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AIBU?

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
MumoftwoNC · 26/12/2025 10:19

KindnessIsKey123 · 26/12/2025 09:53

I think I might be winning so far.

My husband and I are on the verge of burnout. My MIL bought us tickets to stressful and intense play an hours drive away and has promised to babysit. They don’t live locally.

This means I have to clean out my guest room which is currently used for storage for them to stay. Host them the day & the evening until we leave, she never stops talking and gets up at 5am so I’ll have my four year-old running around at 5am after we’ve driven back after 11 pm from the miserable play we don’t want to see.

I have no idea why she’s bought them. The tickets are expensive and nonrefundable.

I'd go for dinner with him instead and just pretend you watched the show!

MumoftwoNC · 26/12/2025 10:17

Drivinghomeforchristmas25 · 26/12/2025 10:05

Oh god, I have that! I’d have to throw them out!!

Thank you for understanding! I said privately to dh (not the giver) that I'm grateful but hate them... Well actually I said "don't you see how they look like they're covered in specks of headlice" but he does not understand. The headlice flecks are even raised bumps not flat.

I already have a trypophobic mixing bowl from the same giver that I have never used. Looks like it's erupted in pimples. Also raised.

It's just such a heartbreaking waste, I looked it up and they were quite expensive, and some nicer things I would have liked from the same shop.

OlympicWomen · 26/12/2025 10:16

My sister gave me one of those reed diffusers, but the perfume in the bottle was really pungent. I poured it down the drain and can still smell it.

Nos4r2 · 26/12/2025 10:11

PeeledOranges · 26/12/2025 06:18

I got some old lady slippers and a super warm blanket from my DP and a few generic bits from my Amazon wish list which I mostly keep updated for the dcs to choose gifts from.
Overall he spent less than £100 on me - I'm not bothered about the amount of money he spent. However I know he's spent £450 on the other woman which I've recently discovered. He's booked a weekend away in a beautiful cottage for them both. They are going this weekend. He doesn't know that I know but he will when he gets back!!

I hope you have everything packed of his and have changed the locks so he can't get back in. What a Bastard. I hope you tell your kids what he is up to as well .
Wishing you all the luck in the world.

HopelesslyNaive98 · 26/12/2025 10:11

DS (autism/PDA) got a guitar the right size for him which I had lovingly decorated with stickers of things he likes. This ‘ruined Christmas’ because a) he already owns a guitar (full adult size - too big for him to comfortably play), b) he cannot possibly own two guitars, and c) the stickers are too nice and he will be sad every time he looks at it because his ‘old’ guitar doesn’t have the same stickers. Despite me just offering to buy him the same stickers again. And get rid of the new guitar. This is an ongoing source of distress.

DS also got a ‘foil fun’ art set. In theory a great idea. In practise he found it too fiddly and it caused a three hour meltdown.

HoorayHattie · 26/12/2025 10:10

I have been given a bag of assorted buttons . . . I'm a knitter so I suppose the donor thought I would use buttons!

Love2read12 · 26/12/2025 10:08

MIL bought me a large dice, apparently so I don’t lose it. I don’t play board games. Also a box of rubber bands - she said you place the band under things and you can’t lose them. Wtf. She did follow that with hand towel and a voucher for beauty salon. Very strange buying a loaf of gifts that go to bin/charity each year. Also they bring it over and make everyone watch you opening. Kids get times tables books 🤣

HashtagShitShop · 26/12/2025 10:07

Drivinghomeforchristmas25 · 26/12/2025 10:05

Oh god, I have that! I’d have to throw them out!!

Ditto they would have to go, sorry! That would creep me out no end and I couldn't serve into them or eat from them.

What a shame they accidently made it to the charity shop!

Drivinghomeforchristmas25 · 26/12/2025 10:05

MumoftwoNC · 26/12/2025 08:35

This is the thread I needed. I'm firmly giving my head a wobble - I got given some plates and bowls, which I asked for as our old ones are from student days (15+ y old). They are from a nice brand. Sadly, I think they are very ugly and I'll wince every time I use them. (If you have heard of trypophobia you'll understand what I mean!)

But they were very well meant, by people I love. Not on a par with the capsule hotel...!!

Still I'd have rather had the pink night jacket or even the soap on the rope

Oh god, I have that! I’d have to throw them out!!

johnworf · 26/12/2025 10:04

Happiness15home · 26/12/2025 09:18

I bought my son a tracksuit from temu..but didn't actually look at the picture!!

