Things you wish people would stop buying you

[tequilasunrises]

Had a bit of a pre Christmas house declutter earlier and found that DH has THIRTEEN unused Lynx shower gels in the bathroom cupboard - all from Christmas last year.

Having chucked out a load of moisturer/bath sets il never use I had to sigh hand thinking about the next influx I’m going to get from his relatives this year.

I try not to be ungrateful but we’ve got such a tiny house and hoardes of toiletries really isn’t conducive to minimalist living!

What do you always get for Christmas/Birthdays that you wish you didn’t?

Ornaments of any kind. There’s just no room at the inn!

Hand cream. Even though I've got monkey paws I hate hand cream. I virtuously rub it in but 5 minutes later I decide I want a wee and then wash it all off!

Anything I can’t either eat or drink.

Mulled Wine mixes. Dear God.

Mugs

We collect a certain type of souvenir mug related to a specific interest of ours.

But people see them and just buy us random novelty mugs with so called numerous designs or sayings on them.

I have nowhere to put them.

Stop please.

Soap and Glory, Baylis and Harding, cheap Christmas tat. To absolutely include socks you can’t fit into wellies due to large sewn on antlers or those ridiculous slippers where you step into Rudolph’s face and shuffle about trying not to trip over/ slip down the stairs.
Compact mirrors, gift sets of any kind, including ted baker it smells crap and no good for anyone’s skin, lip gloss, nail varnish and overly scented bath soaps. Soap on a rope. Quality streets or roses. Wash bags with bath bombs (be kind to your foof this Christmas). Terrys chocolate orange and royal jelly. Personalised shite looking baubles, fleece pj’s made from acrylic, itchy Christmas jumpers and finally anything that sets off food tolerances! I’m gluten free.

Chocolates and bath products that contain palm oil, which I try to avoid. I'd rather not have it at all than get gift sets and stuff that I won't use.

Jewellery! I've worn the same expensive necklace for years, wear my fitbit watch constantly (even out) and although I have my ears pearced never wear earrings at all. Got a bag full of cheap necklaces and watches that will be heading to the charity shop. Body sets also annoy me, open them with good intentions then they get binned - will try just not open them this year!

Yankee candles! Disgusting fake smell that makes my eyes sting and a whiff of black smoke! Hate all Yankee candles

I am celiac and lactose intolerant, so no I'm not thrilled with a box of Ferrero Rocher that I can't eat. I also have mega sensitive skin and can't use any off those cheap or perfumed toiletries.
At least I can regift or give those away.
The worst is gifts designed to be on display, like ornaments or pictures. If one of your friends is turning 40 soon, for the love of God, don't buy them glasses and mugs with 40 on them!

Love decent, pricey handcreams

Liketoshop. I'd definitely prefer 1 excellent handcream than a massive boxed set of Balis and Harding.

Is L'occitane handcream okay? I usually give that to mum, mil, etc

For me - scarves that would suit a 90 year old. Ornaments and similar.
For DH - socks. Useful but his family give them EVERY Christmas and birthday so he has so so many.
For the DC - plastic tat!!!

My mum likes to
Buy me ugly clothes and even uglier dressing gowns

Trying to find decent dressing gowns is hard.

In towelling or cotton not flammable fleece

To everyone asking who uses body lotion / body butter - I do! I prefer the ones that come in tubs, easier to use, nicer texture.

Can't use perfume - body spray / candles etc as they make me cough , also don't use bubble bath ( wash hair in bath) or shower gel (prefer soap) but I like smelling nice and have dry skin so get through tons of the stuff!!

If I have a mixed gift pack I tend to give it away though as it feels as waste to open up and use just one item .

I manned a stand at our local hospice one xmas. It was the beauty/bath one. So much stuff all unwanted. What was amusing was there was a scrum of older ladies buying it saying, their daughter/sister/cousin/friend would love this for xmas. So those presents may already be on their second home and a year older than you imagined.

I have a drawer full of L'occitane. It’s nice enough (Scent is a bit strong) - but I get at least two Variety packs of the little tubes every year.

I usually just moisturise my hands with body lotion and never remember to use it.

I just think handcream is what you buy someone you know nothing about.

I would never treat myself to handcream. It’s a bit dull.

"To everyone asking who uses body lotion / body butter - I do! "

I'm shocked that people don't! Your skin needs hydration!
I wouldn't want to get one for Christmas as I have my own favourite and most of the others aren't rich enough for me.

We regularly get given candles which we never use because of the risk with having cats. I also don't like being bought toiletries, especially if they are not cruelty free. I'm another one that never uses body lotion, and I only buy specific products for my face. I only wear black socks, I don't like ones with colour/pictures/patterns on them so any cute socks with pictures on are a waste of time for me. Also don't like being bought a big bottle of baileys as although I like it, I am trying to watch my weight a bit and a whole bottle seems a bit too wasteful on the calorie front. A bottle of pinot grigio is good though!

I know I am difficult to buy for. I wish I was brave enough to suggest bowing out of the present exchange, it all seems so wasteful and I am sure I buy people presents that they don't want too sometimes (although they would never say so). I worry where all this consumerism will end :-(

I use body butter, I don’t have a shower and I find bathing makes my skin dryer so I use body butter or body lotion after a bath. I don’t mind getting it as a gift but don’t like other bath products as they often irritate my skin (bath bombs etc.). I do have a favourite body butter but it’s £25-£30 a pot so not likely to get any as a gift.

My mil God rest her soul bought me a new bath robe every Christmas for years. God only knows what she thought I was doing to my bath robe that would render it unusable after only 12 months. She has been dead a good few years and I still have one of the bathrobes I have yet to use.

And slipper socks. How many pairs of slipper socks does one person need in one life time.

Shower gel always gets used but I have loads of unwanted body cream.