Retirement party dilema?
Family is planning retirement party for MIL. She wants 200 on the guest list and a band that costs between 3 and 4 thousand dollars for a few hours. Total of 4 adult children and spouses pitching in for event. Everyone is sort of financially strapped now (construction, college tuition, bills, etc...). Hoping that idea of maybe a retirement dinner at a restaurant with close family or a nice 7-day vacation somewhere tropical will go well. Any ideas of explaning money concerns to her without making it turn into a dramatic event? Liked the idea of making it a surprise. Didn't think about that. Maybe it will help someone else in a similar situation.
Public Comments
- if someone was kind enough to have a retirement party for me, i sure wouldn't try to control the event. too bad you just didn't make it a suprise and leave it at that. your mother in law seems a little greedy. i'll be honest -- i dn't know what i'd do...
- Sounds like your MIT wants to out-Jones her peers. It will get messy confronting her, but it has to be done. Sounds like a royal cow.
- Retirement is a gift in it's self. She will be living on a fixed income, most likely and there is no better way to learn how to stretch a dollar. It is the thought of the gift, not the amount paid for it and she should be thinking of her children and not put the stress of an expected gift on them. Don't put yourself in debt since it will only cause resentment in the end. Tell her that you would love to give her the party of her dreams but you know she would not want her children to do something that they are not able to afford. Make it a special day for her in a way that makes her feel loved like an Open House with canapes, snacks and punch. Her favorite music playing softly in the background would be nice also. No one can talk with a band playing. If she doesn't like this idea, then be honest about the money honey. Good Luck!
