To wish Soap and Glory giftsets next existed

[teaandcakeat8]

Every fucking year.

My family do lists and I bought them all presents they had asked for.

In return I have received four fucking Soap and Glory sets. I hate the stuff and they know this; plus I find the 'Boots 3 for 2' stupidly thoughtless.

I know I'm being ungrateful but it just highlights that no one really knows me.

I know what you mean, it frustrates me as I would rather receive nothing than something I can’t use. I got quite a lot of toiletries/smellies ,I cant use any of it as I have really bad eczema, I will probably end up gifting some to the school raffle.

I try to be greatful for everything I receive but it makes me feel a bit sad when it’s something I can’t use as it seems a waist of the persons money.

One of my relatives did their shopping in Poundland, I felt a bit disappointed when the dd’s Opened their gifts (one single item from Poundland) when I had spend around £30 on their children, at least I know next year not to bother too much. Now I’m sounding ungrateful.

My brother last year bought me a Ted Baker gift set I don't use half the stuff! It was my friends daughter's birthday not long after so i took the bits out of the box bought a nice gift bag and tissue paper gave her the Ted Baker, and the money I would of spent on her I bought myself something I would use!!
Buy gift bags and tissue and give it back to them for their birthdays.

I feel the same about Yankee candles!!

It gets on my nerves too even though I bought one for myself because i can’t say no to a bargain!

It’s not that I don’t like it it’s just annoying the bottle never goes down.

I felt a bit disappointed when the dd’s Opened their gifts (one single item from Poundland) when I had spend around £30 on their children, at least I know next year not to bother too much. Now I’m sounding ungrateful.

Not at all-to allow her treat your children like that undervalues them.

Ebay it.

When you do a list next year can you also add what NOT to buy?

Why have you kept all the other gift sets? Can't you donate them to the local women's refuge or food bank (they also accept toiletries)?

Either way you need to tell them politely that you cannot use these gifts and not to bother next year or stick to the list.

Our local hospice does a collection of unwanted gift sets and christmas presents every January - would you consider donating it all to a good cause?

Next write at the top of your list in huge letters and underlined three times
NO SOAP AND GLORY STUFF
Then I would ignore their lists next year and gift it all back to them.. Except gran of course

Last year I ranted hormonally at DP because I had loads of the bloody things from family - I distinctly remember saying “I must either smell or be really boring!”

This year I heard him say urgently to his brother “no toiletries” when asked for present ideas. And this morning I haven’t got any, so I think he has had a quiet word! So while it wasn’t that dignified at the time, I can recommend a well timed rant!

This thread has made me realize that I don't like (bath/soap) gift sets from pharmacies. Hrm. I've never bought one for person, or if I did, it was probably back in 1999 or 2000.

Hrm again. Maybe a department store cologne or perfume set would be better? At least then it's in the person's preferred fragrance and has at least pieces that could be used by the gift receiver.

I'm just thinking aloud here. My OH's sister gave me Baylis & Whatever set a couple Christmases ago and I tried using the shower gel but it dried out my skin. Never touched it after that.

And yes, I would just give it back to them on their birthdays.

The danger of writing NO WHATEVER is that people get to the shops, think, now what was on that list, and the only thing that they remember is the thing you said NOT to buy

I have told them several years running that I hate the stuff. It's like they have selective memory. I wrote it at the top of my list two years ago and received Jack Wills toiletries instead - I'm 29!

I could donate it to a charity yes but honestly, I'm so fucked off that I've spent money buying gifts for them that I won't get back. I need that cash back now to buy the stuff I need!

The OP isn't grabby FFS- lists are being made and circulated, she is buying for others off those lists and hers is being ignored.

I'll buy them off you at reduced price I love soap and glory esp the mother pucker lip gloss!

It's a bit impersonal and thoughtless to give a giveset to family or close friends (unless it's a brand you know they love). I hate receiving shower gel, body lotion, bubble bath etc... it's like giving someone a gift of toothpaste, shampoo and soap. I'll choose my own thanks. They always end up in my guest basket.

They should know you well enough to pick out a few products you'd like or get something from the list. All the packaging of gift sets is wasteful and makes it look cheap and nasty.

Presents don't need to be expensive, just tailored to the person's tastes, with some meaning behind them.

Also regarding donating her gifts to a good cause- and what have nothing herself? But her relatives are all right.

Regift it to them on their birthdays and christmases to come until
You've run out of the stuff. Seriously. I would be annoyed too.

I'll have em. I usually get some every year and look forward to it. I got mine this year so will have to buy some myself.

I love it ( yet am never brought it!) but i can understand why you're so pissed.
You've gone out your way to buy something nice.
You haven't done a list of expensive items either!

This isn't about being grabby or ungrateful.

This is about family members who knowingly, repeatedly buy thoughtless things they know the OP won't use/doesn't like when their lists are always adhered to. The selfishness and thoughtlessness is on their side, not OP's.

Seriously. Save them and gift them back to them for their next birthdays/Christmas/whatever. They suck and they know it.

Definately regift until its all gone. Save you from shelling out fir presents.
Nothing worse than thoughtless/cant be arsed to get you something you will actually like gifts.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable at all or grabby! Would piss me
Off too

@craigglen, I can see why it upset you but it's not about there being anything inherently wrong with those gift sets - I like them personally! It's about exchanging lists and then not buying anything from them. Those gift sets probably cost more than some of the stuff the op listed.