Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The shit Christmas presents of 22 thread.

721 replies

ChristmasPresentsof22 · 25/12/2022 17:10

Another year, another round of presents from family that I cannot use. I have a serious food allergy and another health condition that means that I can't eat or use some foods/cosmetics. These are not new health issues, had them since childhood, yet there is not a single gift out of the few that I received that I can make use of. I decided to be blunt this year (after years of unsuaitable gifts) and tell the givers that I can't use their gifts due allergy etc but thanks anyway. Now I'm an ungracious brat. Am I? "It's not their fault I'm fussy." I'm really not, I just don't want to get sick. I would prefer not to do the gift thing as I'm not overly bothered about that part of Christmas, but I would be ruining it for everyone else, everyone else who gets decent thoughtful presents based on knowing what they like, it's shit when those thoughts are not reciprocated.

Anyone else want to join the naff presents club.

OP posts:
Bleachmycloths · 26/12/2022 09:05

poefaced · 26/12/2022 07:13

Let us know when you’ve dumped him!

Show quote history

Yes, definitely dump him. He’ll only get worse.

KimberleyClark · 26/12/2022 09:06

Simonjt · 26/12/2022 06:54

My husbands parents bought him a stay at bible conversion camp for the third year running.

That is absolutely horrific. I can’t believe there are still people who think like this.

Bleachmycloths · 26/12/2022 09:07

hattie43 · 25/12/2022 17:41

I have been given the Swarovski annual ornament ball for the last few years and they are beautiful. This year I get a bell . It's horrible and not my style at all . I know I'm sounding ungrateful but why by a bloomin bell when I've been collecting the baubles . Better to have bought nothing .

Can you take the bell back and swap for a bauble?

Katypp · 26/12/2022 09:08

Quincythequince · 26/12/2022 08:40

I don’t think some of these sounds that bad at all.

Hand cream and wine from a secret
Santa?! I mean, it’s a secret Santa FGS. You could have been given aug with a picture of a pig on it (like some poor lady was and which was a vile thing to do).

I mean, the clothing etc that is several sizes too small or used, from close family members is obvious terrible, but I think some people need to take a long hard look at themselves in terms of some of the things they’re complaining about.

I agree with this 100%.I mean husbands/partners should be expected to put a bit of effort in, but the amount of care and research pps seem the expect from eg SILs is laughable.
Special mention to the op who was outraged at receiving a gift set (the worst present in the world, ever, according to MnN) from a relative that she had given the year before! I am guessing the point was the regifting aspect, but I wondered why the pp was too special to receive a gift set that was apparently good enough for her to give someone else? 😂

Quietexpectations · 26/12/2022 09:09

My DH, my 2 Y/O and I all received money from my in-laws. Not so fussed about my DH and I but is it really that hard for 2 part time workers in their 50s to pick a toy out for their only GC who they regularly see? My BIL got my DH and I nothing and the item he ordered for DS hasn't arrived yet. Not impressed. Just happy that my side of the family made an effort.

Bleachmycloths · 26/12/2022 09:10

iklboo · 25/12/2022 17:52

£2.99 toiletry set from FIL & his wife. He was boasting last week about his new bank account you have to have a minimum of £50k to open. Worse, he spent the same on DS. Tight git.

Being tight fisted is probably what helped him to amass £50K…
in future, make sure hets cheap gifts from you or suggest no gift giving.

Iamnotausername · 26/12/2022 09:14

Spottypaperbag · 26/12/2022 02:49

Im going to sound ungrateful here but a voucher for a meal for two at a local steakhouse.. I'm vegetarian 🤦🏻‍♀️

That's thoughtless. I'm veggie too but I don't mind eating with people eating meat iyswim. If you're the same, don't dismiss the voucher. There is a steak house near us who do really amazing veggie options. See what the menu is before giving it away. If you don't like eating with people eating meat though that is extra thoughtless.

Bleachmycloths · 26/12/2022 09:15

purplethings · 25/12/2022 17:53

I've had my eye on buying myself a cast iron kettle to last a lifetime. I've been looking for ages for one that could go from the induction cooker to the burner and I was in love with a le creuset one. I was going to wait till the after Xmas sales. For xmas Dh got me an aluminium kettle which holds about 10 litres, with paper thin metal and a handle that looks like it's paper clipped together and is going to break any minute and pour scalding water over whoever's unlucky enough to be using. Now if I buy myself the kettle I want I'll look ungrateful.

