How do I ask my best friend to stop sending gifts without causing offence?

[JesPrinee]

I think I've had 9 in a row now if not a few more in recent months and I feel put-upon. I'm sure you'll all say I'm being unreasonable. I love my friend and I know she means well but it feels too much for me. If saying nothing is the best thing, what should I do to move past feeling heavy about it? They are not things I'd ever buy myself. I really don't want to hurt her feelings.

Not really enough context here. What are the gifts? Why is she sending them? Is this a new thing/linked to a particular occasion?

What sort of 'gifts' and are there any triggers for her sending them to you? Some people are addicted to shopping and will find any excuse to get the rush of purchasing something - even if they never see the item, could this be your friend?

Well, why is she sending you gifts? I assume this is not for a birthday or Christmas. Is it for a bereavement?

I had a family member who was like this towards my children. Giving presents every month or so, it got really overwhelming.
It wasn't always new stuff, often charity shop or Facebook second hand but if I said I'd passed stuff on they would get upset and say they would have had it back.
I had to ask them to stop in the end and they were quite offended by it.

They're not for any occasion. I know she means well which is why I feel bad. If I always say thank you & lovely it'll never end.

Ok, I think you need to tell her. You can be nice about it. Just say what you have said here. You could embellish the reason if you want -say you haven’t space for new bits and pieces, are decluttering, have stopped eating chocolates etc

Is it handcream?

Its hard to say with so little info. How often is she sending things? What kind of things are you getting

I'm a bit torn here. On the one hand, if they aren't invasive gifts, I'd try and accept that it's likely her "love language" and asking her to stop would be odd.

On the other, if you're uncomfortable with it, surely she wouldn't want to be sending them...

Are they things you can pass on/throw away/don't need to reference; or things she'll expect to see in your house or get an opinion on etc?

'Listen you have to stop sending me all these presents, I'm running out of space for them all. Really I appreciate the sentiment...and the toast-a-matic 5000, but its too much now. Make this the last one. And how about I treat you to a nice lunch next weekend?'

What is she sending? Little keepsakes or big things or flowers or?

What about it makes you feel put upon?

Can you redirect her gifting efforts to something you like which doesn't take up space? Those boxes of brownies which fit though your letter box, for instance...

None of it is things I would choose myself. If it was flowers I'd love it. But it's too much because I can't afford to do it back.