to think buying toiletry gifts in the Boxing Day sales for next Christmas is tacky?

[crinkle8]

So today I was talking to a colleague about Christmas, and how quickly this year is going. She then said she's done all her xmas shopping I said you must be very organised! She said she did it all in the Boxing Day sales.

She then said she broughttoiletry sets from Boots for all the women in her family when they were 90% off. Is it just me who thinks this is a little TOO cheap? I'm all for a bargain if it's something that can keep, but I'm not convinced toiletry products can lost that long. I've had toiletries I've left unopen for a year, and when I open them they've either lost their scent or really runny.

Also, anyone who shops at Boots will know the packaging is from last year, and know the person got it at 90% off a year ago.

this January there were an awful lot of Zoella advent calendars at 75% off

Yabu OP. Unopened toiletries don't go off all that quickly. Some toiletry sets are lovely, and those that aren't can go to a charity shop/foodbank, where someone will hopefully appreciate them.

I disagree. Toiletries are fine if they are unopened. If you look at the back of the product you will see a jar symbol with a number and then M. E.g 12m. This means that the product doesn’t go off until 12 months after it has been opened.
Of course things like makeup go off after a while. Anyway, I quite like getting toiletries. I mean we all have to wash ourselves! . I like the fact they can be used up and then thrown away, takes up less space! Of course if you have a skin condition I would understand. But otherwise, it’s much better that you can actually use the gift rather than getting a jumper that doesn’t fit.

I don't see the problem.

I like most toiletry sets. If it had a scent I really hated I'd just think I was a bit unlucky, but otherwise fine.
Not particularly keen on Sanctuary, but I did receive a big box of it last year (from my ex, lol). As it happens it came in very handy as I was very skint for the next few months. At least toiletries are useful if you're easy going about brands and not allergic.

I use the body lotion! I don't hold a scent well so use the lotion. I keep all my toiletries in a cupboard or drawer so they're nice and cool and not exposed to light and they keep very well.

I buy sets in the post Christmas sales for my teen DDs and myself.

I've just opened a box of minis Sanctuary set to put away for my holiday - still smell grand and it hasn't gone gloopy.

I buy quite a lot from Boots in the Boxing Day sale. I use stuff throughout the year. I divide up sets to use as stocking fillers. I usually buy some stuff for my sister to give to her when she's feeling a bit shitty throughout the year. I put make up brushes etc away for my daughter and buy a few extra for her friends to put away for birthdays.

If you're on a tight budget fair enough. But I really don't like any Boots toiletry gift set, it's not great quality & bit 'meh' for an Xmas gift. I prefer something that shows some thought & reflects their interests like a gift related to cats/dogs/gardening/cooking/music/books - if the person is into that.

It’s not what I would do personally.

But then, nor is judging other people when I have no idea about their income/financial commitments/beliefs about Christmas etc!

Does anyone actually use body lotion? I do, especially after swimming and in the winter generally.

I hate toiletry sets for gifts, really hate them.

I do wait for the 75% Boots sale and buy my SIL her future Christmas present, as she is an absolute waste of space and I loathe spending money on her.

I think it’s a bit thoughtless. I like to select my gift based on what the recipient likes not on what’s on sale.
Also if I have a set budget For some say £ 20 and I bought them something £20 reduced to £5 in the sale I would still spend the rest of the budget on them

Totally with buying stuff in sales as Christmas presents. Also to keep house stocked up with nice stuff for the bathroom. Christmas Eve is a good time too - if you can spare a 4-6pm raid before supper, tree and service, though it' s a bit close to the wire. What's not to like about a quality grey cashmere sweater for £20 when it's £90-100 earlier?

“Because toiletries don't stay nice and scented for a year.”

How do you know? Because they do. Especially if you don’t open them. But even when you do, they’re still fine. Just like suntan lotion doesn’t “go off”

They're just quite shit gifts, it's just buying a gift for the sake of it with no thought. It's one of the reasons I don't really like Chrismas, pointlessly spending money on things no one wants. I've got about 30 moisturisers in the drawer I need to bin.

Glad I don’t have to buy presents for some of the posters on this thread!

I bought some reduced face cream from a supermarket once and it did have a Use by date but it had started to solidify and I couldn't get it out of the tube. So it definitely can go past it's best.

YANBU. I love a bargain. But toiletries as a present is thoughtless and crap. Unless it's specifically something you know the receiver uses, then it's just a shit present.

I would buy sets in the sales but wouldn't give them as gifts as the set. I have broken up sets in the past and then given some items as gifts (usually with other items), kept some things for myself, used some items as stocking fillers or as party bag items. I would pass on sets as prizes for tombolas and raffles - I am sure people would be happier with an unopened Nivea set rather than some of the ancient, partly used toiletries that I have won in the past!

Thoughtless 'job lot' gift, everyone knows when they have been given this kind of gift. It is not about money, it is about the lack of thought. I could be anyone.

I don’t mind that stuff but it is a bit of a filler gift. A couple of boxes for aunty Edith and the secret Santa at work, and even your mum who you happen to know loves Sanctuary is one thing. But for you to be able to buy all your Christmas presents in the Boots January sale implies that either
A) you have a freakishly skewed group of loved ones who all happen to love body lotion (fine but unlikely)
B) you aren’t really that close to anyone (sad)
or
C) you’re a crap and thoughtless present giver

I don’t think it’s tacky. I’ve never known toiletries with the seal in tact go funny in the space of a year. And I’ve had plenty that I just haven’t used for that long. Not sure where you’re getting your stuff op but if it’s discount shops then maybe the stock is fairly old when you’re buying it.

I'm not overly keen on the toiletry sets because I don't think some of the creamier type stuff lasts well, I hate the royal jelly ones they do, and nobody uses them.

I neither buy or enjoy receiving this sort of gift btw. But if it’s the type of big family where it’s expected that she get everyone including step grandparents twice removed gifts it might be the only way she can afford to do it.

Wow I must be really tacky then because boxing day is actually MY christmas to me as I look forward every year to going to Boots on boxing day to buy all the half priced gift/smelly sets. I use them for both myself and put some up for next years gifts. I use them throughout the year. My Mum does this too, therefore I receive things that I know she has bought from last years sales and I don't find that they go out of date at all! I LOVE receiving smelly sets too, I can never have too much of them. Feeling quite stunned at this post.