£40-70 seems reasonable

I spent about £30 on each of mine, and I feel that is more than enough in these difficult financial times.

Hi,

I personally think £70 is too much, £30-£50 more reasonable .. if it’s a special birthday then I can see this amount going to £100-£200. Whether you honour this year’s demands depends on yiur relationship with your SIL, sometimes it’s just SO much easier to just give in with the demands (and take it as a life lesson) or like someone else said get them a voucher.

Next year though, dnt ask for a list and shop during blackout Friday. Your nieces sound girly so they will love anything from Space NK,ASOS/boots and John Lewis - they all do a wonderful black out Friday month offers .. and I just get ALL (birthday and Xmas presents) from there.

In case you think I’m the crazy SIL, I’ve written a background story here - Before we had kids, we did honour anything my SIL put on the Xmas list for her children. Like your SIL, my SIL used to ask for fairly pricy gifts and would also ask for the receipt to be included with the present; however since we’ve had kids ourselves, she’s never asked for a list from us and her presents were terrible - the worse thing she’s ever bought is a toy from Amazon for ~ £8, gave us second hand clothes and then ‘forgot ’ to buy something for my little one’s birthday (3 years out of 5) as it falls when my SIL is out of the country.

For my own sanity now, we never-ever ask my SIL what the kids want as a present, we get ideas from them when we see them and then I do a massive present-buy-session Xmas and Birthdays during blackout Friday. I’m so much happier with that set up, I get things for a good discount, and even if this is a bit more effort on my part, it’s my own coping mechanism.

On a separate note, I wish all these demanding SIL were related to each other and not to the normal SIL! I mourn having a normal SIL!

I agree it is steep but unfortunately that is what teens want these days. I would give them each a £50 voucher from one of those shop recommended above or from this company that do vouchers that are accepted in many shops - 4all or something i cant remember.

This year we are doing god parents to god children only; and for those uncles/aunts who dont have a god child in that family they are being assigned a child who doesnt have a god parent in that family. In othee words each uncle/aunty is being “assigned” a niece/nephew and we have agreed on a £70/100 spend but on 1 child.
Amd we each have sent each other a list of ideas for said child.

I m very happy as now we get to give them exactly what they want and everyone is delighted.

I think that is quite expensive and a bit cheeky but, it is what girls of that age want and make up and perfume are expensive. I would suggest getting them a voucher for somewhere like Space NK or MAC and then they can put it towards make up etc. 

How much do you spend on nephew and nieces gifts for Christmas? I asked my sister-in-law if her girls had any requests and the suggestions back are pretty spenny, I'm talking around £70? I would never dream of suggesting gifts at this price. Wondering if I am being a bit mean or if this is what teenage girls gifts cost, mostly they have requested make up and perfume.