Stop buying shit they don't like

@thecatsthecats - apologies I mean a voucher for make up (my friend loves an expensive brand). The rest is me paying for meals or spas.

But I do get your point and I give my DS money alot!

I just usually say no thanks and refuse to take it.
My m.i.l once tried to give me a hideous tea set from one of many she had.
She was most offended when I told her to stop trying to give me stuff.

Ahhh, but these can be just as annoying. A voucher is just trapped money. Money you have to jump through hoops to use.

The amount of time I've lost trawling through websites trying to use up gift vouchers. Let alone those stupid "use anywhere" ones. Gee, if only there was a form of currency you could use anywhere...

It's such a waste of money and resources. Unless I absolutely know what my friends and family want for their homes I tend to buy a gift voucher for make up, meals out, trips to spas.

We've all got enough shit anyway, we don't need anymore.

Ditto!!
I'd rather ask them what they'd like to receive than get it terribly wrong!

Oh and it also makes me wonder if its mostly regifted stuff, like some of the things I have received have made me wonder why on earth they would think I'd like something like that.

I feel really ungrateful saying this but it really pisses me off when people buy something decorative for your home, like if I want decoration I will choose it myself. Its just a total waste of money and will take up space til I take it to the charity shop, then I've bought people what they have asked for (or given cash/gift card at their request) to not really get a present myself! I have started just saying to people "don't buy for us lets just buy for the kids" then they insist on buying a bottle of something and ask what you'd like and then still decide to buy you something different. Oh and whilst requesting cash/vouchers for them!

Lola, I recommend the craftsnark sub on Reddit if you ever want to let off steam about silly stuff other crafters do and say! You will find many like minds.
I don't use Reddit but will go an have a lurk there because it sounds like my kind of crafters.

moggerhanger especially when it's obvious that everyone is getting green tomato chutney to use up a greenhouse surplus rather than because it's nice.

Any generic using up surplus produce gifts annoy me.

I'm teetotal and my DH doesn't drink much. Someone we knew gave us rhubarb gin or rhubarb vodka. I think they missed the audience there.

Oops! Sorry. I tagged wrong post

Was laughing at green tomato chutney

🤣

Literally just here to salute the phrase "the quick fix dopamine high of making a mini narwhal"

'@moggerhanger , hear, hear!

Can I also throw homemade chutney into the fray? Especially green tomato. There is a reason that green tomato chutney is not available in supermarkets or delis, and that is because it is utterly minging. So why people think their friends would like a jar as a gift, I cannot fathom.

Lola, I recommend the craftsnark sub on Reddit if you ever want to let off steam about silly stuff other crafters do and say! You will find many like minds.

I've seen quilters gifting people quilts they made without asking the person, and then complaining when it didn't get quite the response they wanted. As another poster pointed out, a quilt is a signature piece that makes a huge difference to the style of the room; giving someone a quilt and expecting them to use it, is a bit like walking into someone's house and deciding to rearrange the objects on the shelves etc. I thought that was a good analogy.

Needless to say, I made myself very unpopular in the discussion by hinting to the other posters that not all handmade crochet is attractive and that most people don't want a bunch of acrylic bits-and-pieces all over the house, and that the OP should perhaps consider investing her time in making quality stuff she really needs, like a nice bedspread or cushion covers.
You are a hero! I wish more people on craft boards and groups would share this view.

I'm making some things for our house and clothing, which takes ages and means learning new techniques rather than seeking the quick fix dopamine high of making a mini narwhal or crochet cactus in an afternoon.

I keep my fingers to myself when some makers insist that their family and friends want a random wall hanging, door stop, crochet figure and stuff they haven't asked for.

Someone on my crochet board was asking for ideas about "How can I spend lots of time crocheting all these nicknacks and random toys and maintain my minimalist apartment without clutter?"

Cue a whole bunch of overenthusiastic crocheters urging her to give away all the stuff she crochets as gifts to everyone she knows.

I pointed out that a) it's unethical to declutter by forcibly dumping your clutter onto other people (maybe they also don't want a house full of nicknacks?); b) if she starts a precedent of giving gifts to everyone she knows, they'll all feel obliged to reciprocate and she'll be swamped with ornaments, candles, shower sets, wotsits until the end of time.

Needless to say, I made myself very unpopular in the discussion by hinting to the other posters that not all handmade crochet is attractive and that most people don't want a bunch of acrylic bits-and-pieces all over the house, and that the OP should perhaps consider investing her time in making quality stuff she really needs, like a nice bedspread or cushion covers.

I LOVE gifts that can be enjoyed and used up, worn out or eaten.
Movie money, coffee shop or icecream voucher, herbs, jams or honeys, bathroom usables, writing paper, pens, fruit, cakes, biscuits, and suncreen products, hats, socks, chocolates.

I agree - to buy something for display is very risky.

I always dread having to open up presents in front of people in case I don't like it (DH gets a list to chose from!)
My dsd always used to buy me tat from the pound shop that would end up in the charity shop & I'm not adverse to re-gifting (my eldest dd is the queen of re-gifting!) When I buy for dgc I check with parents & for the eldest dgd I ask her what she wants. Have had to ask dds not to buy DH anymore mugs or bath bombs as he has plenty!

For some non-breakable, non-personalised things, you could put them in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. You never know, a teenage girl in Romania might love some of your glittery knick-knacks.

I buy clothes, but only for people who I know like receiving clothes, and whose taste I understand. If I am in doubt, I include the receipt.
Fortunately, I have a family member who will tell me if other family members weren't keen. I secretly curse the ones who feign delight at a gift that's no use to them.

e.g. Big box of nut chocolates, if they no longer can eat nuts. If they say, 'Oh that's lovely but I can't eat nuts' then I can exchange it for something. If they seem delighted, then I'd probably give them more next year.

A friends MIL bought her a huge plastic plaque for the front of her house. A sleek and modern new build grand design type house. A very obvious thing not to put on display. It was so entitled I couldn't believe it.

oh dont why do people buy clothes i would never buy someone clothing unless they specifically asked

If you are brave enough to ask if you could exchange it, you get told to give it to the charity shop.

@Plisco I can well imagining that happening.

I have a few candles bought out of politeness at a candle selling party. Been cluttering the cupboard for years.
I decided to try using them up to get rid of them as binning seemed a waste.
Someone saw them thinking I really like candles bought me more - electric ones as they were safer!

Really I didn't need more cupboard clutter.

@Plisco ,

It wasn't owls in my case, but I used owls as an example.
Mine was more something like a japanese lucky cat i'd been given on a business trip resulting in all manner of cat ornaments, when I didn't have any pets.