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Original poster

Gifts you would not buy for yourself (what do you do?)

40 replies

Daffodil55 · 26/12/2019 14:19

Do you return asap to the store and get a refund or exchange or do you keep it and not use it. Re gift it or donate to a food or clothes bank.

I have enough chocs to keep me going for a while but 2 of them are those sea shell things which I am not keen on. They will go into the supermarket food donation containers.

I think a lot of shoppers on 26th are frantically trying to return things but I won't be one of them.

OP posts:
JoGose · 26/12/2019 14:22

I usually keep it to regift next year (obviously not to the people who gave me it)

Ragwort · 26/12/2019 14:24

Chocs and biscuits, hamper gifts etc are always gratefully received by Food Banks.

Wearywithteens · 26/12/2019 14:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Original poster
Daffodil55 · 26/12/2019 14:25

What would you do if anything if you received a gift which you gave that person the year before? Not a similar one but the same item which they obviously forgot who gave to them.

I have and said nothing. A bit disappointed though as they had not bought it for me.

OP posts:
VanyaHargreeves · 26/12/2019 14:27

I have several things this year that are not my taste but perfect for regifting.

Just because they aren't my taste doesn't mean they aren't someone else's

Wearywithteens · 26/12/2019 14:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

VanyaHargreeves · 26/12/2019 14:31

It's very gutting when you get a regift and the person obviously put no thought in though I've never experienced receiving my own gift back.

I feel slightly shortchanged this year, having been single and buying for families and the financial disparity in the exchange

But it's hard to complain without seeming like Scrooge.

1plus2equalstrouble · 26/12/2019 14:31

A bit disappointed though as they had not bought it for me lots of advocates on MN for regifting, the se ret is to not forget who brought it you.

Blackbear19 · 26/12/2019 14:32

Stuff I don't want I usually try to return. Necklace which has been repackaged - probably the charity shop. Duplicate toy maybe keep in a cupboard for a bit it can do as a party gift, but might try to return it.

Gloves from the same person? Meh I think I'd suggest for next year " let's have a night out instead of exchanging gifts"

needsahouseboy · 26/12/2019 14:49

This is why I think gift buying for adults at Christmas is nonsense. I don’t want anything and never know what up get others. People just end up with a load of crap they want or need.

needsahouseboy · 26/12/2019 14:50

Sorry for typos! They don’t want or need that should say

NemophilistRebel · 26/12/2019 14:52

I get it @VanyaHargreeves
There was piles of presents bought for families of 5 and 4 here from single members of the family who also aren’t very well off and it all just appeared so unequal

Blackbear19 · 26/12/2019 15:12

VanyaHargreeves that is a good reason to cut back for next year. Say that you are cutting back and only buying the kids.

CooCooCoo · 26/12/2019 15:16

Regift to charity the following year

VanyaHargreeves · 26/12/2019 15:20

Yes but if I did "Lets only buy the children" I'd get nothing at all. Which I know isn't the point but it'd be sadder

Snaleandthewhail · 26/12/2019 15:21

My eldest child is very similar in age to my niece. Consequently we received many of the same presents throughout their early years from mutual aunts, friends, etc.

My youngest child is significantly younger than the oldest two. Two of the three of her presents from aunt and uncle I recognise as being gifts we both received in earlier years for our eldest children. As in, we’ve got them already, they must be pretty sure we would have them already...

carlywurly · 26/12/2019 15:42

I usually take food things to the office where they are devoured.

Anything else goes straight to the charity shop or into the work charity raffle pile. A good 8 of the 10 things mil gave me will go there. This happens every year. Every year I ask her to stop. Dp reckons she's addicted to the buying though. It's ridiculous.

Fanciedachange1 · 26/12/2019 19:18

While i was putting this years haul from DGPIL into my cupboard i found last years!

It’s mainly perfume (unbranded) that I don’t know what to do with. It could smell amazing, in which case I would keep and use it. If I open it and it doesn’t smell nice then I have to bin it.

There are some little “house bits” like scented candles, little ornaments etc that aren’t to my taste but I wouldn’t regift them for that exact reason.

I’m honestly not ungrateful as I do tell everyone not to buy for me. (My mum and sis are the only ones who can buy me something unexpected that I will love).

I find it amazing how MIL gives gifts with the instructions “if you don’t like it you can throw it away, I don’t mind”. Every year we say not to get anything and there are bag fulls of tat that will just get binned because it’s unwanted, impractical or just weird!

Stefoscope · 26/12/2019 19:29

In the past I've donated bits like hats, scarves and gloves to charity as I rarely wear them and would be overrun with them otherwise. This year half of my gifts were chocolate or sweet things which I don't eat, so I will pass those on to DP and any that's left I'll take into work. I don't think there's anything wrong with returning stuff for a refund or re-gifting though.

GooodMythicalMorning · 26/12/2019 19:35

Ask mu best friend if she wants it. Or my dsis. I don't regift I just give it.

Cherrysoup · 26/12/2019 19:39

Food, we keep. Unwanted gifts go to charity. I was given a branded item this year, I think it’s worth a lot. If I give it back, I will hugely offend the giver, plus she’s 5 hours away. She’ll never know I haven’t still got it. It’s probably very mean of me, but I’m considering selling it.

KipperTheFrog · 26/12/2019 19:48

Since DD started school, I keep a bag of unwanted gifts to go to the Christmas bazaar (where the school children can go and buy presents for their family). Prior to this I would send to charity shop.
Food gifts generally get eaten eventually or taken to work to be eaten.
Its generally only MIL who buys stuff I wont use. We have very different tastes in home decor!

brightbluesky · 26/12/2019 21:54

If clothes I will try and exchange for a credit note. I am very fussy about clothing and due to sensitive skin, can only really wear natural fibres but every year my sister insists on buying me clothing, despite me saying please don't buy clothes for me!

Chocolates and biscuits I don't eat, I often end up throwing boxes away so this year I will give to the local church who run a food bank (have become familiar with them in past few months through work).

Will regift some of the duplicate toys my little girl has received, no idea what to do with the multiple body lotions I've been given!

Sizeofalentil · 26/12/2019 22:17

Instead of binning things, you can try offering them for free on olio, freecycle, Facebook marketplace or search Facebook to see if your local area has a freebie page.

Worth a try before sending to the landfill. I've had people take opened toiletries and make up before

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 26/12/2019 23:35

Drink I donate to school fair, food items get taken into work and any items I may not like goes to charity shop.

I don’t regift as have a birthday straight after Christmas and it’s very easy to see who has done just that rather than put any thought / effort in.