AIBU to not want food or drink as Christmas presents?

[Whitleyboy]

What happened to people putting thought into buying Christmas presents?

My DM is pension age and absolutely detests receiving gifts of food or drink as Christmas gifts. She feels it is something you do for older people who no longer have any wants in life. It just makes her feel as if people regard her as old and past it.

I hate it too. All of a sudden I've noticed receiving the odd food/drink gift. FFS, who needs a set of 3 small pots of jam, set of 2 microwaveable Irish cream drinks or shortbread biscuits from M&S in a musical tin box. What the hell is all that about? I don't need 2 cheap mugs with a small box of drinking chocolate.

I have 2 kitchen cupboards dedicated to wine and spirits. I don't want another bottle of wine that you grabbed for ease with your supermarket food shop.

I'm not ungrateful. I'm still young-hearted and I'd prefer people to buy me some Lego or a nerf gun, an airfix model or painting by numbers than bloody food parcels. I can't be the only one can I?

Had a superb original spirograph last time. Would love an original etch-a-sketch too.

You also see lots of 'what should I ask for for Christmas/my birthday because I can't think of anything that I want or need' posts, but they need to appease the people who are insisting on buying them a present that they don't particularly want.

I love food and drink gifts - less rubbish ending up in landfill.

Infact, I'm going to make a concerted effort this year to only give food and drink gifts.

Yanbu, however the thought it is for older people is unreasonable.

I hate receiving alcohol because it shows a lack of thought especially since I don’t drink (haven’t for about five years and was never a drinker to begin with) and chocolate/sweets because I don’t really eat them. I always end up leaving both behind at the in-laws knowing it will be eaten or drunken by those that do enjoy it. I’d happily take jams, cheese, or better yet fruit over the above. I’m the weirdo who looks forward to the fruit in the stocking tbh 😂.

YABU

Food and drink are my favourite types of gifts!

I think I'm the complete opposite. I absolutely love people getting me wine, chocolates, sweets, biscuits .. because I don't buy unhealthy food for myself as a general rule, and my partner and I ration it out so we get a treat every evening until it's gone. Usually it lasts through the whole of January, sometimes longer!

You could request to close family not to buy you things like that if you're really bothered. But otherwise just donate it to people who need it more if you really don't want it?

I love food and drink at least it's useful compared to tat

Even worse than threads like this are the ones which will shortly appear about how people always throw home made edible presents away.

*@chopc
"so name 20 items you would like someone to buy you for Christmas which they have put thought into"

1. Leather gloves - red.
2. Leather gloves - royal blue.
3. Leather gloves to go with my new bottle green coat (getting to be a theme there).
4. Oven gloves with sheep on from Ponden Mill.
5. Lego.
6. A nerf gun.
7. Roller blades.
8. A cycle helmet with lights and indicators on it (saw on 'The Apprentice' recently).
9. Hard drive to back up my laptop.

10.Motorola G7 Power phone case. 11. Case for Panasonic TZ70 camera. 12. Radley purse (nothing pink on it). 13. Cosmetic bag/pencil case - just big enough to put lipstick, brow pencil and mascara in ( for putting in an evening bag). 14. A5 notebooks with pre-printed section at top for the date (Wilko). 15. Perfumes - any one of 8 in my bathroom cabinet (or tell shop which ones I like and see if they can recommend another based on what is in the ones I like). 16. Rucksack with water tube (so I can drink water whilst cycling along if thirsty). 17. Garden Centre voucher. 18. Book - Desert Island Discs. 19. Clinique dramatically different moisturiser (with the orange coloured additive for tired-looking skin). 20. A Wedgewood angel ornament for my Christmas tree. 21. Colouring books. 22. Nice ballpoint pen. 23. Nail gels, base and top coats in blues, greens or greys, silver. 24. Merino wool base layer for cycling. 25. Multi tube (for under cycle helmet). 26. Merino wool hiking socks. 27. Puzzle book(s). 28. Shaper underskirt - full length. 29. Shaper waist slip. 30. Sketcher Trainers size 5.

I got carried away. I didn't realise I wanted so much stuff and I left off Jim jams and a saucy nightie and knickers and GHD's oracle for creating curls easily.

I have to tell DH, I really neeeeed this stuff now.

I'd rather have a bottle of port or a jar of fancy honey than a selection box of talc & glittery bath bombs or yet another scarf.

There is a world of difference between a ‘gift set’ of nasty cheap chocolate on a stick in a witless comedy mug, and a bottle of Grey Goose.

For example.

Or a carton of fake baileys in little plastic containers with foil lids that you are supposed to pimp your coffee into Irish Coffee with, and a massive box of marrons glacé

I would love one of those whole legs of Iberico ham on a stand.

So where's the thought from the giver?

Remembering to ask you what size you need the gloves, cycle helmet and control underwear to be?

What if you needed some of these things now, or they were at risk of selling out? What is gained by asking for them for Christmas instead of just buying them yourself?

“ Or a carton of fake baileys in little plastic containers with foil lids that you are supposed to pimp your coffee into Irish Coffee“
I got one of those last year! We took them on our Boxing Day beach picnic- they were great.

I think you get what you are given. Not everyone can afford gifts to match the receivers wants. If you don’t like it, slap a smile on your face, act great full and re gift it in a few months for someone’s birthday.

I would prefer food to perfume/cosmetics/jewellery.

Each to their own.

Oh and I often gift food to each other.

Oh god. Last year I bought my team members a half bottle of Moët and a small box of chocolates.

They hate me don’t they😂😂

Your list would leave the giver with no room to put thought into your present because you're telling them what to buy. If they decide to do the thinking for themselves, they've got it wrong.

Also, if all those people buying for you then give you their list of acceptable presents, and you choose something from it, isn't it too much like a neat transaction/exchange of items of similar value? Is there a reason you don't buy those things for yourself?

I like food and drink as gift.

Especially if:

1. Something I truly like (and the other person is aware of this as well)
2. I also really appreciate if if it's homemade.

Lack of thought can feel a bit insulting. But foot or drink as gifts doesn't actually have to be thoughtless.

And it's still better than knick knacks...

And food (or drink) can also simply be donated, taken to work etc...

Food. Not foot...

I’d rather get food and drink that will be consumed than “stuff” I have no use for.

I would rather a food and drink gift than a candle or worse a bath bomb that just stains my bath! My friend got me wine and some fancy crisps and cheesey bites one year was my best present.

I don't really buy or receive gifts, in that I buy for my daughter, parents and young nephews, and receive a cheque from my parents and an actual present from my daughter. I just don't want to be one of those people who feels the need to buy for an increasing list of people!

I I did receive lots of presents, I would love food or drink presents. Not novelty pots of jam, but a bottle of any wine, nice cheese or chocolate etc. No need to keep it for ages afterwards, or add to landfill. I actually like charity gifts, which most people on MN seem to hate!

The only presents that I really don't like, be they food or otherwise, are hand made gifts. They just don't do it for me.

Gosh I'm stunned you put such effort into listing crap you want. For me. Presents are about the thought and I'm sorry but you come across as quite materialistic. Enjoy the wine, chocolates or biscuits. It's just a small gift.

I prefer food to tat too I’m afraid. But tbh many people buy me the wrong chocolates (e.g. Hotel Chocolat) when really I need Maltesers and dark chocolate oranges.

I’m now so middle aged I want a new kitchen tap for Christmas and I will be genuinely excited when I receive it 🤣

Saying that i hate thorntons chocolates with a passion would rather hsve a box of roses yet people think Thorntons are a better gift.