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Original poster

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
Newsenmum · 27/12/2025 20:24

SusanChurchouse · 26/12/2025 19:48

My son apparently as he literally chucked half of his gifts straight in the bin after opening them. Sweets, a book and a few other bits. Reason no 3576 I hate Christmas. He is PDA autistic so I suppose it’s all a demand for him but I’d be lying to say it doesn’t get me down.

I’m sorry for those who are genuinely dealing with some shit though, cheating spouses and the like. So thanks for helping me get some perspective.

That’s so tough. Did you rescue them from the bin?

dijonketchup · 27/12/2025 20:22

Size 8 Christmas pyjamas.

I am a size 14-16.

Pudmyboy · 27/12/2025 20:21

linsey2581 · 27/12/2025 17:58

My parents (most likely my mum though) gave me a £20 gift card for Next. The gift card or amount doesn’t bother me I love a gift card but it’s Next. I can’t stand that shop absolutely hate it, clothes and homeware stuff is just shite and the shop is overrated.

Next have other brands online, maybe you could use your voucher on a non-Next item?

Chonk · 27/12/2025 20:20

housethatbuiltme · 27/12/2025 19:42

It seems no one has an issue or 'needed to challenge' what they deemed 'illogical' except you.

MILLIONS of consumable items spoil and get binned every year without ever being used from food to make up to toiletries... the stores/companies still get the money.

PP will not be the only person who bins something.

The giver wasting her money which she choose to do because she actively knows OP is vegan and gets joy out of being rude is not OP's or anyone elses concern.

Why does it matter if OP, a stranger, a charity or the butcher benefited?

Show quote history

How have you come to the conclusion that no one else had an issue with it, when many others also commented? We should all try to be less wasteful.

Pudmyboy · 27/12/2025 20:16

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.

Can you sneak out after 30 minutes or if there's an interval, and go for a meal?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/12/2025 20:13

Pollyanna87 · 26/12/2025 00:44

I bought my DS9 some Brut aftershave so he can be like Kevin in Home Alone 😄

Show quote history

I’m old enough to remember when Brut was actually quite swanky - back in the Dark Ages of the late 60s. A very well off bloke I fancied like mad for a while used to use it.

In the 80s I bought some Brut shampoo to bath our dog in, after he’d rolled in a dead turtle on the beach (not in the U.K.). Please imagine the worst of rotten meat and rotten fish combined.
Ddog had already been bathed twice, but alas even a 3rd go with Brut didn’t completely shift the stink.

OneNewEagle · 27/12/2025 20:11

I didn’t get much like usual and sometimes the gifts I do get are terrible. I do appreciate them. This year was particularly bad.

A jar of lime pickle (not wrapped)

Lifeofthepartay · 27/12/2025 19:59

In my family

  1. One of us got 5 boxes of chocolates- can't eat chocolate as gets migraines
  2. I got a mug with offensive work related phrase (if I take this to my office I would probably be called by HR), the gift giver saw my confused face and proceeded to say that the mug was originally ordered for another family member but arrived late, so I work in an office so now the mug goes to me for my Christmas present 🤣
  3. Same gift giver but last year gave my husband a Christmas Stitch (the Disney character)oven glove (he is a 44 year old man who only cooks at Christmas)
  4. Same gift giver gave my husband a t-shirt for his bday, the t-shirt had a quote from the greatest showman and some birds pictured - husband never watched the film and hates musicals.
Catcooper25uk · 27/12/2025 19:47

This is why I just asked for money from my partner for xmas and my birthday coz its my birthday today so ive been down the shops today and bought a load of new clothes as ive recently dropped 5 dress sizes from an 18 to an 8 so I needed a new wardrobe full of clothes. Also treated myself to a load of champneys stuff, some pj's and went in costa coffee for my free birthday brownie and a brew had a really great day and hope to do the same next year

housethatbuiltme · 27/12/2025 19:42

Chonk · 26/12/2025 19:41

Announcing that you're doing something painfully illogical was bound to warrant a response! The butchers have now had money for nothing, which is better for them than if you'd given the voucher away!

Show quote history

It seems no one has an issue or 'needed to challenge' what they deemed 'illogical' except you.

MILLIONS of consumable items spoil and get binned every year without ever being used from food to make up to toiletries... the stores/companies still get the money.

PP will not be the only person who bins something.

The giver wasting her money which she choose to do because she actively knows OP is vegan and gets joy out of being rude is not OP's or anyone elses concern.

Why does it matter if OP, a stranger, a charity or the butcher benefited?

