To think no gifts for adults is the best option?

[cathf]

I have just spent an hour or so reading MN this morning and am amazed at the amount of moaning and whinging from adults about the gifts they recieved.
AIBU to think a no gifts for adults policy is the way forward?

@babynail well at least you get enjoyment out of throwing away an unopened gift that could help those less fortunate than you.

@babynail wouldn’t you perhaps get some joy at giving your unwanted gifts to charity or a refuge knowing that you had done some good. I would feel incredibly guilty and wasteful just throwing stuff away.

The people buying useless presents are wasteful in my eyes. It'll all end up in landfill anyway.

I don't think you are covering yourself in glory Babynail. I assume you are just being goady as I can't believe anyone could be quite so appallingly self-centred IRL

See, the vast majority of the crap gift posts I've read this morning were about thoughtless, inappropriate and some even downright insulting gifts. Yes there were some posts that were slightly "my diamond shoes are too tight" but only a small number.

When people receive a so called gift from someone that in fact demonstrates exactly how little the giver thinks of them, or something completely unsuitable from people who are supposedly their nearest and dearest, why shouldn't they moan on an anonymous forum? If a family all subscribe to the gift list idea and a poster chooses from their lists, why wouldn't she feel shit at getting eg 4!! Soap and fecking Glory gift sets that weren't on her list? All that says is you weren't worth any though to me whatsoever.

The fact is there are people who are at best thoughtless and at worst, actually willing to use gift giving as an opportunity to demonstrate their contempt for the person. I'd feel pretty fucked off too if I was given some of the shit posters received, some of them must feel like a right slap in the face.

Please don't throw stuff away - there is no away. Take it to a charity shop, put it on free cycle, leave it outside as ' help yourself'.

This is the first year we have donr this and its been refreshing. I hate "stuff" and the waste of it bothers me. We gave 1 token gift each from the kids and the adults all chipped in on the food so we got really good food and drink instead. It was really lovely

Can't sleep, can you point me to some of the shit posters have recieved? I must have missed it.

We have so many kids in our family that just kids is the only option. I recommend it.

Apart from parents of course.

Cathf there a thread in chat called something like "not being ungrateful but" (sorry I can't do links). Examples such as smellies which have been opened to try them and then passed on to the poster as a gift, clothing multiple sizes too large or small, alcohol for people who don't drink. There are also some truly random items in there, take a look. If I was some of those posters I'd be quite hurt and believe me I'm someone who's not too pushed about gifts and have a just buy for the dc agreement with my siblings and ILs.

We stick to a small budget and try to buy from charity shops (shame babynail doesn't donate her unwanted gifts ) - we have a bit of fun opening them and no huge expense - I got a Nigella cook book I wanted (charity shop) - brand new and I know it only cost £2.

We only buy for the adults that we share Christmas day with - my elderly parents and one sibling.

Can'tsleep, sorry I still think it is incredibly crass to complain about gifts you have received.
I have had two gift buyers over the years who stood out for their 'skills' but I would honestly never complain about them.
Maybe my generation received less so expected less, and I do think a lot of adults now have never really grown up, so I suppose this is just a symptom of this.
But to talk so glibly about binning presents with no remorse is in such bad taste I find it amazing. I would be ashamed to think like that, but again that might be a generational thing.

Completely agree OP

Cath, I would be a little hurt if he did but I know he wouldn't do that as he is grateful for any gift, ungrateful people annoy him.

I do, however, have a family member who complains every year about the presents she gets, she threw a temper tantrum one year because her dh got her an ipad because it was too expensive and because another family member gave her a gift voucher for £10 but because this family member had a windfall that year felt it should have been higher.

People like my family member annoy me but the ones who have had thoughtless presents like chocolate nuts for a nut allergy sufferer, I do have genuine sympathy for.

Maybe I am just easily pleased, but I am pleased someone else has thought of me in the first place
I am a vegetarian who has recieved meat cookery books and a teetotaler who was recieved alcohol but I am not bothered.
I also like the fact that all the moaners assume their gifts will be so well received!