This year we are on a very very tight budget for Christmas and I have asked my brother's family to NOT exchange gifts. They refuse. They have already bought gifts and I have not, and I asked 3 times that they respect this decision. I just feel that buying kids and siblings gifts when I see them ONCE a year and they have absolutely everything is a waste of good money. Normally I try my best to buy them thoughtful gifts, but they seem to have Everything. I cannot name a toy their children do not have. This year we are just about in Foreclosure, I am giving my own children very, very little. I feel mad that my brother and his wife feel we MUST exchange gifts. I just want to spend family time with them. Anyone else having this trouble with the troubling times, I have been unemployed one year and 2 weeks, times are tough, we manage but it would make MY life much easier if they would just agree. It seems like the gift swapping is way more important to them than to us, maybe I should just buy them gift cards?