Thieving sister-in-law attempts to swap gifts for son's 13th birthday party, gets humiliated with petty revenge: 'She tried to play it off as a prank'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
May 21, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

Good gift giving is a skill that not everybody has the money, time, and resources for. I've certainly been guilty of adding my name to a card at the celebration of an acquaintance, and I know I'm not alone. However, when it comes to those I'm close to I will always try to make an effort. Consumerism aside, presents can be an important way of showing affection.

This makes it extra annoying to be around people who don't want to pull their weight when it comes to giving gifts. This was the case for one Redditor, who became sick of their sister-in-law's habit of swapping tags whenever there was a family get-together that involved exchanging presents. When their nephew's 13th birthday rolled around, it was decided that this woman was going to be taught a lesson about her thieving ways. It's fair to say that the gift she 'bought' her son that year left a lot to be desired.

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  • 01
    C
    via freestocks
  • 02
    r/pettyrevenge u/Frugal-Voyager • 16h . Attempt Gift Swapping? Get Humiliated
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 03
    Today was my nephew's 13th birthday, and was the day I finally got back at my SIL for her antics. SIL has had a habit of swapping name tags on the gifts with her cheap, last-minute finds, since the gifts were opened when the extended guests had left.
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 04
    She had been successful with a gift I sent over when I was out of town and couldn't attend my nephew's birthday a few years ago, and thought she might try to pull her usual trick. So, I got my neighbour in on this, gave him a box with bright yellow wrapping, and asked him to brag about how he got lucky in finding this super rare Star Wars Lego set while SIL stood near, knowing the gifts will be opened later, when he'd had left.
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 05
    As expected, SIL decided to generously "help set up" the gifts and the decorations. I caught her eyeing the box with the yellow wrapping, and before long, she "accidentally" knocked over a few, quickly swapping the tags.
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 06
    After the party, nephew eagerly tore into the presents. The look on SIL face made me wish we had some reality tv cameras set up for this, when nephew opened the box with the bright yellow wrapping with her name on it, out came a few packs of cigarettes and a box of contraceptives, with a post-it note reading: "HB! You're a man now!".
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 07
    SIL was speechless, and so were the rest of the family. She tried to play it off as a "prank", and that she wanted nephew to be prepared for adulthood. She was red as a ripe tomato the rest of the night.
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 08
    Edit: A lot of you are asking about how SIL never got caught. Nobody ever found out that she swapped gifts, since she targeted people who were not present at the time of opening. My suspicions only started when it happened to me. I did talk to her when I found about the gift I sent over a few years ago, but she brushed it off as a "mistake" while arranging the presents.
    via Frugal-Voyager
  • 09
    Severe_Assignment943 15h If you ever do this again, include nothing but a piece of paper that says "I have been swapping gifts with people for years and have never actually bought anything of value."
    via Severe_Assignment943
  • 10
    zentravan 12h I love this as long as the person opening the gift knows what's up. If it's a kid, I would feel bad for them as they would feel rather used in a moment that should be very joyful and exciting for them.
    via zentravan
  • 11
    FaeStole MyName 2h Depends on the kid, putting someone in their place like that wouldve been the best gift you couldve given me :p
    via FaeStoleMyName
  • 12
    []]]]]] rianoch 15h I would write directly on the paper,can't change that.
    via rianoch
  • 13
    Mandelbaum 12h Better to put a second tag inside. Like two layers of wrapping paper, a box in a box, or on the present itself saying who it is actually from and calling out the SIL's behavior, like "just in case SIL changes tags, this is actually from me".
    via Mande1baum
  • 14
    sophieornotsophie_ 15h I wish I could see her face in that moment :') I'm proud of you OP! I'm also wondering what hers actually would have been..
    via sophieornotsophie_
  • 15
    marlada 15h That is fabulous! Caught red-handed...hope this makes her think about this day before ever switching tags sgain! Your neighbor is a wonderful co-conspirator!
    via marlada
  • 16
    goodbyebluenick 15h What a piece of work, that SIL. I am sure when someone from out of town sends gift, the swap is easy. In the past, why haven't the true gifters ever stood up for themselves? "I didn't buy that. I bought that!"
    via goodbyebluenick
  • 17
    Numerous_Exercise_44 15h That is a brilliant prank and way of getting back at her, and I'm sure there is still mileage in to do it again. Suggestions that could be used for the next time could include: A pink doll. A cheap musical recorder instrument. A feather duster. A Cheapskate Handbook
    via Numerous_Exercise_44
  • 18
    SamiraSimp 13h i'm confused on how this works...no one called her out for taking credit for their gift for years?
    via SamiraSimp
  • 19
    I_identifyas_me 7h Maybe a note in an otherwise empty box that says “It is not the gift given, but the thought that went into it that is important." Obviously the box would need a bit of padding around the inside with random junk to give it weight and make a bit of noise when it was moved.
    via I_identifyas_me
  • 20
    CheshireCat6886 8h Awesome pettiness!!!! What a of a mother. An abominable person to boot. I can't even imagine doing something like that.
    via CheshireCat6886
  • 21
    DifficultCurrent7 16h But did the kid actually get any lego? Because that would have been devastating if not. Feels like you used him and his feelings to get some childish revenge when you could have done the adult thing. :( ← Reply > Award 29 Frugal-Voyager OP.15h He did! That was my actual present for him. Which made it even sweeter, since SIL had to see him open that present from me, and not her.
    via DifficultCurrent7

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birthday reddit story parenting sister in law family reddit thread Reddit nephew teenager gift
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