The obligatory Bayliss and Harding...

[XmasGridlock]

Have recieved two sets this year. One from FIL and one from DH's Aunt. Also had another smelly set from DSIL. I have severe Eczema and can't use any of these types of sets. No shame in saying all will be going to the charity shops in the New Year.

FIL gave DH a bunch of cash, some new clothes, chocolate bits, etc. I got a Bayliss and Harding Set I can't even use.

Anyone else get the obligatory Bayliss and Harding set? Or maybe some other unthoughtful gifts from the in laws?

I've had the usual body lotion and bath bomb set from IL's despite being told every year for the last 20 years I'm allergic to all of that sort of stuff. And the usual hideous handbag that accompanies it. Wish they would just save their money instead of insulting me with thoughtless shite

@Tenyearsgone

God the moaning about christmas gifts on MN gets worse every year.

The snobbery about Bayliss and Harding is very MN too.

Merry christmas you bunch of miseries.

Lol

Not even a pandemic stems the tide of moaning MN threads about presents

Bayliss and Harding is lovely! I tend not to buy things like that for people in case they have skin problems with the scent in toiletries but a lot don't and use anything and everything they are given. I never realised there was anything snobbish about it. They do some beautiful things and are not cheap.

@Chloemol

Oh stop moaning after such a shit year just be grateful for what you have

Regift them that will save you sone money

You are the daughter in law, not the daughter. He will buy more for his own child

Do people really do that?

My parents give DH the same as me.
I gave DSoutL the same amount of cash as DD

@Left

From your DHs reaction it sounds like he told them what to get you and they went rogue. Perhaps he could have a quiet word after Christmas and ask them for the receipt. If they have to take it back then they're more likely to remember to avoid smellies next time.

They are £4.99! Often as low as £3

@MaryLeeOnHigh

Can charity shops even sell these things? They must get deluged.

They are £2 for a twinset in ours- I think the same set has been there all week at £2 in. wire basket

Migrane! I forgot Migrane, which only occurs if bath products cost less than £50 apparently.
Greedy and ungrateful, the lot of you.
You should be ashamed.

Asking his parents for the receipt . I've heard it all now!!
Are they really going to take it back for a refund and do something with the £5 or whatever it cost. Not a good look

@Fuckingcrustybread
The irony of accusations of snobbery from you!! Is this really a serious post?

When I was poor (although thankfully never poor enough to need food banks) I was glad of anything that meant I didn’t need to spend my money on it. Nowt wrong with using brands that aren’t your favourite if it means having money to use for other things.

Jeez it’s not snobbery to want a gift that isn’t going to flare up someone’s skin condition.

It’s ALWAYS b&h though.

Plenty of other cheap (and expensive) toiletry brands could cause a flare up.

They don’t get all the threads.

@TeenageMutantNinjaCovid
The food bank would rather have the money spent on shower gel and shampoo than receiving handwash and hand cream

As far as I know there aren’t any charity shops funding food banks, so they don’t have that option.

ask them for the receipt

Never change mumsnet, never change.

I take any sets like that in to school for us to use in the ladies. Some cheap and cheerful soap and lotion is a bit more pleasant than the generic soap in the dispensers.

Mind you, it’s been a few years since I got anything like that. A smaller family and social circle helps on that front. :o

I wouldn't mind Bayliss and Harding. Due to the pandemic and my husband getting made redundant, we only exchanged presents with my parents and ours were things for the house - which were lovely - but I haven't had anything for myself. However, my lovely MIL sent us each some money so I am planning to treat myself in the sales. We are Tier 3 so I can actually go in some shops!

No toiletries but a housecoat from MIL. Not a dressing gown. A housecoat. It even says so on the label. I'm middle aged but not ancient. A housecoat is the something my grandma used to wear

I smiled and said thank you but it's going to the charity shop as soon as they open up and are receiving donations again.

Next year, and every year thereafter, your husband sorts the gifts for his family (or at least for the ones that can’t be arsed to get you something nice and thoughtful that you can actually use). He sources them/orders them/wraps them. If he doesn’t do it, they don’t get any.

I know it’s hard.

Unthoughtful gifts piss me off. But I'm glad you'll be giving them away to someone who could use them

Why don't you tell your family that your eczema means you can't use this stuff?

Wow. I feel like I just dont know what the rules are about presents like - are ALL smelly sets crap? Or is it just the cheaper brands? If you got a more expensive brand like l'occitane or kiehls, is it still shit? How about perfumes - are they only crap if they're cheap? I mean if you got something like this from like Dior, would it still seem thoughtless? GENUINE QUESTION i need help learning how to not buy crap presents! MN is making me panic that there is a whole sort of list of items thst are a 'no go' for gifts that I don't know about. (Living abroad in a non-Christmas-celebrstjng country atm so can store up your advice for next year! )

If I'd been given three Nivea sets then I'd be on here moaning about them. As it happens it was three Bayliss and Harding sets. I cannot use any smelly sets, even if they're super expensive and luxurious. I can only use the special dermalogical stuff. So any smelly sets regardless of price is a shit gift for me.

Waitrose keep substituting my hand wash order with B&H. I now decant it into an anonymous dispenser!
What are they doing!

Or is it just the cheaper brands? If you got a more expensive brand like l'occitane or kiehls, is it still shit?

No, they’re fine.

If you spend more money alongside exactly the same lack of thought, all good.

I barely brush my hair every day. Smellys, perfume, anything like that is wasted on me. I like books, food and comfy clothes. Why do people insist on buying me stuff that I'll hate. They're supposed to know me and that's the whole point of this. I got a silver and white wall sign from DSIL that said something about 'A house full of glitter'. I hate glitter. Honestly. I'd rather have nothing and people not waste their money.

If I'd been given three Nivea sets then I'd be on here moaning about them

And yet, we all know that if we searched ‘complaining about nivea’ threads we’d just a tiny fraction of the ‘complaining about B&G’ threads, if we got any at all.

No I couldn’t be bothered to actually do it, but we all know the truth.

No, they're not fine for someone who hates any type of smellies and has a skin condition. Dior, L'occitane (which I've never even heard of before) also wouldn't be fine and I'd be moaning about those too.