Would this be tacky?

[inaminute]

As a mother-in-law, I would LOVE to be told when a gift is wrong. My DIL was new to the family. I didn't know her well. I'd ask, but she wouldn't tell me anything specific. The only way I have to gauge what she MIGHT like is by what I've purchased for other people in her age group.

So, please use honesty and tell people when the gift is wrong. I'd much prefer that than finding out years later that I wasted money on unwanted gifts.

I know that it is the thought that counts, but I like giving gifts even more than getting. It helps to know what the receiver wants. I would never be offended if my DIL asked to return something. I might just go with her to "help" her pick out what she really wanted!

 

[totalia]

There's no such thing as tacky. As a person giving a gift, I'd rather know what you want than buy you something you don't. I'd rather the gift be used an appreciated than sit in a dark corner somewhere or hated.

 

[dg39]

I never hint. As a matter of fact I very rarely mention that my birthdays coming up.(It's 9/10, by the way ) If I want something I buy it for myself, so whatever anyone gets me is just an added bonus and is much appreciated. If it doesn't fit, or if I don't like it, thats ok, because its nice that they thought enough of me to get me something to begin with. BUT, as for my husband, we have totaly different taste in almost everything. I kinda married the complete opposite, so in this case, I just tell him what I want. Its usually a gift card to a favorite store, this way I can pick out what I really want.

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

dg39, we have the same birthday!

 

[kathyk2]

I may be different but I like it when people tell me tell me what they want for gifts. I save time in the stores and I know that they will really enjoy it. My sister's birthday is September 10th too.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

So, please use honesty and tell people when the gift is wrong. I'd much prefer that than finding out years later that I wasted money on unwanted gifts.

I have tried this with DMIL but she only gets upset with me. Granted..she has hit the mark a couple of times. The first Christmas DH and I were dating, she got me a huge gift basket from Bath and Body works with some daisy scented lotion,etc that they no longer make. She also gave me a $50 g/c to the Gap that year which I used to buy one pair of jeans and a couple of tanks I wore until they fell apart. She also gave me a bottle of Clinique's "Happy" which I luuuurve to death a couple of years ago, so she's not ALWAYS wrong. She's just more often wrong than right.

The thing that makes me MOST upset about DMIL is that even if I DID send her a list, she would never buy anything on it. Mostly because what is on there is movies, computer games and video games..all things I love. But DH says DMIL feels 'uncomfortable' giving people dvds, etc. I've tried to get him to ask her to buy those things for me, even if she doesn't do it for anybody else and he said she refuses. Grragh.

Oh well....I've told DH to hint to DMIL that I want scrapbooking stuff this year and hopefully, since she is a StampItUp sales consultant, she'll actually get me some scrapping stuff.

TOV

 

[tkyes]

Christmas lists are a requirement in our family. I ask for one from my parents, brother, dh and inlaws, they ask for them from everyone else as well.

Birthdays are different. If you are asked what you want for your birthday, that's one thing, but to come out and say (to friends in particular) is another. I give my DH hints for my birthday, he'll often come out and ask too.

 

[totalia]

If you want to return it, just return it and don't say anything. Most people will never know the difference because they don't see you enough. Be careful about doing this with jewelry though. People tend to want to see that.