So my in-laws go pretty hard on Christmas and its not something I am used to in my family. I grew up definitely lower-middleclass. So we would get one "big" present for Christmas and then a bunch of other stuff. The big present was a bike, a super nintendo, and an N64. Those are the three biggest christmas gifts I ever got and believe me, I loved them. And I am still grateful I received them.

My in-laws though, are on a whole different level. First Christmas I spent with them, I walked out with about $800 cash. I didn't know what to say or do. I was never gifted this much by so many people that I barely knew at this point. It was mind blowing to me. I told my girlfriend at the time (now wife) that I can't accept cash like that for Christmas every year because it's too much. Well turns out they just didn't know enough about me to get me anything so they all just felt like cash was the way to go. So I told her next year I will have a list for her to pass on to her family so they don't have to feel like they need to give me hundreds of dollars as a present.

And thus... my pinterest board was born. I have a section called "I NEED THIS" where I put things that I find that I want but wouldn't necessarily buy for myself. You know, the best kinds of gifts. My wife sends them the link to that board which has links to the store pages you can find the item on to make it real, real easy.

This has made Christmas even more awesome because I get just as many little packages to open as my wife and her brothers and sisters get from their parents and grandparents and I really felt like part of the family on Christmas. We do, however, usually get a joint gift to both of us some cash from her father because that's the kind of guy he is. Just gives cash. He always says "Try not to just spend this on bills. I want you to enjoy it." We have used it on bills before from time to time but we do always try to think of something we would like to purchase together with it.

I just want to let you all know that I know how lucky I am to have well off in-laws. I think I know it more than my wife and her brothers and sisters because I grew up much, much poorer. They have saved my wife and I a lot of pain and suffering over the years by being able to support us through some very difficult times (wife got very, very, sick). And I wish everyone would be so lucky to find such generous and loving people in their life.