New to this thread, I LOVE Christmas! But I need some advice.
Every year I host Christmas Eve at my house, so my husband the kids and I and then our parents, my brother, his sister and her husband and 2 kids. Then Christmas Day is with my family so we don’t see my in laws a part from Christmas Eve.
the 2 times we did Christmas Eve at my SIL house, she asked for us to pay our share for the food, no problem we did that’s fine. Then when I started she asked me how much money she owes me for the meal, so we said nothing just bring some alcohol for the evening. So they brought a bottle of wine with them, ok fine.
but now, they come every year and they come empty handed, not even a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, nothing. And it’s really starting to piss me off, I spend about 800€ for this one meal alone.
we tell each other what to buy for the kids so we don’t have useless things. As my baby was only 6 months last year, I asked her for a gift card for clothes later on (as she already had thousands of toys) and I got her girls a bunch of toys from their Santa’s list. She got us a stuffed toy, that I don’t think was new it had a hole in it and was clearly not clean. This really pissed me off as it was my little girls first Christmas and no effort was made (and I spent quite a bit on her girls, I always do)
to top that off, on the 23rd of December she sent us a text saying, let’s just get each other 10€ max gifts, and spoil the kids rather than each other , ok fine, but it was the 23rd of December I had already bought the gifts. I wasn’t too bothered about that, I was bothered when my little girl got an old stuffed toy!
so this year,they are all getting small cheap presents. But please how can I tell them that I shouldn’t be paying for absolutely everything. My husband said we should say we are not hosting this year and that it’s their turn, but I don’t want to have my kids miss out on a lovely magical Christmas Eve, as they don’t actually make an effort
Ps: I know I sound like a bitch saying this but I just think it’s really unfair how they act towards us, we let them have free holidays in our holiday home etc. And I just feel like we are being used. And to clarify, they are not struggling money wise, they are not as well off as we are, but seriously they can more than afford a present for my little girl and bring a bottle of wine or something.
but it’s getting the word out soon enough.. some of his family will have bought already I’m sure.
a pre lit one. Hopefully now we don’t have to untangle and get the lights on we won’t argue and I won’t need to stomp out and cry 
I definitely end up either shoving on ebay or down the local chazza as I'm just too fussy about the products I do use (sensitive flower). They need to stop creating them. Nobody likes to receive them 
Although turning this from a preachy moment to a fun one - is anyone making any eco swaps this year? If so tell all please! 
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