My mom has this idea that she's supposed to give her kids money at Christmas. Her dad did it. I suppose that's where she got the idea from. Her dad wasn't wealthy but was careful with his money. He shared his surplus with his kids, all of whom have kids (and corresponding bills) of their own. My parents also are not wealthy but are not at all secure. I don't have kids. I don't know how to tell her while the $150 she gives me is no small sum, at the same time it has little impact on my life. I save money to buy a car or make a house down payment, and anything else is just budgeting. I've spent $150 on baggage fees alone on a single trip. She should be keeping that money herself because it's a lot of money in her budget and, if she wants to do something for me, donate $20 to an animal shelter I adopted cats from. Or if she wants to give it away, give it to my sister who has kids and a lower household income than me. I don't know how to explain this without sounding really ungrateful and arrogant.