Too many mugs. AIBU? DH thinks it would be rude

[MythicalBiologicalFennel]

We have a small kitchen and too much stuff. The work surfaces are covered with spare mugs that don't fit in the cupboards which are full of food (we both love cooking and TBH eating).

I've had enough and chosen 6 mugs for the mug tree. The other 15 mugs (yes, 15) are going into storage to be used as the chosen 6 get broken. I felt a great sense of relief and gained a bit of working surface!

I thought of taking a picture of the 15 mugs and sharing it with friends and family. DH thinks that would be rude as all of those mugs have been presents. I love all the mugs, some of them make great cups of tea but we just don't have the bloody room. DH hinted that another mug might be coming my way for Christmas from his side of the family so they might take offence. TBH every year they ask what I want for my birthday/ Christmas and I ask for nice chocolates or flowers because we have too much stuff and it impacts on our quality of life (messy, cluttered house). Every year I get at least a new mug and a new bloody tea towel. They are lovely and it never ceases to amaze me that people care enough to give me presents. But I don't need them. My family are occasional mug givers but would not take offence at being told to stop.

Would I be unreasonable to share the picture with family and friends explaining we are putting excess mugs into storage? The photo is from above so you cannot see the patterns of the mugs and take offence that yours wasn't Chosen.

I think it would be a playful visual reminder to people that 4 people don't need 20 mugs. I am ready to be told it would be rude.

If a family member posted a photo of mugs on our group chat like that, all they would get for gifts is mugs. Part out of spite and part it’s funny as hell. 😂☕️

Eh? Why are you taking a photo and sharing it? Put the bloody mugs away. End off
Must be a dull Saturday night. Guess it’s winter now

103 mugs? Reduced to 80?! How big are some people's kitchens?!?!?! We have around 15 in regular use, plus a posh set of 6, plus 2 Christmas ones. Even that seems excessive to me now I've written it down

OP, the photo idea seems odd to me but if it wouldn't be odd for your family, go for it. Maybe suggest that it's a one in, one out policy from now on though!

When you get a mug from in laws could you say that you have so many at home but you would love your own mug to use when you visit them, so you are going to pop it in their cupboard for the next time you visit. They do all the storage and it is there as a visual reminder that you don't take mugs with you.

If anything, people will really miss the entire point. Instead of reading your caption about having too many mugs and needing to pack some of them away, they'll just look at the photo and think "Ooh, look: MBF likes collecting mugs. Well, we know what to buy her for Christmas, then!"

That’s the best argument for not posting a photo! Just imagine if it backfired like that!

I don’t drink tea or coffee no one in my house does but I still have 10 mugs and I don’t want any of them. They are all from Easter eggs. I have an irrational annoyance about receiving mugs as they are no use for cold drinks anyway. On the back of this thread I think I might give half of mine to the charity shop tomorrow 😂

I would probably say nothing but just offload them, do people really buy a mug every year then expect to see you with it every time they visit?

Wow! Some of you have tons of mugs

A nice set of six is enough for me!

I once had ten mugs, when I only wanted to own two. I am an oldie.and don't want any more clutter in my house. I gave some mugs to the charity shop, and was a bit sad about it really, as most were presents from people, but I didn't like most of them anyway. I only like mugs with cats ,chickens,or parrots on them, and some people bought me crap ones with stupid sayings on them, like,The worlds best Mum on them, when I already know this, ha ha.

SO now I have ended up with three mugs,instead of my wanting only two, as my son went to the USA recently, and brought me a mug back. with an owl on it.

You do need to make it known that you have too many mugs and you neither want or need any more. Otherwise the mug givers, be they occasional or frequent, are just wasting their money and you get all the guilt of receiving a gift that you are not grateful for.

Bollocks to offending the mug givers - why the hell are they asking what you want if they have no intention of getting it? It makes me wonder if they are the sort of people who keep 'gift cupboards', stocked with items picked up in random sales and regifts. There's nothing wrong with that, of course but if you're just going to shop from your supplies, why ask?

You had 15 mugs on your kitchen counter at all times? That must have been so irritating to look at and to cook around. Don’t send a picture but who is seeing a crowed house with too many mugs and going yes, another mug is what they need for Christmas! I’d start regifting any new mugs.

Sending a photo is just plain weird. I wouldn’t think to take a photo of things we have put into storage and send it to my family, who would?!

Just put them away and if anyone buys you a new mug for Christmas thank them then take it to the charity shop.

Do it. I'm gonna haul out my 427 "relaxing" face masks and pop a photo of those on the family chat. I honestly think my skin must look like a cadaver.

Don’t send photo. No doubt in your mug family someone will take offence ?
I wouldn’t store them - free yourself and give them to charity shop.

This is so weird. I hate clutter and keeping non-useful things for the sake of it. Just charity shop them and say nothing. If anyone asks, your shelf collapsed under the weight of all the mugs and they all smashed. 🤷

Why bother putting in storage get rid
I bet most people don’t even remember the mug they have gifted.
Don’t see your need to take a picture but if you want to do .
Your husband seems rather wise

I love how many people on this thread are using it as a way to drop in that they have a huge dishwasher/coffee machine/le Crueset/Emma Bridgewater mugs. Only on Mumsnet

I always take excess mugs to work as there always seems to be a shortage there. I agree, get rid of them but maybe keep more than 6.

This is why I'm glad we don't do present exchanges with my in-laws. We just sort of realised that I was sending them stuff they didn't need and they were sending us stuff we didn't need. It was all just so wasteful.

I would get rid of any chipped mugs. Six sounds like a good number to me.

Actually, considering they think it's funny to buy you gifts of mugs when you have specifically said no more mugs, I'd totally send the picture.

Something like "Way too many mugs. I'm about to charity shop these. Give me a shout if anyone wants any before I do". Who cares if they are offended?

We lived in a tiny flat abroad for a year so had to be ruthless about ‘stuff’. Since being back in our own home, I can’t abide clutter and immediately donate things that is just going to end collecting dust.

One friend has form for this, buying lots of little presents and, although I appreciate the time she has put in to choosing knick knacks, I am going to be firm with her this Christmas and ask her not to. It seems harsh but I really cannot deal with clutter any more.

Be firm OP, either tell them straight or take stuff to charity shops ASAP.

Be a bit more proactive and just tell them what you'd rather have for Christmas instead!

Yes to putting the photo on. It’s not rude. It’s just what you’re up to in your day.

I think people don’t really hear each other when they say “no more...” The visual impact of seeing that you really don’t need or want another mug should help.

And I think if you’ve put a photo up and they still give you a mug you can just take it straight to the charity shop without guilt.

My family would find the photo of mugs funny, it's definitely the sort of thing my sister would do just before Christmas, she has 5 kids so probably has lots of the same thing.

I wouldn’t keep 15 in storage. I’d keep 4 at an absolute maximum, I mean when’s the last time you broke a mug anyway?

I might take a pic of the mugs that didn’t make the cut though, especially if they were presents. But i’m a softie like that.

I don’t think I’d even have the conversation with DH - I wonder your house is full you spend lo her dithering over the small stuff.

Your mugs - do what you like - who cares if anyone is offended? They’re just mugs.