Outrageous amount for a Kris Kindle?

Thank you. Yes, we were also offended at her thoughts that our Christmas presents were "crap". This girl obviously doesn't abide by the idea that it's the thought that counts.

I second this- just skip her present this year and buy stuff for yourself and kids. At least grwnups shouldn't stoop so low asking for the presents.Just tell her you went broke this year because of what you bought for her last year on christmas .

Thank you for your reply. We just heard that all of my husband's siblings are in the Kris Kindle for 350 euros. They never even bothered to let us know that they were going ahead and not including him in it. We will buy for the children anyway.

Okay, if it were me I just wouldn't buy for them if they are going to have that attitude. If you husband accepts the kids as his own then they should, too. In out family blood has little to do with who is actually family. I have step-cousins and I never even think of the fact that we aren't related. They are just my cousins, as are their kids. We are all one family united by the love we have for each other. Heck, we have friends that we hold just as close as our actual blood family members. During family events any family member can bring a friend (girl friend/boyfriend/just a friend) and they will be accepted with open arms and be invited back the next year, too). If his sisters are going to be stingy, immature and rude I wouldn't get them a dang thing. Isn't that the kind of stuff Santa gives coal for, lol. I don't think the childless sister deserves to get anything from anyone. I still say you and your husband should by for your kids and maybe something small for your parents. Get everyone else a card. The adults shouldn't be fishing for gifts. The gifts should be for the kids. We as adults are past that and should get enough joy out of just seeing each other. I no longer expect gifts and I haven't for a long time.

That's the way it should be. I believe that Christmas is for the kids. The rest is about getting together, re-uniting, and having a good time. My husband made the suggestion that we should only buy for the children, but he was shot down immediately by one of his sisters who said that she doesn't have any childen. Yet, when he was single, it was ok for him to spend 100s on expensive presents for the other girls' kids. But then, there is a whole issue raging there about our kids. My husband is their step daddy and his siblings won't accept them as their nieces. His brother is the only one with any decency in him that way. Earlier this year when hubby's sister got married, she refused to invite our children to her wedding as she said they weren't part of her family. So, I think by doing the Kris Kindle in this way, they had every intention of cutting me and the kids out of everything.

Thank you. You sound like a lovely person.

Ah with you now, we call this a Secret Santa, its common in offices etc. I would just ignore their demands, its about giving a gift from the heart, not being held to ransom over the number of noughts on the end of the reciept. They sound very selfish, nearsighted people I'm afraid. If they don't want junk, why not buy them a charity present (like sponsor a new well through Oxfam or something) in their name. Thats the ultimate in generosity

Hi The Kris Kindle started out as a fun thing. What happens is a group of people put their names into a hat. Everyone draws out a name and buys that person a present. Most people who do it, do it for small amounts. My family do it for 10 euros or under. Of course a home made present would be welcomed too. But my husband's siblings like to receive big expensive gifts. They always have, so they have missed the point of the Kris Kindle and twisted it to suit themselves. To give you an idea of what they are like, one of them threw a major sulk two years ago because we wouldn't buy her a kitchen dresser for Christmas. Another one got upset because she wanted a mobile phone and sneakers for her three children (we're talking Nike here). Another one wanted a video camera.

Thanks for that.

Thank you. I totally agree with your view.

I think it's incredibly bad manners to correct another's spelling. It shows a lack of breeding. If you go to www.dictionary.com and type in Kris Kindle, you will see that this is there. Thank you.

I can just see their faces now at receiving their lottery ticket. Thank you!

A kris kindle is a fun thing designed to cut down on spending so much at Christmas time. Everyone puts their name into a hat and pulls a name out. Then they buy for that person. Usually everyone is told not to buy over a certain amount.

This is true but the problem starts when some people don't appreciate the gifts they receive. Myself and the husband bought gifts that were considered "crap" and so no one wants out gifts any more. They want us to spend more on them.

Thank you. Yes, the 350 euros is per person and I must add that my husband is the only one working in this family.

Well briefly, the Kris Kindle started out as a fun thing. What happens is a group of people put their names into a hat. Everyone draws out a name and buys that person a present. Most people who do it, do it for small amounts. This rules out the expense of everyone buying everyone else a present.

Yes, I also think the Kris Kindle between adults, and then a pressie for the kids is the best way of doing things. That is what we are now doing. Hubby got a phone call from his brother to say that he will be buying for our girls, so we will get him something too, maybe something small from the girls themselves.

Thank you. You are right. It is very selfish to ask for this. If my family had chosen to do the same thing, then that would have been 700 euro for two presents. That's before buying for children, parents, and the expense of dinner, clothes etc.

Thank you. Yes, from speaking to other people, they also do a Kris Kindle amount of between 10 to 50 euros. I think small gifts are nice and they can definately be more fun.

You said it. It's sad because I think they miss out on the meaning of Christmas.

Secret Santa, Pollyanna, Kris Kindle or Kris Kringle, and sometimes, but rarely Gnoming is a Christmas ritual involving a group of people exchanging anonymous gifts. The ritual is known as Secret Santa in the United States and Great Britain but Kris Kindle in parts of the Commonwealth; both terms are acceptable and used in Australia or New Zealand. All of these names derive from traditional Christmas gift-bringers: the US version is named after Santa Claus while Kris Kindle and Kris Kringle are corruptions of the name of the German gift-bringer Christkind (in Britain the traditional gift-bringer is Father Christmas). The term Secret Santa can refer to the ritual itself, or any of the people participating. The purpose of Secret Santa is to restrict gift-giving. Because of this, it is often practised in workplaces, or amongst large families. Recently the name Secret Snowflake has been showing up as a secular term for the same practice.\, which has attracted much criticism, particularly with Christmas being the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your reply. Is a grab bag similar to a kris kindle? I'm glad there are so many understanding people around. It restores my faith in humanity.

Yes i think so. we put our names in a bag with 3 things that we would like on it and then we pick,it is alot easier and cheaper on my checkbook.

Oh I see. That's a nice idea. With the Kris Kindle no gift is specified, just that you don't spend over a certain amount.