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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who got the worst gift?

489 replies

arcticpandas · 25/12/2025 21:47

Very very lighthearted. Some people are starving so no whining about not getting the perfect gift. Instead looking at it from a humoristic perspective: who got the worst gift in our family? Please add yours as well..
In our family;

  1. DH got 200 ml cologne while he wanted/needed 100 ml to bring with him on airplane (travels every week).
  2. I got fine chocolate with alcohol from uncle again (everyone has told him I do not like it but he just can't get it). He even added "I know you can't get enough of those". Not passive aggressive- that would be sinister. He really likes me and is convinced I like them.

Also got a large hand bag from DH. Not wildly expensive but still- the cords are too thin- I keep loads of stuff in my handbag. He bought it 3 months ago so can't return it.

  1. DS1 got a sort of a travel bag for mobile Phone to attach on bike from an aunt. He hasn't been riding his bike for years.

4.DS2 got a shirt of his favourite team that was so large on him it looked like a dress. Can't return it. Bil said he will grow in it😅

  1. Dh got Mil a a stylish coat size L. It was too small. Yet Mil isn't a big woman. I'm a medium and it was perfect on me but she's got bigger breasts. She wasn't happy about large being too small.. didn't say anything because very polite but it was obvious she was unhappy.
  1. Aunt got a big box of chocolate. She's on wli and barely eats anything. Def not chocolate. She discreetly passed them on to dh.

So who wins?

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11
HellothereCK · 11/01/2026 14:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

d317 · 02/01/2026 17:01

Fatrascal27 · 31/12/2025 22:17

I use tablecloths!

Me too !

Gettingbysomehow · 31/12/2025 23:11

Fatrascal27 · 31/12/2025 22:17

I use tablecloths!

Me too.

Fatrascal27 · 31/12/2025 22:17

I use tablecloths!

Dollybantree · 30/12/2025 21:45

Anonymouschurchmouse · 30/12/2025 16:43

Ive name changed for this but my brother bought me a table cloth this year.

I’m sorry but I keep coming back to this thread to have a giggle - who the hell uses tablecloths nowadays?

What a tight arse! Next year give him a set of cloth napkins. He’ll probably be so puzzled bc he’s a man - and it sounds like he’s the type who thinks: “What do I get sister?..Sister is a woman…woman…women probably like to give dinner parties and do cooking and stuff…I know, TABLECLOTH”!!! 😂

Dollybantree · 30/12/2025 21:40

buckleberryferry · 29/12/2025 22:18

I got a themed gift…
The Nightmare Before Christmas chopping board….
The Nightmare Before Christmas baking dish….
The Nightmare Before Christmas spatula set….
The Nightmare Before Christmas mugs x4 all identical….

this would be a great gift for a teenager off to uni, or someone who’s VERY into Tim Burton… but they’ve been to our house, they’ve known me for 20+ years… not sure what the thinking was. Though the gift-giver does tend to get trigger happy during the sales and these items aren’t currently on sale.

I’m not ungrateful, its just not my cup of tea.

That’s hilarious.

I bet you once dropped into conversation that you enjoyed the film and they ran with it 😂

Anonymouschurchmouse · 30/12/2025 20:07

Nifty50something · 30/12/2025 18:29

I thought my mother had but it turned out to be a really big scarf. Could yours possibly be a scarf too?

Unfortunately no its definitely a table cloth. A tacky plastic thing. I dont think even the charity shop would want it. That was all he got me as well. Hes a barrister and well off and he spent less than a fiver on me.

Nifty50something · 30/12/2025 18:29

Anonymouschurchmouse · 30/12/2025 16:43

Ive name changed for this but my brother bought me a table cloth this year.

I thought my mother had but it turned out to be a really big scarf. Could yours possibly be a scarf too?

Gassylady · 30/12/2025 17:34

125BPM · 26/12/2025 11:49

My MIL gave me a tin of unbranded cheap looking cookies, with an expiry date of Feb 2022, a weathered £2.50 sticker on the bottom, wrapped in happy birthday paper 😳😱😂

Obliged to ask “could it be dementia?” or is she just nasty perhaps

Anonymouschurchmouse · 30/12/2025 16:43

Ive name changed for this but my brother bought me a table cloth this year.

ElatedFox · 30/12/2025 14:56

MidnightMeltdown · 27/12/2025 00:15

@ElatedFoxAre you a MIL?

No, but I like a housecoat/dressing gown with big pockets to carry my 2 pairs of specs around !