KilkennyCats · 27/12/2025 19:34

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

Are they full of holes??

Atsocta · 27/12/2025 19:11

I got a very pretty tea cosy ,don’t have a tea pot and hate tea …
thats going to charity shop …

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…

AnaisVB · 27/12/2025 19:00

My Stepmum bought be a kit of seasoning for roasting chicken - and I was raised vegetarian - as are they! She got my sister a John Lewis voucher which I would’ve loved! 😂

Jane143 · 27/12/2025 18:51

Ihateslugs · 27/12/2025 18:26

I buy all the adult females in my family the same gift which this year was a reed diffuser! I do hope that it smells better than yours did! I had to rush to get my presents bought and wrapped at the last minute as I was unexpectedly given 16th Dec as the date for my knee replacement surgery so everything had to come from Tesco with my grocery order.

That is only a token present anyway, each couple ( siblings plus partners) get a main present of a joint voucher from wherever they choose, this year they all wanted Amazon ones which was easy. I increased the amount to £150 each this year for inflation so I know that they will be pleased regardless of the smell of their diffusers!

Show quote history

I love a reed diffuser!

Jane143 · 27/12/2025 18:50

Catladywithoutacat · 26/12/2025 01:31

Anyone who got any bath sets or lynx got the worse gifts

I genuinely love a bath set! About to have a nice bath in one now

4babiesforever · 27/12/2025 18:45

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!!

Img so sorry to hear that how awful 😢

BooBooDoodle · 27/12/2025 18:37

A few years ago my DH and I received a hamper off his very well off aunt. It had been in her loft for months and during that time she had a squirrel infestation. Needless to say, we were still given the hamper because she didn’t want to waste money and couldn’t be bothered replacing everything. The food packets had nibbles in them, it had obviously been peed on because it stunk and we found squirrel crap in the bottom of the basket. We noticed upon decanting the entire thing into the bin that every single food item in it was over 6 months out of date and it was stuff she had regifted or bought in and forgot about the year before.

Dmsatdawn · 27/12/2025 18:31

@Palaminoponyclub I’m envious of your dressing gown. So much comfier without a belt… but I’m 69 with no waist!

Ihateslugs · 27/12/2025 18:26

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.

I buy all the adult females in my family the same gift which this year was a reed diffuser! I do hope that it smells better than yours did! I had to rush to get my presents bought and wrapped at the last minute as I was unexpectedly given 16th Dec as the date for my knee replacement surgery so everything had to come from Tesco with my grocery order.

That is only a token present anyway, each couple ( siblings plus partners) get a main present of a joint voucher from wherever they choose, this year they all wanted Amazon ones which was easy. I increased the amount to £150 each this year for inflation so I know that they will be pleased regardless of the smell of their diffusers!

Sharptonguedwoman · 27/12/2025 18:18

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/12/2025 23:33

DP's father sent him an expensive bottle of whisky and two glasses.

After he started a health kick following his dad having a series of strokes aged 63, DP hasn't drunk alcohol for about nine years.

The glasses will be used for juice, the whisky will probably sit in a cupboard somewhere with any other alcohol we've been given for the next decade or so.

Donate it to a raffle?

100jamjars · 27/12/2025 18:18

I work in a charity shop and we are INUNDATED with new unopened pyjamas/smelly bath stuff/cheap perfume/purses/wallets/handbags/socks.etc in January. It's great.

MummyChocolateMonster · 27/12/2025 18:02

Does nothing from SIL count? Asked me for a wish list for both teen DC which I gave her but by the time she decided to order (22nd), said items were out of stock or wouldn’t have arrived in time anyway.
For me and DH, she turned up for Christmas lunch and declared that me and DH are so well organised (as she unwrapped the gifts she and her partner asked for) and unfortunately she is not organised and ours haven’t arrived yet.
Every year this happens. We have had Christmas gifts in March previously. She’s 52, child free, comfy financially and not particularly busy.
She gave the teens some cash. They’re perfectly happy. It’s just annoying that we all know when Christmas is and she never orders in time!
Same SiL who always turns up to everything empty handed, but has to be specially catered for due to dietary requirements.

linsey2581 · 27/12/2025 17:58

My parents (most likely my mum though) gave me a £20 gift card for Next. The gift card or amount doesn’t bother me I love a gift card but it’s Next. I can’t stand that shop absolutely hate it, clothes and homeware stuff is just shite and the shop is overrated.

woolandflowers · 27/12/2025 17:44

I got a shoelaces and an air tag

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