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.

My friend does this. Sometimes with toiletries but one year I was given a box of Christmas gingerbreads for my April birthday. Only just still in date but I are them anyway

I'm not bothered what they spend I just hate them toiletries sets. They're so impersonal and I'm not into the bath scent thrush inducing twatty nonsense anyway. I loathe the things.

I was given a box of Christmas gingerbreads for my April birthday. Only just still in date but I are them anyway

i have found my people

Fiesta if you’ve bought all your Xmas presents in the Boots January sale and that includes multiple school age DC then you are most definitely category C, regardless of how canny you are about TAs’ end of year gifts.

Mao, I suppose fair enough to think that if it’s ALL the gifts - and no, I don’t do that. I also don’t exchange gifts with adults in extended family so I don’t have 10 or 30 “women in my family” to buy for.

That said, if a colleague did tell me that, I could understand why someone might only be able to afford to buy for a lot of people with a 75% sale and think good for her for not getting herself into debt in November. But hey ho, some others chose to behave like vile judges cows about what others can afford to give. Keep doing what works for you.

It’s not about the money. I’ve recently flagrantly gamed the department store summer sales deals to get the best possible combination of discounts and free gifts on a particular skincare brand to maximise the goodies in my aunt’s birthday parcel for my budget. And I proudly told her I’d done it.

But having read (skimmed) the Christmas Bargain threads I know that apart from a very few people in category A, there will always be equally cheap ways to buy more appropriate and thoughtful Christmas presents throughout the year. Nobody does this for everybody just because they’re hard up: they do it because either they have nobody who really matters to them to give to, or because they CBA.

strawberrry it’s not that I can’t stand toiletries, I just like to choose my own. I am not short of money and have used many different toiletry brands over the year, and now I have favourites. If someone is short of money I’d really rather they didn’t buy me anything at all and saved their money, rather than give me toiletry sets that I will in all likelihood give to the food bank.
I have a drawer full of soap and glory stuff that my mum gave me for Christmas that I’m waiting for an opportunity to give away. I just don’t like the sickly sweet smell.

Nothing says "I couldn't be arsed to put any effort in to your gift", like a high street toiletry set. The charity shops are full of them. Tells you what people who receive them think of them.

By the way I have no issue with people buying in the sales... I wouldn’t want the toiletries if they were full price or 90% off. If people are buying well thought out gifts in the sales that they know people will like (including toiletries, some people love them) then that’s financially savvy IMO. If they’re just buying a trolley full of box sets because they’re cheap, regardless of whether the recipient will like it or not, then that’s a bit pointless.

Not toiletries but in the Toys R Us closing down sale and the Argos toy clearance I bought shedloads. We have two huge 'presents cupboards' so any birthdays or Xmas gifts we raid that first, usually I've gotten goods around 80% off. So £2 for a £10 gift. Nothing perishable and no toiletries but paw patrol pyjamas, books, arts and crafts.

We're not mega poor but we save where we can to have treats for ourselves!

Oh I love bubble bath/shower gel and nice soaps as gifts! People who buy dove or soap and glory or treacle moon sets are my favourite people in the world. I love secret Santa’s where I get toiletries. (No use for loofas or bath puffs though so I tend to cut them up and we use them in crafts)
I have already bought my brothers Christmas present in the jan sales (he likes joop pour homme and it’s pricey! 90% off was an absolute bargain!) and I wrapped it in paper from poundworld - which I bought for 10p a roll last week.
I don’t think it’s an impersonal gift if you know the recipient likes that kind of thing (my mum loves sanctuary spa and my Nan likes funky scented hand creams).
However it is mega organised and other than my brother I haven’t done anyone else yet!

My god that's organized. If I had a superpower it would be being organized.

I have a reputation for giving people good presents, I say give as not everything I have given has been bought.

Use a spreadsheet - or just paper and pen.

Make a list of people you have to buy for then put a short description next tot heir name, 'teenage girl goth just had her ears pierced', or '80 year old male who has everything'.

Keep this on you and as you shop see if there is anything that fits the description on your list. Do this every time you shop and when you see something that matches your list tick it off.

Take advice from 'experts'when shopping, teenage girls are great for giving advice eg when my 15 year old niece had her ears pierced a group of teenage girls out shopping on a Saturday informed me that no one wants gold coloured earnings, they have to be silver or white gold. They then selected a few that they all agreed they would be happy to receive.

After a while your list will be in your head and when you are shopping you will see something and think, 'that would be great for X'.

Seems a bit cheap and nasty to me. Personally I would like all large shops to be closed on Boxing Day, though I assume they were bought a few days later.

Yabu and a tad snobby OP

I buy the sets for my niece who actually asks for shower sets and my two dd’s. Also my husband stocking fillers. And plus they are handy for short notice party gifts (tweens) or donations to school raffles/fairs etc.

Be thankful people have thought of you, even if it is a 'cheap set' - they might not be able to afford more

I appreciate I may need to don my flameproof suit here, but no, I'm not thankful people thought of my by way of buying a bargain toiletries set in the January sales that will have spoiled by the time they get round to give it to me come Christmas.

I'd appreciate much more a card or text wishing me happy Christmas, because some actual thought would have gone into it. No need to bulk buy crap just for the sake of giving 'something'.

I'm not in the least materialistic but I do hate those big toiletry sets. I'm never going to use them and they just seem like such a waste of plastic. I'd much rather someone gave me a lovely card instead.

I buy them to use myself (if if it's a brand I use) as they are overpriced for what they are (like food hampers).

I often buy theses things in the sale if they come with good boxes/tins. I have a weakness for lovely boxes and tins. I usually give the unused, unopened contents away though.

I like recieving toiletry sets, however someone gave a gift set once and there was a voucher inside for money off other products that had expired about 3 years earlier so bear that in mind bargain hunters

FYI, most unopened toiletries can be kept for 2 years without any quality issues.

Ugh

I Want nothing less than a box of cheap chemical filled cosmetics

Plus the waste of all the packaging

I hate these sets

Wouldnt necessarily buy toiletries for pressies but i happily buy my little wrap me ups in the jan sales.

Toiletries don't go off if they're unopened. And soap actually improves with age, I buy those huge bars from T K Maxx and use them to scent my drawers, they keep the moths away too. My mum did the same and I now have decades old soap that still retains its scent.

My stepdaughter loves Soap and Glory, she says Christmas wouldn't be the same without the huge set they reduce to half price every year. I don't know why people are so sneery about toiletries, surely just about any shower gel's OK for every day use?

There's an outlet centre near me that has Yankee gift sets from last Christmas at 70% off ... ive bought some for family and friends who love candles! I've been on maternity leave and now back to work my childcare costs have doubled (two under two can be expensive people!) so i feel no guilt. I've also bought my boys a few things brand new in sealed boxes off selling sites and will be utilising the Argos 3 for 2 on toys. I will also buy my boys biryhday presents in the sales (January babies!).

I think it's good to take advantage of sales etc! Good on your colleague!

@pasturesgreen and then you'll whinge that they're too cheap to buy you a present