Come on then, which gifts are going to the charity shop?

lemonsherberts6 · 2025-12-25T23:09:06+00:00

2 soap and glory gift sets. My skin is sensitive, so I can’t use anything like that. Baylis and Harding hand set - same deal. A candle - never use them. Pink gin - don’t like and never drink it. It’s always the same people, no thought put into it. I think they just grab random bits from the 3 for 2 at Boots. I’d never say anything, of course, but it’s the same stuff every year and it gets a bit disappointing as I always make an effort to buy gifts that people actually enjoy or will use. Honestly, I’d prefer if they just saved their money. What has everyone else had?

menopausalmare · 29/12/2025 18:52

sidsgranny · 28/12/2025 17:06

Ahh bless them. Could you maybe suggest some cheese and crackers and chutney that would probably be easy for them to get you from their local shop?

Show quote history

We got that as well😄

purser25 · 29/12/2025 14:39

I love the national trust diary I am very fussy about diaries and only want that one. I always buy it early though and have to pay postage as no N T shop near

BessieSurtees · 29/12/2025 13:42

How can you return to Amazon if you haven’t bought it, do you ask your friend to return it?

I’ve just been to Boots with my gift sets and returned them without receipts and exchanged them for items I want and will use.

NotMeekNotObedient · 28/12/2025 21:23

I have one friend who always buys me extremely generic stuff. No thought goes into it and I feel like saying just don't buy me anything! I always put a lot of thought into gifts for friends. Even worse it's stuff she knows I can't use eg. chocolate with nuts in (nut allergy), bath products (eczema), alcohol (I'm breastfeeding).

If from Amazon it gets sent back, otherwise it's donated to charity/tombola.

Sometimes I get the occasional gift I'll never use but with her it's consistent.

I do wonder if she thinks my gifts are odd and if I should just get her something generic.

This year it was an orange scented 'pamper set' from Amazon.

creamcakesintherain · 28/12/2025 19:58

My oldest DS (13) got a human body mini puzzle thing. Unfirtunately both my DS feel faint at the sight of blood and any inside the body stuff, he couldn't even touch it and nearly threw up. Me and DH both get bottles of Radox- not gift sets, just Radox bath stuff. My DH only showers and I rarely have baths, and only with Lush stuff. We get them every year.

Manename · 28/12/2025 19:55

A gift set because the majority is for use in the bath and I just shower. Otherwise I’d be happy to use them even though they are the MN hated B&H (have in the past).

BlackCat14 · 28/12/2025 19:55

Parker231 · 28/12/2025 19:39

DT’s wore themed babygros for as long as they fit - they didn’t care what season or holiday it was.

Show quote history

That’s lovely!

TheWytch · 28/12/2025 19:44

Bag of chocolate covered toffees and bags of Quality St to the local homeless project and a reed diffuser to the charity shop.

Parker231 · 28/12/2025 19:39

BlackCat14 · 28/12/2025 16:18

We got three Christmas outfits for our five month old baby. We’d already bought him two to wear on the day, so these ones from relatives that we only opened Christmas morning felt like a total waste! I put him in one on Boxing Day, and could over the next couple of days I guess, but it feels very much “for the sake of it.” Not to be ungrateful but if people wanted to buy him clothes, I’d rather they got non themed stuff that he could wear all the time!

DT’s wore themed babygros for as long as they fit - they didn’t care what season or holiday it was.

Sometimessmiling · 28/12/2025 19:24

SpicyMargarita1 · 26/12/2025 04:09

There are people on MN who are on their own and got no presents. Maybe reach out to them and see if they want anything you have?

Brilliant idea.

Sometimessmiling · 28/12/2025 19:22

LakieLady · 25/12/2025 23:19

Would a charity shop appreciate a National Trust diary?

MIL gets me one every year, despite me mentioning how fab it is to have a diary on my phone at every opportunity. I have no use whatsoever for a paper diary.

Try a diary. Gone back to one and love it

BessieSurtees · 28/12/2025 19:19

If I get any B&H I decant it into the hand wash and hand cream bottles in the downstairs loo. No one uses enough to get a reaction and it’s not wasted or regifted 36 times.

