To think holiday presents are a waste of money?

[lavenderbluedilly]

Do most people bring back souvenirs for friends and family when they go on holiday?

I’m currently away with DH and he has just spent a small fortune on souvenirs for his 9 nieces snd nephews. We have joint holiday money, though I tend to contribute the lion’s share, as I’m the higher earner. He has bought plastic tat and teddies, which will probably not be appreciated (I say this from previous experience). He thinks I’m mean as I said it’s ridiculous to bring back holiday presents. I’ve pointed out that his siblings have never brought anything back for our DC.

AIBU or just mean?

Haven't done this except as a thank you to my parents for dog sitting, then it's edibles

Souvenir is French for memory so giving someone a gift from your holiday is your memory not theirs. I do like a postcard to be brought back though

We buy duty free or something pretty for the in-laws
But it's a huge thank you for pet sitting.

My OH does this too and we travel a lot. It annoys me because he gets things I know they won't want. I also know they would much prefer airport chocolates now they are older so I keep trying to suggest that.

Check where the teddies, fridge magnets, tat etc are made- what’s the betting its China?, and unless you are actually holidaying in China, I would suggest this isn’t really a “holiday present”. If you must buy anything, locally made quality craft items, food or drink is the only sensible thing.

My ExMil used to do this. My kids were always excited to get a postcard but her 2 other DGC expected proper gifts. As they got older they'd start putting in shopping lists of particular clothes they'd prefer to have. This then progressed to 'tell you what, give us £20 (each!) and we'll go buy the clothes for you, save you shopping' how thoughtful.

It got ridiculous. This stopped only when ExMil asked all the kids infront of all the adults what they wanted when she was on her holiday the following week and I piped up and said 'nothing! You're on holiday to relax and enjoy yourself not go shopping!'. Made such an issue of it the other DGC didn't say a word and that was the end of it!

My nana used to bring us pencils or ornaments back from the Isle of Wight with a glass vial of coloured sand hanging off/embedded in it.

The missing piece of life’s jigsaw is a Marbella snow dome.

I buy local chocolates or biscuits for one particular good friend, that’s about it. I always prefer to buy consumables: food, soap, even pens at a pinch (but those are usually for myself).

Don’t know anyone who does this. Buy presents for their own kids if they’re not with them but nephews and nieces? Nope. Christmas is bad enough!

We have a group of close friends and we bring back little gifts and sweets for the kids and local food/alcohol for the adults.
We also send postcards!

It's nice.

Yes. We always get an 'i love tenerife' kind of gift off my inlaws...

My parents would buy stuff fir us,and I would buy some chocolates or sweets for them. Occasionally something else,. I think mil brought us a vase once. However, not for every nephew or niece or for siblings

Does it depend on the 'taste' of the gift IYSWIM? A tasteful fridge magnet is appreciated but plastic tat may not be. I'd rather that than sticks of rock or toffee.

YANBU. I refuse to go shopping for anything on holiday, far less tat for gifts. We bring one thing home from each country we visit as a memento that's it.

I once ran a jumble sale and there was an older woman there scouring our bric-a-brac stall. She bought up any bits of spanish style or terracotta pottery for 20p each. She explained that her and her group of friends always bring each other pottery back from holiday and she found it easier and cheaper to buy it at jumble sales and charity shops before she went and it saved her a lot of money and she didn't have the hassle of bringing it home. Genius I thought.

This thread has reminded me of a box I have in a loft somewhere with various bizarre things given to me (some from travel some as jokes some general gifts) which I couldn’t throw at the time because I sometimes dragged them out and put them somewhere ‘on display’ when said giver visited.

With the passage of years and friends etc I think it’s time to get rid of the Bahamas clock set in wave/dolphin extravaganza (I think this was a ‘joke’ gift. And the awful awful China cat in Egyptian dress (I kid you not). In a box somewhere . . Too hot today to think about lofts.

I remember being on a school trip to Germany in the 80s, I’d have been about 14 at the time and I spent all my money on gifts for my family because that’s what you did back then.

I wouldn’t do that now. We’re off to France next week BIL and SIL are looking after our dog so they’ll get something foodie, and if I see some nice locally made soap I’ll get it for my mum because she likes that kind of thing and will enjoy using it, but that’s all.

Highlymike that's genius but it shows exactly why holiday gifts are pointless.

I get myself some holiday tat eg a snow globe or cheesy model or magnet. I may get family members a magnet or keyring. Very minimal and only a couple of people and a close friend maybe.

Nope! Never do it! Why would you? It's YOUR holiday. Why do the rest of your family/friends need a present because you've been away?? I remember it being 'a thing' when I was a kid but nowadays I only ever get something if someone is looking after our house or dog & that's usually chocs/booze/flowers from the UK!

Don’t do this anymore or postcards home.

Like a PP I used to buy little bits for my DM. Used to save them and put them in a stocking for her at Christmas. My job at that time involved going abroad a lot.

I don't routinely bring back gifts from holidays except for MIL who always gets a fridge magnet as she collects them! I only bring things back things for us that we really like or that I know would be appreciated by the recipient ie spices from India, orchids from Thailand.
No one needs more tat!!!

YABU - depending.

I used to love getting holiday gifts when I was a child!
As long as they are eatable, food items are a good guess, no waste.

I still buy bits for nieces and nephews sometimes, but things I know they will like.

Buying tat for the sake of buying tat, not so great. It also depends on your holiday, if you just spend a week in an AI resort, there's rarely anything remotely interesting to bring back. The "ironic" gifts are a waste of money!

When DH (and I but less often nowadays) travel for work, we also tend to bring something back.

I send postcards, but that's it. DS gets pocket money to spend and will buy a pen or ruler or some such with the name of the place on it. I send the postcards when we get back home