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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What was the shittest present you ever received?

850 replies

BrightonOrLancaster · 11/12/2021 22:52

Christmas I was 13, got a lacy training bra from an aunt I wasnt close to. WTF? I had to open it in front of family, was fucking mortified.

Birthday present from ex: dumbbells with flashing colour changing lights from ALDI. Lol. No comment

OP posts:
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Ellen888 · 12/12/2021 12:52

I now remember my exMIL buying us a crocheted crinoline lady bog roll cover and a blue block of soap decorated with blue ribbon held on by pins pushed into the soap.

Go figure. Confused

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 12/12/2021 12:53

My STBXH got me a hot water bottle for my birthday
I was 35

tearsforfears72 · 12/12/2021 12:56

When DD2 was about 9 she was gifted a second-hand ‘knit your own slippers’ set from her great auntie. The following year she was given a bashed-up charity shop jigsaw with multiple pieces missing. My other two DC got nice, normal presents…stern words were had Angry

RubiesandRose · 12/12/2021 13:01

An ex boyfriend many years ago was given a wrapped up can of car de-icer by his Mum, he didn't drive or own a car.

She got me a foil decorated vest crop top, which went straight to the charity shop and we got a joint present of faux silver candelabra, I think it was silver sprayed plastic, in a dusty and faded box which she had either found sitting on a dusty shelf in a pound shop or in her attic. We were mid twenties and both 😮

Diditreallylookawful · 12/12/2021 13:02

Not Christmas, but a wedding present. 6 bright pink, rough and scratchy napkins, hand printed with runic fertility symbols on them. They were beyond hideous.

labrador73 · 12/12/2021 13:02

I was hosting Christmas for everyone. Did the presents thing - nothing from DH. He said to one of the kids help me with this big box from the garage. I thought oh it must be a puppy as I had been hinting for months that now was the right time to get a dog. In comes big box. No noise or wriggling. Turns out to be a microwave. My face always gives me away - he thought I would be thrilled. Still together though, I buy my own gifts. We do have 2 dogs now.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 12/12/2021 13:26

from my first husband after being told off for the third year runningfor getting me nothing and making NO effort at all over xmas.
A hideous metal bracelet with fake plastic stones on it with big lumps of glue around the stones, looked like it cost 50p and was won in a fairground.
I got up and put it in the bin, He was non plussed that I wasn't pleased with this rubbish and I went to bed and refused to cook the xmas dinner. I said if you can't be bothered with me I can't be bothered with cooking your dinner.

TheMarmaladeYears · 12/12/2021 13:42

Ex-husband had accompanied me to nearest city to do Christmas shopping. Having realised that he'd 'forgotten' the wallet with his cards in, he asked to borrow £40 (quite a sum back then, 30-odd years ago) and set off with great mystery to do his so-called secret shopping.

On Christmas morning we're all sat around at the in-laws unwrapping presents one by one. It comes to me. I unwrap a tin opener and a very tiny wooden bowl with a Tesco label that says 'Marked to clear £1". To add insult to injury, the tin opener was from the dog. Even MIL who wasn't overly fond of me suggested he could have done a great deal better.

The £40 had, of course, been spent on various jolly seasonal outings ex-h had enjoyed in the pub.

Dancingonmoonlight · 12/12/2021 13:42

so they hastily grabbed a piece of cardboard out of the bin, wrote “Book Token” on it in coloured pen, presented it to me and scuttled away. I left it under their sofa

This made me laugh. It’s like something my DC would have done when they very small.

You should have asked them what bookshop was it for? Honestly adults should not be allowed get away with this behaviour. They won’t squirm as they have brass necks but they should be quizzed about their ‘gift’. Otherwise people are enabling them.

Magenta82 · 12/12/2021 14:03

When I was 12 my dad's sister gave me travel iron, I neither travelled nor ironed. I was outraged, especially when I had to phone and thank her.

Fieldings15 · 12/12/2021 14:17

Aged 24, boyfriends mum gave me anti wrinkle cream (day and night versions) from poundland... To this day I'm not quite sure if she meant it as an insult!