NerrSnerr · 28/12/2025 18:55

BlackCat14 · 28/12/2025 16:18

We got three Christmas outfits for our five month old baby. We’d already bought him two to wear on the day, so these ones from relatives that we only opened Christmas morning felt like a total waste! I put him in one on Boxing Day, and could over the next couple of days I guess, but it feels very much “for the sake of it.” Not to be ungrateful but if people wanted to buy him clothes, I’d rather they got non themed stuff that he could wear all the time!

Your baby won’t care, if they fit id just put it on them.

Clingfilm · 28/12/2025 17:47

God this thread has made me feel both better that I'm not the only person that gets loads of random stuff (in laws, always) and even more sad and peed off that I have to go out of my way to get rid of it and the money that's been wasted.
Fucking massive ornaments, regifted smellies (I'm not averse to smellies but I have more than enough), clothes that were bought in the sale (fine, I love a bargain too) but because they're sale clothes they're all random sizes, none of which fit. Etc etc.
I'd be happy with never having to give or receive a gift ever again tbh.

Tresd · 28/12/2025 17:08

Nothing is going to the charity shop. I put a stop to this crazy shit years ago.

sidsgranny · 28/12/2025 17:06

menopausalmare · 26/12/2025 07:58

Most of our presents come from elderly relatives who no longer drive, don't shop online and can only walk to the local shops. Every year we get calendars, amaryllis, hats, mugs and lots of food items. Kind but a bit boring. I'll be donating a calendar as I already have one.

Ahh bless them. Could you maybe suggest some cheese and crackers and chutney that would probably be easy for them to get you from their local shop?

WhineAndWine1 · 28/12/2025 16:43

Nothing because we give each other lists in my family. Totally the way forward

KnittyNell · 28/12/2025 16:42

Gettingbysomehow · 27/12/2025 00:51

The only acceptable calendar Xmas gift is a diptique calendar. Id love to get one of those for sure but its £399.

Show quote history

I absolutely loved my £20 Nivea one.

insomniacalways · 28/12/2025 16:27

Most of the stuff from my Mum she loves to support independent crafts. It's beautiful stuff but I've been clear neither I nor the kids want anymore stuff. She bought me a lovely pendant when I was with her that I loved and I was clear that was all I wanted. My house is full. So someone else can enjoy them.

iwishihadaname · 28/12/2025 16:23

Coffeeishot · 26/12/2025 08:13

I have chocolates that i don't like, I can't even charity shop those,

could donate to the shop for the volunteers to enjoy

Isayitasitis · 28/12/2025 16:21

TwooooDoooozenRoses · 26/12/2025 23:13

Not a charity shop job but four(!) bottles of wine and a bottle of gin. All from close family and friends. I’ve been sober for nearly two years and have talked about that with all of them at various times…

That's so disrespectful!

Food bank will have them.

Isayitasitis · 28/12/2025 16:18

Olderbutt · 26/12/2025 12:53

Three things from one friend, sadly, no thought whatsoever but is very picky about what she receives. One of the items is a complete mystery and even she doesn't know what it is!

Super bizarre!

BlackCat14 · 28/12/2025 16:18

We got three Christmas outfits for our five month old baby. We’d already bought him two to wear on the day, so these ones from relatives that we only opened Christmas morning felt like a total waste! I put him in one on Boxing Day, and could over the next couple of days I guess, but it feels very much “for the sake of it.” Not to be ungrateful but if people wanted to buy him clothes, I’d rather they got non themed stuff that he could wear all the time!

Isayitasitis · 28/12/2025 16:18

PhantomOfAllKnowledge · 26/12/2025 12:38

Yes, I remember it. As well as Covid, as the site grew larger, the thread started to attract scammers - people were sending off their gifts to swap, and getting nothing in return. I never participated as I only receive a few gifts from immediate family, but I enjoyed lurking on the thread.

Show quote history

Wow always some arseholes, who have to ruin a nice thing. This is why we can't have lovely things. :(

Isayitasitis · 28/12/2025 16:16

Gcn · 26/12/2025 11:42

One of these. It's a calendar, that you need to change manually every day (so need to know the date???) it's big and pointless and the latest shit gift from dsil. I think she thinks it's funny to get shit gifts, but what a waste of money...

Oh that's bad. 😵‍💫