Howling!

zipadeedodah · 26/12/2025 10:04

Isittimeformynapyet · 26/12/2025 02:49

What, like literally crying?

I salute you. I wish I was that easy to please with comedy.

Meow!

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 26/12/2025 10:04

Lookingtodate · 25/12/2025 23:36

Chocolate raisins 5 bags

This is my favourite! How did this happen? 😂😂😂

HashtagShitShop · 26/12/2025 10:02

Kids (going by the name of the maker) Teapots you decorate and plant things in.

I'm not crafty, nor do I enjoy gardening in the slightest and I've never grown anything or spoken to this person about gardening 🤔

0 from parent or sibling/siblings family.

toohottofunction1234 · 26/12/2025 10:01

An embroidery ring - I have never embroidered anything before in my life nor have I ever shown or expressed an interest in embroidery 🤣

Gassylady · 26/12/2025 09:59

GrinchoftheNorth · 25/12/2025 23:43

A romantic weekend away in London with partner, lovely I thought, because I usually have to take charge of booking everything when we go away.

Turns out he's booked us in a 'capsule hotel'. So separate rooms, in separate areas of the building. The room itself is actually just a bed you crawl into and a shutter you pull down. Like sleeping in a self storage facility. Don't worry though, apparently he'll buy me a combination lock so I can lock myself in and feel safe...... FML

Goodness I would go and stay in the nearest swanky hotel and send him a short video tour he can admire in his coffin capsule

Katemax82 · 26/12/2025 09:57

I get so few gifts and my husband gets what I ask for. My mil got me a bayliss and Harding set (I thought it would be lame but it's midnight cherry which smells like tom ford lost cherry)
The stepson who buys my husband and I gifts always gets me a Nivea set but I like them cos you can never get enough toiletries. I didn't get one the previous 2 years and I wanted them!
My husband let me choose my stuff but yesterday went on my Amazon wishlist and ordered me a perfume off there as a surprise extra for some reason (I'm glad cos despite having 200 perfumes it's one I've not tried)

grumpygrape · 26/12/2025 09:56

PeeledOranges · 26/12/2025 06:18

I got some old lady slippers and a super warm blanket from my DP and a few generic bits from my Amazon wish list which I mostly keep updated for the dcs to choose gifts from.
Overall he spent less than £100 on me - I'm not bothered about the amount of money he spent. However I know he's spent £450 on the other woman which I've recently discovered. He's booked a weekend away in a beautiful cottage for them both. They are going this weekend. He doesn't know that I know but he will when he gets back!!

Ouch 🤗

arcticpandas · 26/12/2025 09:54

Mum2Fergus · 26/12/2025 08:53

Nope. It was from SIL.

Make sure to get her a staue of a cow next year. Get one from vinted with chipped ears.

OP posts:
Katemax82 · 26/12/2025 09:54

Regarding the cologne get a travel atomiser for it. The too small coat is probably the lamest gift

LittleCarrot12 · 26/12/2025 09:54

I’d say MIL in your scenario. For me it was an advent calendar on Christmas Day. Had to sit and open 24 days. Fab!

KindnessIsKey123 · 26/12/2025 09:53

I think I might be winning so far.

My husband and I are on the verge of burnout. My MIL bought us tickets to stressful and intense play an hours drive away and has promised to babysit. They don’t live locally.

This means I have to clean out my guest room which is currently used for storage for them to stay. Host them the day & the evening until we leave, she never stops talking and gets up at 5am so I’ll have my four year-old running around at 5am after we’ve driven back after 11 pm from the miserable play we don’t want to see.

I have no idea why she’s bought them. The tickets are expensive and nonrefundable.

Hfiajfbdoflv · 26/12/2025 09:52

I got a book about how to lose weight from my PIL. I’m a size 8!

Refresssher · 26/12/2025 09:47

I got prescription swimming goggles.

I don't wear glasses or need a prescription.

I do need some swimming goggles though!

Ohnobackagain · 26/12/2025 09:46

winterbluess · 25/12/2025 21:55

Mine have all been lovely, but I did get the same pair of shoes twice from my amazon wishlist 🤣 they don't know each other so will never find out!

That’s mad - did they not actually use the wishlist to order? The gifts disappear when ordered if you do it right 🤣

BartholemewTheCat · 26/12/2025 09:44

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.

Fuuuuuuuck. 😬