Lavanderrose · 12/12/2021 14:23

During one Christmas, my mum, without even saying hello to me, walked into my house and thrust a very cheap bottle of lidl wine and told me it was the “real deal champagne” and to hide it away so I could enjoy it later…. She also said she had another present but forgot it to bring it. 6 months later she finally gave it to me which was a now out of date box of Jaffa cakes.

and also an out of date box of Jaffa cakes (which she gave me for Christmas…. 6 months after)

Lavanderrose · 12/12/2021 14:28

@Lavanderrose

During one Christmas, my mum, without even saying hello to me, walked into my house and thrust a very cheap bottle of lidl wine and told me it was the “real deal champagne” and to hide it away so I could enjoy it later…. She also said she had another present but forgot it to bring it. 6 months later she finally gave it to me which was a now out of date box of Jaffa cakes.

and also an out of date box of Jaffa cakes (which she gave me for Christmas…. 6 months after)

Oops spelling. But to sum up, my mum gave me a very cheap bottle of wine and pretended it was expensive champagne and a box of expired Jaffa cakes. My Grandma used to always give me pants that were absolutely huge at Christmas Hmm
BuddhasBigBelly · 12/12/2021 14:55

@Bagelsandbrie

My mil (who we now don’t speak to for various reasons, nothing to do with the upcoming shit present mentioned) once got me a set of silver western style spurs and little cowboy hats to fit on jacket potatoes Hmm so they look like little cowboys.
I can't stop giggling at this 😂
Lacedwithgrace · 12/12/2021 14:57

A silver pineapple shaped dish and some artificial pampas grass from some friends who thought DH and I were swingers. We're not, it got weird

Holothane · 12/12/2021 14:58

One anniversary I was feeling low now I love bibles he brought me a Welsh book I wasn’t impressed

Thelnebriati · 12/12/2021 15:03

@Lacedwithgrace

A silver pineapple shaped dish and some artificial pampas grass from some friends who thought DH and I were swingers. We're not, it got weird
There's a story there. You should start a Story Thread. We could make it a new Christmas Tradition.

dooo iiit

FriNightBlues · 12/12/2021 15:10

@EmKayEm

Some screwdrivers. Not a set, just some screwdrivers. Because I had remarked that I couldn't find a screwdriver, several months before.

Different ex bought me a tacky schoolgirl uniform, that was 4 sizes too small (and I am a 10ish) and wondered why I wasn't thrilled.

That year my brother gave me a signed first edition of a favourite childhood book...the then boyfriend sulked because I cried at that present but not his...

This happened to me! (Screwdrivers with a tool belt because what woman doesn’t want that?). Except the narcissist made sure to tell me that he’d also bought himself some whilst he was there, “but I bought myself the good quality ones.”
FoxInABox · 12/12/2021 15:12

Oh my DM is the queen of dreadful presents! Some highlights have been open toiletries sets with the lotion all congealed at the opening, my own old make up sets from 10+ years ago that she had obviously held on to after I moved out- a brand that doesn’t even exist anymore, wooden clogs, a small yellow CD player for my 21st birthday, awful cartoony pyjamas in the wrong size every single year. She has given my DC colouring books that were mine as a child (never allowed to colour in them! She would trace or copy them) as well as my old books, all of which were also far too young for them.

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 12/12/2021 15:19

A see through chiffon blouse from BIL. Size XXXXL. I was size 10 at the time. The neckline came down to my navel.

At least it wasn't because we were in laws though. DH got a pair of red baggy Batik trousers with a used tissue and used cinema ticket in the pocket.

TheCreamCaker · 12/12/2021 15:20

My (late) MIL once gave me a candle snuffer (as if I live in a massive place with dozens of the bloody things)

superplumb · 12/12/2021 15:24

Jar of jam...from mil

CharityDingle · 12/12/2021 15:37

@Bagelsandbrie

My mil (who we now don’t speak to for various reasons, nothing to do with the upcoming shit present mentioned) once got me a set of silver western style spurs and little cowboy hats to fit on jacket potatoes Hmm so they look like little cowboys.
OMG I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing. I'm trying to picture them and picture someone buying them as a present. Grin
Lockdownbear · 12/12/2021 15:41

@Clawdy

When I was 6, my gran gave me a children's pink toothbrush at her Christmas Day party. I said loudly "But I've got a toothbrush at home!" My mum said later that in the other room was a little bicycle for one of her other grandchildren!
I don't know what is worse the pink toothbrush vs bike. Or your mum actually telling you about the bike for your cousin.

Do you think the bike could have from your cousins parents but stored at Grannys until Christmas?

My paternal Granny never bought her son kids anything.
My DDad was very hurt the year he drove her to his sisters for Christmas Day and she had gifts for our cousins. I didn't know about that until years later.

zukiecat · 12/12/2021 15:46

Toilet rolls from my mother, every Christmas for years.

A packet of Handy Andies and a single plastic coat hanger from her for my birthday.

While she demands money from me for Christmas, birthday and Mothers Day.