Quote:
Originally posted by KillarneyRose
One of Mr. KR's brothers decided that, with their parents' 40th anniversary coming up it would be nice to throw a big party for them and we'd (Mr. KR and I, that brother and his wife and a third brother and wife) all chip in to pay for it. Fine. Then, the same brother decided that we should all chip in and send them of a $7,000 Royal Carribbean cruise.
Mr. KR thinks we should just shut up and hand over the $2,400, but I have a real problem with it and, although my dislike for my mother in law and father in law have been well documented here (well, in the Mods Corner mostly), that's not why I object.
First of all, I think that is a ridiculous amount of money to spend in addition to the thousand dollars we're paying toward the party. Second, the inlaws received a very nice cruise on their 25th anniversary that their three sons allegedly chipped in on. What that meant was, since Mr. KR was working and his brothers were in college and high school at the time, the two younger brothers donated $10 each and Mr. KR paid for the rest.
Am I wrong to object to sending them on yet another cruise? And please don't get the idea that they're poverty stricken and eating cat food. They both have very good pensions, get new cars every other year and just bought a house at the beach. They can darn well buy their own cruise if they want to go so badly. Ugh!
edited because I can't spell
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uh . . . I hate to take an unpopular stance (ha! just kidding!) but honestly, I think you're letting bitterness over past events cloud you up a little.
If Mr. KR doesn't really care about the Cruise From The Past (c), then I'd say you should let it ride for now. Sure, it's a little weak that they contributed essentially lunch at the airport, but it doesn't really impact today's decision directly.
As far as the exorbitancy of the cruise - well, it's a bit steep (we're sending my grandparents to Hawaii for 8 days, all expenses, for $5800 for their 50th anniversary - split among three and a half families of kids), so that's really the only portion you could discuss, it's a little gauche (even w/ your funds being included) to back out completely, especially considering your distaste for the in-laws (which, if we know here . . . I'm sure they all know too).
So I'd say renegotiate, maybe come back w/ a counteroffer for a comparable but cheaper cruise. Then, be prepared to see people you hate enjoying a gorgeous week, partially on you. Sorry, but c'est la vie, hopefully your kids return the favor.
Now - if you need this money for something else (that's not "building the summer home on Cape Cod" but maybe more like "dinner"), then all bets are off and feel free to play that card at will.
-RC
--Just watched mom go through same thing w/ her brothers . . .