallet that was wrecked but you know what my daughter still said thank you and said that the birthday party was fun as it had all her friends there to celebrate with her.

I honestly think this is absolutely precious. My daughter recently celebrated her 9th bday with our first ever slumber party. She received a few homemade gifts and what nots...

Children never want to show up to a party empty handed and many are embarrassed/ashamed if they cannot purchase a gift...

To be honest- my daughter reacted the same way as yours... she was very happy with all of her gifts and displayed them proudly in her room. She enjoyed having her friends over very much and the purpose of the birthday celebration was not to see who could bring the best gift... it was to have fun and that's exactly what they all did.

 

[tweedlemom]

My BIL worked for ABC so he was given 2 free tickets to Disney World every 6 months I believe. On our wedding day, we opened our wedding card and what did he give us? Yup, 2 WDW tickets. We thanked him, as we did everyone else for their gifts. 6 months later, he called and asked for the tickets back, as he was planning a trip to WDW with his GF. NICE!

 

[malissa.robison]

The private liberal arts university my son goes to in Orange County has given him a full scholarship covering room, board and tuition. He’s in his sophomore year, loves the university, loves Aliso Viejo (the town) and will have a full scholarship all 4 years as long as he keeps a 3.0 GPA.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

My husband (at the time) borrowed $20 from his mom when his wallet was stolen while he was home for a visit. I was 9 months pregnant at the time. The next week we received a card in the mail from her with a check for $5. She said she was going to spend $30 on our baby gift before he borrowed the money from her. She deducted the $20 plus another $5 for interest, which left us $5 to use as we saw fit for the baby. Funniest part was that we'd ready put a check for $20 in the mail to her!

Ding, ding, ding... We have a winner! That is unbelievable!
Did she also charge you to babysit? I hate to see what her babysitting rates were!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

My BIL worked for ABC so he was given 2 free tickets to Disney World every 6 months I believe. On our wedding day, we opened our wedding card and what did he give us? Yup, 2 WDW tickets. We thanked him, as we did everyone else for their gifts. 6 months later, he called and asked for the tickets back, as he was planning a trip to WDW with his GF. NICE!

Well, did you give him the tickets back? I think I would have booked a trip that night!

 

[okeydokey]

I hear of people giving the restaurant.com gift certificates that are really coupons as gifts. They require that you spend a minimum amount on your meal that exceeds the value of the coupon that they spent $2 on. Yikes.