mother-in-law...buy or give money

[4themrs]

Is it appropriate to get jewelry for your mother-in-law for her birthday?
I realize that is of course allowable but my concern is should I get the ring with my wife or suggest to give money to her father to help him pay for a nicer ring?

 

[:)]

I would get a gift from the two of you - that would be very thoughtful of you, especially for the two of you to take the time and make the effort to buy a gift yourselves. I would let the father in law get her his own gift.


ETA: Yes, jewelry is very appropriate

 

[oshinbreez]

Buy her the ring. She''ll really appreciate it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Does your wife have an idea what her mother likes? I really prefer to choose my own jewelry, but something like earrings might be okay as a gift.

 

[lisaC]

Does your M-in-law like/wear jewelry? Only if you know what she likes or has hinted she would love to have, would I say buy her a piece of jewelry.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I think that it is totally appropriate to buy MIL jewelry...Moms are very sentimental when it comes to gifts from their kids/kids inlaw.

 

[lumpkin]

Wait, though -- are you wanting to get her an upgrade to her e-ring? Has she expressed a desire for that or do you just think she should have a nicer one? If it''s not her idea I think you might be stepping on some toes. If it''s for a right hand ring or for a different finger, you could either give money or the ring itself.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

^^^Oh, is it for an e~ring?

 

[4themrs]

my wife has a good idea of what she likes, I think we will split the difference and get her some earring that she likes and give my father in-law some extra cash for him to get her something,(since her is retired, limited budget)

 

[oldminer]

I have a good story to share with you:

My wife and I used to buy her mother jewlery for special occasions. One time, about 15 years ago, she mentioned to my wife that she was leaving all her jewelry to my wife''s sister because my wife had so much and her sister didn''t have that much. My wife was sort of bent out of shape about it. I said to her, well, if we buy any more jewelry for your mom, I suppose we ought to get your sister to approve it since ultimately she will be the one to wear it.

My wife just looked at me and broke out laughing. I always find a path through issues where many others become lost. In the past 15 years, we simply just stopped buying jewelry for her mother at all. That cured the dilemma.

 

[4themrs]

I see what you are saying I guess we should find out if this is going to be for an anniversary, or some other sentimental reason that my father in law is look at jewelry?
The other point that someone else made is an interesting consideration about who gets the jewelry but more importantly the other family members are contributing or thinking about doing something like this.