To think this is a shite birthday present?

[FretYeNotAllIsShiny]

It was Dd2's birthday last week. Today my her aunt (my ex's sister) sent down her present, she was on holiday abroad last week. The present is a mug which reads something along the lines of "I was remembered in Spain".

I could understand something nice bought on holiday, I could understand a mug emblazoned with something a 14 year old would love, but a souvenir mug? For a birthday present? Even in my skintest days I could come up with something better than that. And she isn't skint btw, she's got more than her fair share of money. whole different thread on that can of worms

So, am I being picky, ungracious and a bit of a cow?

[AllThatGlistens]

But you have to only half unwrap it AuntOlive, and somehow glue the box back down so the bit that's left is in the front and you don't realise until you open it that the rest is just crumpled paper

[LuluJakey1]

One of DH's grandmas knitted me an orange hotwater bottle cover in nylon yarn. It went to the charity shop.

[AuntOlive]

A cunning plan indeed Glistens - if Christmas Eve hunger pangs get the better of me later this year I'll know just what to do!!

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

One of my godmothers was well known for being a cheapskate. She & her DH were wealthy but so very very frugal.

One present which stands out was a pair of pink Little Bo Peep knickers inside my birthday card when I was about 5.

What made it more special was receiving the blue pair of Little Bo Peep knickers inside my Christmas card later the same year.

[AllThatGlistens]

Crying at Santas!

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

DH was given a silver tankard for his 21st by a family friend ... All very nice and suitable until I turned it round pretending to admire it and noticed it said 'British Airways' on the back.

[Pancakeflipper]

When I was a child our super rich Aunt and Uncle sent presents that always made us wonder.

One year (I was 7) my siblings and I each received a CD - the ones you get free with a Sunday newspaper. I got the Best of British comedy which was confiscated by my mother due to swearing on it. My brother got Best of Musicals and my sister (who was a toddler) got the audio version of Cabaret.

We all got a copy of the Readers Digest. I think that started my secret Readers Digest love.

One of our fav games in immediate family now is "what year did we get the ...." still makes us giggle.

[TheWaltzClogTeam]

Every year my children get a box of jaffa cakes to share from husbands parents. Last year they gave me a jar of jam and husband a bag of kettle chips. It wouldn't be so bad, but we get told what they would like, and it's not groceries. Last year it was a big telly.

[AuntOlive]

Thewaltz: jeez next year ask for tesco gift cards (preloaded with 1.50)!

I'm sure I once recall someone saying they were given a packet of loo rolls and some coal, but as it wasn't me personally it might have been an urban myth. I think the reasoning was they stopped at a 7/11 or service station to do their present shopping :-)

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

I was in a long distance relationship, and used to spend hours on the phone to my bf every night. I used to have to try to remember to hang up and call him back once every hour, otherwise it wouldn't be in my free call plan.

So at Christmas, he proudly presented me with an egg timer. I looked very confused and he explained it was so I could use it to remind myself to hang up on the phone.

He was genuinely dismayed when I explained that the egg timer timed for 2 minutes, so might not be too helpful.

He was an educated man too. A teacher none the less.

The following year I got a deep fat fryer.

He's now my ex.

[CrohnicallyInflexible]

glistens you don't even need to do that! One year we got a box of Roses. Fine, except my cousin had opened the box, eaten most of the chocolates, then taped the lid shut using brown parcel tape. She was only small at the time, but you'd think her parents would have noticed the swathes of brown tape on the top!

[CornChips]

One time from my grandmother I got an empty egg shell that she had painted pink and stuck faux seed pearls on. She said it was a 'faberge egg'.

It was quite funny actually. She started doing painting as therapy stuff when elderly and actually did some amazing still lifes.

[Grumpyoldbiddy]

ryone those charity donation cards. Two years ago at christmas an African village were bought the sum total of two toilets, a goat and some chickens iirc. Then she had nerve to moan that we hadn't put much effort into getting gifts for her.
Now I'd really like this gift, much better than a load of toiletries which sit in the box for a year or end up getting donated to the school raffle.

[RhiWrites]

Aged about 12, my sister got a loo roll holder from my aunt who thought she could use it to store bracelets.

[manchestermummy]

My aunt and uncle got me a chipped toothbrush holder for Christmas once. They were appalled; I loved it and used it until I moved out 23. I It was always there when I was back from uni over the vacations.

My parents have never understood "it's the thought that counts".

That mug would have made me laugh too!

[helenahandbag]

I've just remembered that my granny (whom I now avoid like the plague because she's nosey and has absolutely no filter... yes, I had noticed that I'm fat, thanks) bought me an "official" VHS of the Blackpool illuminations one year for my birthday. No other content, just footage of the illuminations set to cheesy instrumental music

[RackofPeas]

I really didn't have a problem with the charity donation gifts, but knowing my aunt like I do, it was a passive aggressive gesture from her, you could almost hear her thoughts - willing us to complain so she could call us selfish. We didn't fall for it so she moaned about us not really putting an6 effort in. She still expected hand written thank you notes.
The year before she bought me a spiral notebook and pen set.

[CarriesBucketOfBlood]

My Godfather stopped sending me Christmas presents when I turned 19. My sister kept getting them, and some really really thoughtful presents. My parents got a card and a gift voucher. I was left out of my parents' card and my sister's card. I have no idea why. It was a knock to my confidence at the time, now I just think screw them!

[LazyLouLou]

My poisonous SIL used to use xmas to make her feelings known.

One year she gave me the free gift you get when you open a catalogue account, a nasty plastic necklace.

The following year, knowing I'd get something similar, I spent a lot of time researching local salsa lessons for her. Bought a CD, wrote up all the local options and included a voucher for a free session at the club nearest to her.

I sat back and waited.... then opened my present, a plastic duck! No, me either

She never did thank me. Though she was still attending the salsa club a year later.

[HemlockStarglimmer]

My ever-loving husband gave me a loo seat for my birthday a few years ago. I am gradually beginning to find it funny. I would probably have got over it sooner but it was for my fiftieth and I wasn't coping well with that particular milestone.

[Royalsighness]

Someone got me a brand new Thomas Goode photo frame worth about £80.00 when I was 9. Really odd gift. My brother and sister got really cool gifts and I got a photo frame, I was furious.

[MrsTedCrilly]

I think on it's own it's quite cute OP but you say there's history so that's a different kettle of fish. You going on holiday this year? Make time for a tacky present shopping trip.. might be fun!

[helenahandbag]

charleybarley

DP suggested that he buy me a hoover for my birthday (offence no. 1), then found out that I desperately want a Dyson and decided that his budget didn't actually stretch to that.

More fool me, I'm srill marrying him next year

[helenahandbag]

still*