about receiving crappy gifts?

I find receiving gifts stressful. My house is small, I don't want more things to clean and tidy away, I have everything I want and need. I have gently and firmly asked family for years not to buy or get me anything for birthdays, but I am always accused of being a killjoy. Whenever I suggest doing something instead to create a memory (coffee, meal, walk) people roll their eyes. It actually caused a huge argument between myself and a close family member this year. I really do wish people would bloomin' listen!

That gift would have made me 🤢 😂

It depends who they're off.

I was given a flight bag by my PIL. I can't afford to go on holiday at all, and haven't been abroad for more than 15 years.
I'm not sure what happened this year because they're usually very generous. I was speechless as MIL told me all about how it would fit under the seat in front of you on the plane. Maybe they had intended to also get us a holiday and forgot? 😂

I think people need to understand that giving presents isn’t needed. Why waste money, time and effort?

When I left my job, I was given a £70 on a One4All card as part of the leaving gift. The shops that use them sold nothing I wanted or suitable. I found a couple of things on Amazon which was £70. My parents suggested that to use the gift card on stuff that I would have bought with £70 of my money. Used it at The Range where I spent £30 on toiletries and laundry stuff, £30 on new pillows and £10 on plastic storage for food.

A group of friend and i Still do cards, flowers and lunch but we each save the money we would spend on them and buy ourselves a gift that way we all get what we want and we don't have to scratch our heads wondering what to buy each other.

great idea

If your group of friends are in the habit of giving gifts at birthdays then start a trend by suggesting getting a voucher between the lot of you. We used to do that (group of six women), each contribute £20 for some sort of treatment by a beautician we all liked. Or a shop you know the person likes. Or decide not to give gifts at all.

I had lovely PIL but bloody awful gifts, and I am truly very easy to buy for. One Christmas gift was so bad I binned it on getting home as I felt I couldn't inflict the item back on the world! Can't say what as it might be recognised!

I'd certainly be buying your friends similar crap presents!

My worst gift was a monoslipper from MIL.

That's just silly and they're being total cheapskates.
It's means one unwanted gift going round and round from person to person because no one actually wants it. It's almost a hilarious joke in some weird way.

@streth urgh! I feel your pain! The older I’ve gotten, the more ‘it’s the thought that counts’ saying really resonates with me. Hence I spend an age thinking of what presents to get or listen to what they’re recently told me they’ve taken a fancy to. In return, much like yourself I get an eclectic mix of low quality stuff like one of those tiny glazed porcelain hands to hold rings and bangles (never wear jewellery), a duo,box of some generic glitter nail polish (don’t wear it, but if I did or they thought I did, I clearly don’t go in for something that looks like it belongs in a child’s play kit!). Other times a random huge box of maltesers as a house warming gift. Honestly it was very clear that mugging here just got the recycled tat probably from maybe their kids unwanted gifts!

My ex’ daughter was the worst, she’d get me things like a scarf with no tag and the inside care label raggedly cut out, a pair of fluffy socks from Primark with the ‘reduced’ sticker half torn off. I can laugh about it now but I dreaded Xmas as I felt almost bullied with these awful gifts. I never said anything amd my ex would just pretend he didn’t see and I’d send her a thank you text. One year she’d sellotaped a tiny bell to the outside of the parcel and my ex made such a massive thing of me noticing it lol as though it made up somehow for the invariably passive aggressive present it was about to reveal 😅

I too would have no problem regifting them this crap to the same people who gave it . I think I would love to basically say to them have your rubbish back !!
they don’t seem to be embarrassed about it so why should you . If you don’t do or say something this will continue every time .

You’ll get people along who’ll say be greatful I get nothing or it’s the thought that counts . Well no , women work bloody hard and deserve to have care and thought put into gifts . It’s a way to show love and care and it’s not about the amount of money spend . You’re selection of gifts are truly awful , like someone’s gone around the pound store or as you say regifting . I’d take back control and say let’s not exchange gifts and I’d buy myself something lovely and appropriate on my birthday .

Yanbu. I don't see the point of giving someone a thoughtless gift.

Jeez there is bad and then there is bad. Blimey I'd be miffed too. I'm very conscious of people buying things that aren't me so I always ask for things I definitely will use like fluffy bed socks and running socks. I always get through them throughout the year. I'm always told its boring and not a gift. However it's not something I'd normally buy myself and its what I want. I will also say they don't have to give me anything but their time.

I would have saved them and regifted each of them what they give me, but I might be petty, still like my friends but they can have their shit back. 🤭 next time it’s their birthdays just give them random shit you find around the house to match their energy.

They awful op. We cut out birthdays friends just a card. Saves getting load crap given to you too. Happy Birthd. God they crappy gifts!