Tubs of chocolate & toiletries gift sets - show no thought

A bit shit for the planet though.

That's true

I ask for dove shower gel and moisturizer every year it's all I ask for whenever someone asks what I want. I like dove stuff but because it's not a good enough gift I never get it. I really want it. I buy my own dove stuff

Deal

(but seriously, just goes to show that one person’s meh is someone else’s excellent gift, so I’ll change my view to “thanks for thinking of me regardless of whether the gift is to my taste or not” )

On the day of the office Secret Santa I always thought those that had grabbed a toiletry set to wrap obviously hadn’t given a fuck. Horrible generic present to give.

Everyone around me knows that I can't use shower gel or bubble bath because I have sensitive skin. I can't use perfumed body lotion either. I have an egg intolerance and you would be surprised how many chocolates either have it or were made in a factory where egg is used. Despite knowing this I get mostly unsuitable presents every year! 😂

They're not my favourite type of gift, but I've also been on the other end, feeling an obligation to give someone a present, but no idea what the give them because they already have everything they need or I don't know what niche items they want. You could give cash or a voucher/gift card (which is my preference over consumables, because tastes are unpredictable), but some people think that's too impersonal/transactional. And it's not always easy to opt out of gift-giving without looking/feeling rude or unreasonable.

I have sympathy for the toiletries/chocolate buyers of the world, but honestly, if they're shopping for me and have no clue what to choose, I wish they'd decide that cash is king.

It saves time to buy gift sets rather than the items separately and then wrap them together. They are easy to transport as well.

There are always about 20 of those plastic tubs bought in to my office in January. Only way they get eaten!

I buy the chocolate tubs but not as gifts, we have 1 for home and I buy several for the office.

I don’t buy generic gift sets unless requested. My mum sometimes wants a Sanctuary one but I do sometimes buy the items she wants separately and wrap them nicely. My brother always asks for Lynx deodorant but he doesn’t use the shower gel.

We are a lists family and most of us ask for quite practical things. My Dad had a Fence Post Driver last year 😂😂😂

Yes, I think shower gel is useful and I also ref handwash containers with it so it's good to have a stockpile.

I mean I'm sure my DD would prefer a thoughtful piece of jewellery from her favourite jewellery shop but somehow I can't see Great Uncle Robert venturing there anytime soon😄

Or that it’s useful? I quite like getting it, saves me buying it.

I think the tubs of chocolate are fine if you actually are not that close to the person receiving it and chocolate is quite expensive now so they get eaten in my house by the teenagers and their visiting friends. Every year my two DC get a big tub each from a great uncle, I think it's nice of him as he doesn't really know them so what else is he supposed to get.

For 7 years I have religiously bought chocolates for members of one of the teams and last year I wasn’t around (maternity leave and not local) and I was told “we missed our chocolates” so I will be doing them again this year. I would say though that these are people I know well- we have 4 teams but less than 20 of us.

I'll take them off your hands for a good price! I love Sanctuary stuff!

I always think the mark of a good relationship is someone you can split a tub of chocolates with. I’m all about the toffee pennies and nutty brazils, so if a guy likes the strawberry and orange creams, we’re a match made in heaven.

Another vote for this from me. I dont bloody want a "thoughtful" gift that I dont want, need and didnt ask for and then have to display in my house so they can see it hasn't been thrown in the bin which is what I really want to do with it.

I've had some truly fcking hideous "thoughtful" gifts over the years and whilst the intention is kind, they got it completely and utterly wrong. Either ask me what I would like or get me a generic present like shower gel stuff- I will always use those and they are much appreciated.

This.

Give me a bottle of wine / tub of chocolates or sweets any day of the week over something the giver prides themselves on 'choosing specially' which I am never going to use.
I'm trying to declutter, and hate people wasting money on something I'm not going to use or get any pleasure from.

Who the fuck leaves the toffee fingers & pennies out of the quality street?

Clearly no one eats the coconuts.

Thank god someone else doesn’t like chocolate, me either. Rarely tell people that or I get odd looks 😅

Me too. I now ask people not to buy me gifts now because of years of being given things I had to donate as I couldn’t use them, ie perfume which gives me migraines (anyone that’s known me longer than a day knows I have a perfume allergy assume it’s regifting or laziness), things that wildly not my taste, etc etc, and then I’d have to buy them a reciprocal present. I’m actually really good at buying presents as I remember things that people mention they love so it’s annoying to get crap in return.

Those gift sets are my worst nightmare, I have to use things like cetaphil, so anything like that goes straight to our local food bank. My partner gets a bunch of those from his family, he uses all organic, his family know this but buy stuff like lynx anyway. Think it’s just buying things for the ‘pile’ for them, even though they know he won’t use it. Weird.

I love getting shower sets and chocolate. I'm not fussy or snobby about brands so any are appreciated,used and eaten.

What I really like is when someone asks me what I would like. I hate the way asking someone is portrayed as lacking imagination or care. It's really lovely to have someone just ask me what would make me happy rather than spending ages trying to guess.