Who gave you the worst present yesterday?

[cheezncrackers]

My DM wins the award from me. She always gets me awful things that I don't want. The problem is that she thinks she knows me, but she really doesn't any more. My tastes are nothing like hers. She loves ornaments and goes to the market every week and picks up second-hand tat that she thinks is a bargain. It isn't, because no one wants it!

Yesterday I received book I've already read, a hideous jug that's going straight to the charity shop, and a cheap, sugary version of the chocolate that she knows I like (but is too cheap to buy the real thing).

Honestly, I just wish she wouldn't bother. I have a wish list on Amazon if she wanted to get me a book and I'd have much rather had one book that I actually want to read than all the shit she gives me.

/ungrateful rant over

Wouldn’t usually be ungrateful, but my husband died 2 months ago, we were separated due to a DV situation. My cousin gave me ‘ a book ‘How to survive the death of your Ex’. In all other circumstances thoughtful, but not when unwrapped mid Xmas jollity when I have been trying to not think about years past.

Well, no surprises for me......each year I get a bin bag full of unwanted items from an Amazon addicted well off friend. I constantly make it clear that I dont need or want anything but some chocolates would be nice but never get any so this year:
remote control penguins
yellow remote control bath ducks
table football
3 childrens board games
basket ball cards sets
puzzles

I donate the lot as every year to a local food bank to distribute...its all so depressing and a huge waste of money. Ds is 42 and no other children in family !!

sounds like she buys a bunch of the returned/lost packages and gives you whatever she doesn't want

This 100%!

A relative used to say that people who say “it’s the thought that counts”… to remember that some people have lousy thoughts!

So true.

MIL, bought me nothing. We bought her an expensive case of her favourite wine.

Hosted 12 family members yesterday. DB and SIL plus 3 teenage kids gave me and DH a £7 box of chocolates between us. No wine, no flowers, no washing up. We've already started looking at the Caribbean for next year.

I think people often give you what THEY want! My Mum (gone now) used to buy nice things .One year I had a lovely dressing gown.Wore it for ages .I always think I am easy to buy for .love chocolates (milk or plain).Any earrings from that well known high street jeweller (M and S )socks , soaps ,scarf .

In laws bought me children's knee high socks and BIL bought a book I asked for but a 'learning English as a foreign language' version

DM got us a voucher for a family photo shoot with "free 9x6 print". which needs to be redeemed in six months. DH hates having his photo taken, I've piled on loads of weight (which DM frequently points out) and don't feel very photogenic and the DC no longer live locally, so getting everyone together will be difficult. What's more, there will, no doubt, be a hard sell from the photographers to purchase further prints at our own expense, which, frankly, we won't be interested in. So, a lot of effort required for something we won't even enjoy. And, tbh, it's all a big con to make us spend money.
I appreciate the sentiment, but I'd much rather have a nice frame for some of the natural pics of the family we've had taken.
Colour me ungrateful, I can take the heat.

DH did similar one year. He wrapped a chocolate orange in the box, one out of the box, and some lip balm. I was disappointed, to be honest.

I find receiving gifts very uncomfortable. Especially if they are things I have no use for or don’t like. I used to manage it well with family by saying I didn’t want anything really and preferred to choose my own things. We adults agreed to buy each other foods or smellies, low value items etc

Now my adult child is in a serious relationship with a lovely partner who is used to spending and receiving more and it’s rubbing off. They like to buy me things I don’t like, even if I name something they get it wrong and they are spending lots of money. I feel terrible

I do like dolphins! 🙂

I don’t think it’s ungrateful. It’s nice for people to put some thought into what they are buying rather than buying some random crap that won’t get used or will end up in landfill?

I had a few useless presents or thoughtless presents. I would rather have vouchers or a book, I don’t think I’m hard to buy for.

My dh gave me 3 presents, all carefully chosen. I love two of them, but absolutely hate the third (it's a pashmina in violently coloured purple paisley, I hate both!) Bless him. He put a lot of thought into it and I couldn't hurt his feelings in front of everyone by telling him I didn't like it when he asked, so I'll wear it incredibly infrequently and if pushed (when nobody else is around), I'll carefully remind him that I hate purple. 🤣

My sil (who I like, and who likes me) has bought me a quilted coat at least two sizes too big!
Think of one of those inflatable Sumo suits, that's what I look like in it😀

And my ‘worst’ present was from an elderly relative who was thrilled I told them I’d use their gift, two cushion covers and an interesting looking ornament. I will put all of them in the sitting room and smile at the thought of him searching for something I’d like

This is so lovely 😭

In your mums defence, she picked out a book that must have matched your tastes, because you've read it before.

I'd agree with you if it was something unusual that I just happened to have read already, but this is a bestseller that's been everywhere this year.

Remote control penguins? I think we might need a photo of those

My middle adult DS got me a giant jar of honey from TK Maxx...I'm just bemused. It will get used but will take about 45 years, good job it never goes off 😅

I agree with this.
People on Mumsnet are more ungrateful for their presents than anyone I know in real life and they also are more likely to complain about relatives they call rude for not being grateful enough for the presents they have bought for them. And it's often the same people who complain about the gifts other people give them whole thinking that they are the best present giver ever.
Everyone makes gifting mistakes sometimes but I love everything people have bought for me because they have gone to the trouble of buying me something. And everything I buy and give to others is bought because I think they will like it and given freely I don't expect effusive thanks.

On Christmas eve dh told me he hadn't bought me anything because he contributed towards some vets bills that I've been paying. Being autistic, I believed him. He then produced a stocking with some parcels in, but I told him that he hadn't bought me anything so why would I want them? I won't bother opening them as they'll just be food related things and I'm not interested as I need to get back to healthy eating. I know it's churlish, but his confusing approach to things just annoys me.

What an appalling gift. I'd have been tempted to smack him round the head with it several times and gone home. OMG!!!!!

From my MIL - 3 scarves that are secondhand and completely faded. They are from her house that had woodworm. I left them deliberately last time she tried to give them to me claiming I had forgotten them. Then the most hideous statement necklace which again is something she found. I actually wonder if she hates me. I will be throwing them out

Exdp & dsc... ex bought me a bottle of vodka. I have been tee total for over 20 years including the entire time we were together.

Lovely friend buys me clothes every year for Christmas, despite me begging her not to buy anything - or if she feels she must, a book token would be great.
They are all size small or x small and I’m a size 14. Plus she buys them throughout the year and stores them in her basement which smells of damp and wet dog. The charity shop gets them after I wash them.

My STBEXH got me some size 7-8 men's slippers. Some socks and some hot chocolate. I thought we were both making an effort for the sake of the kids. I should have learnt my lesson on my 40th when all I got was some chocolate and a travel mug. 🙄
Lesson well and truly learnt.