Liveinthewoods80 · 30/12/2025 10:36

Crucible · 29/12/2025 13:53

Do you at least own a cockerpoo?

No. Just for some inexplicable reason at the time, it tickled me.

MumoftwoNC · 30/12/2025 10:20

I'd also feel on the positive side of neutral to be given a baylus and harding hand wash so I'm not your average mumsnet gift recipient haha.

Not shower gel though, it's terrible for my intimate flora

MumoftwoNC · 30/12/2025 10:18

neverbeenskiing · 30/12/2025 09:25

MIL got me a bag for life. At least it's practical I suppose.

Oh dear, I've definitely got my mum a tote bag before, like from a museum gift shop with a painting on it. I love a nice shopping bag, I've got one of those Lulu Guinness ones from Waitrose that's my pride and joy.

Just goes to show, we tend to give the sorts of things we'd like!

neverbeenskiing · 30/12/2025 09:25

MIL got me a bag for life. At least it's practical I suppose.

NotDarkGothicMama · 30/12/2025 09:21

I love the B&H jojoba oil hand wash. It smells nice and leaves my skin feeling soft. I discovered this after being given it as a gift, felt worried for about a week that any MNers visiting my house would judge me, then realised I was being idiotic and embraced the feeling of having something nice.

KimberleyClark · 30/12/2025 08:56

MumoftwoNC · 26/12/2025 14:51

This beats the balinese cat into third place, surely!

Was it, like, a Christmas novelty one...? A gold one?!

Or just a toilet brush!

Or a posh one with a ceramic holder?

TorroFerney · 30/12/2025 08:37

PopTheKettleOnx · 28/12/2025 09:05

It's a difficult one because if you speak about it they say it's not their fault, they tried their best, how ungrateful I am and how no one's ever happy with what they do. Which in turn makes me feel awful, maybe theyre just terrible gift givers? 🥲

Well yes of course they do, that’s a given! That ensures they keep you where they want you as you can’t stand the feeling inside of thinking you’ve upset them. It’s only a feeling though, you generate the feeling and it’s not a fact it’s a feeling. The feeling will go away if you let it sit for a bit x

TorroFerney · 30/12/2025 08:30

Appalonia · 26/12/2025 15:55

Ooh that sounds really interesting! Could you share the name of that podcast please?

Oh was that to me? If so it’s diary of a ceo and the guest was Jefferson fisher . I do find the host a bit marmite though.

Gentlesquids · 30/12/2025 07:20

ismiledather · 30/12/2025 00:54

I hope when I get to the end of the thread you've returned to update us.

So for anyone reading this far it did get funnier

DH went to the jewellers and the found the missing earring and were very apologetic, phew mistakes happen.

However… you notice I said ‘earring’ singular. I have two ears, unfortunately for him. Turns out DH accidentally ordered one hoop (it’s intended for upper lobe piercing). They don’t have another in stock so he found another on line and ordered it. Poor DH 🤣

he is actually so thoughtful at presents just had a mare with this one!!

SoftBalletShoes · 30/12/2025 05:19

LemaxObsessive · 29/12/2025 21:49

I got a spider catcher. That’s it! That’s the grand total of my gifts!

Howling. Absolutely howling!

Abby23 · 30/12/2025 05:19

iremembersnappedandfarted · 28/12/2025 00:01

I spent about £3k on the ‘perfect’ Christmas; trips to see Santa, decorations, food, gifts (probably more for his side than mine), organised 95% of what needed to be done, who was getting what etc etc and got him a lovely gift from our DC. I got nothing.
I also work FT and pay 90% of all household costs.
Feeling so miserable I could cry.

Oh no. This is my story too

Abby23 · 30/12/2025 05:13

I got nothing from DP for Christmas. He claims he does not do celebrations. I feel a bit disappointed as a card would have done it for me!.

Abby23 · 30/12/2025 05:02

GroundControlToMajorTomCat · 26/12/2025 00:27

I got a £15 gift voucher to Just Eat from my DH. I got him a £400 game console so we’re basically equal.

Sounds like me and hubby. Great you see the humour in it. I did not.

ismiledather · 30/12/2025 00:54

Gentlesquids · 27/12/2025 19:09

Invisible earrings!

DH bought some gold hoops from the local jewellers. He ordered them online and never checked inside on collection. Opened xmas morning…empty box!!

it’ll be more funny once we know they will give us the earrings, but at the moment DH is pretty upset and worried they won’t believe him…

I hope when I get to the end of the thread you've returned to update us.

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