My MIL gave us and our kids gift cards for the Dec holidays – mainly restaurants for smaller $ amounts between $25 and $50. The other day she texts my husband and I saying "shall we go out today and use one of the gift cards?" Confused, I said "what gift cards do you have?" She replied the ones she gave us, and she didnt have them with her since I took them all with me. I replied that I didnt know I wasn’t supposed to take them with me…as they’re a gift. She still insists that whenever we use them, we take her with us. I think it’s ridiculous and my husband has stayed quiet. I’ve been LC with her for about a year, so with the amounts barely covering one person if we went out, it’s likely a way to force her way into still seeing us. AITA For wanting to use the gift cards and not have stipulations tied to them?
NTA. Your MIL has no class
Just say “sorry we’ve already used them. Thank you for the thoughtful gift.”
Just say sorry, we already used them all.
It’s weird but since it’s your MIL let your husband figure it out. And yes, this is her way of seeing you.
NTA. Tell her you’ve already spent them.
I would say “I’m sorry I thought they were a gift, I didn’t realize I was holding on to them for you as a favor to you” I would then promptly return them to her and resume minimal contact.
NTA. Your MIL is manipulative and that is tacky.
Your husband needs to deal with her and I would just block her at this point.
Wow. Just…wow. NTA. This is an entitled and ridiculous expectation. A GIFT does not come with stipulations. That’s not how they work.
NTA
“Oh gosh I’m so sorry, I was confused. I thought you gave us gifts to treat ourselves with. I didn’t realize they were for you. It seemed like they were gifts. How about I pay you for them since we took them and used them?”
I’m mean and petty.
You could also do the better option and say you already used them without the snark. Depends on if your family wants her around or not, and that’s a convo for you and your husband, not reddit.
So a $25 gift card could just about cover MIL’s meal. How is that then a git to you or your kids?
NTA but the true problem here is: “My husband stays silent.” Yeah, that bs would not fly with me.
Oh it’s not going to fly with him acting silent, I just need to make sure I’m not out of line before I essentially tell him this is the last straw and to marry his mother 💀
NTA. Your MIL is a master manipulator. She didn’t give you gifts she gave you obligations. Just tell her you used them already. AND point out that next time she should not give “gifts” that come with expectations. that’s not a gift.
NTA. I wouldn’t even be tactful. Just send them back to her. I just have a massive issue with people dictating how gifted money is spent.