Don’t worry about buying a kettle yourself. Just do it. But I don’t recommend a cast iron kettle! They are unbelievably heavy and give you a sore wrist. You can never tell if there is any water in. The outside picks up food splashes from food cooking on hob (I am fussy about cleanliness but it was a pain to keep clean).
I gave it to my daughter who was thrilled but she quickly got fed up of it 😀

BootifulLoser · 26/12/2022 09:19

Limoncello is a liqueur, just for the record. But I agree it is vile stuff; the only thing worse is creme de menthe! Maybe pour a teaspoonful over some ice cream or something.

lukelovesu · 26/12/2022 09:26

Rainbowsparkles29 · 25/12/2022 22:31

I know that this is tongue in cheek but I'm just wondering what the perfect gift givers on here actually do buy their distant relatives?! The reason most gifts are 'generic' is because most people simply don't know you well enough to come up with anything else. I have a child and sorry but every ounce of the energy I have after navigating an incredible job goes into making sure her Christmas is perfect and that I'm fulfilling the requirements to attend the multiple nativities/charity events/write christmas cards to her entire school. I simply don't have the mental reserve to buy the perfect gifts for bunch of adult relatives who don't even need a gift really. This post cements the reasons why every year I try and persuade my family not to buy for each other. It's pointless. I genuinely don't care about receiving gifts and just want a nice relaxing day and the best gift my family could give me is just to cut the crap and agree for grown adults to stop exchanging pointless gifts

I couldn’t agree more.

Pointynoseowner · 26/12/2022 09:28

One drink coaster , from gd in family secret Santa

Bubbles222 · 26/12/2022 09:34

NancyDrawed · 25/12/2022 18:06

Absolutely nothing from H (I won't add the 'D')

This isn't the first time, birthdays too.

It hurts that I matter so little, that even a generic gift is too much trouble.

This may well give me the push I need to start seriously looking at leaving (it's been brewing for a couple of years)

I was wondering how many husbands hadn't given gifts this year! mine didn't either but I knew anyway, still not the point very thoughtless and uncaring not sure how I feel too Hmmwe be better of buying our Own stuff throughout the year

User57713 · 26/12/2022 09:35

A wrist support bandage. From dh. Wrapped beautifully, I was so excited.

I have carpal tunnel and he thought it might help.

It might, but its not a Christmas gift ffs.

Bubbles222 · 26/12/2022 09:41

redredwineub40 · 25/12/2022 18:51

I sent a couple of people a Hotel Chocolat Christmas gift box (and have done so in prior years too) - I love HC, nobody ever sends it to me! Now worried that I've sent a crap gift!

I cut down a lot of present giving this year but maybe I'll give up on even more next year...such as HC!

Same I gift it too and never receive any!!!! Shall have to buy myself some Grin

Frazzled2207 · 26/12/2022 09:41

Ha I’d have said the same as you but MiL actually asks for those

sashh · 26/12/2022 09:42

Shellshocked80 · 25/12/2022 17:27

I got a dvd from my boyfriend. I’ve already watched it with him before, I don’t have a DVD player which he knows and the subject of the dvd is incredibly insulting and tactless after the year I’ve had and he knows this. It’s so bad that he’s getting dumped as soon as the festivities are over, I wasn’t 100% sure about the relationship but this has just gave me the ick and I’ll never come back from it.

This brings back memories.

I was about 14 and CD players were still fairly new. I didn't have one. I was not likely to get one in the near future, or even the distant future.

My aunt phoned my mum and said she was thinking of getting me a CD storage case.

My mum told her that would be fine, then told me what I was getting so I could act greatful.

I think my brother may have inherited her mindset.

redredwineub40 · 26/12/2022 09:44

@Bubbles222 clearly we've hit on a winning strategy for next year!

starrylights · 26/12/2022 09:46

beastlyslumber · 25/12/2022 23:42

brother and his gf got me a nail voucher for a gel polish… I’ve bitten my nails for my whole life and can’t use it.

Thoughtless pressie, but could you use it to get some gel nail extensions? Otherwise I guess it might make a nice present for someone else!

I would give it a go, as a life long nail bitter, I stopped after having a manicure and polish. There is nothing to bite. I kept my nails very tidy and extremely short but they started to grow. They are still a bit weak but I haven't bitten since.

AzureOrchid · 26/12/2022 09:49

I got two pairs of slippers , neither of them in the right size

Got a pair of pyjama bottoms , but no pyjama top 😳 and it’s not like the separate lounge trouser type bottoms , it definitely random part of a set without a top.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 26/12/2022 09:51

pocketvenuss · 25/12/2022 20:06

Swapping money is a bit pointless though. Just send love.

Show quote history

The only way I can make sense of family giving each other money is if it's effectively giving each person 'permission' to spend some money on something they might not otherwise buy, but will enjoy.

I feel very fortunate that we have no friends who want to give gifts at Christmas outside their families (well, not to us, anyway!). Within the family, we send my very elderly parents a gift and they reciprocate, but otherwise we don't bother. We transfer money to our adult children, who need it more than we do, and they give us nice but token gifts, e.g. chocolate, which go down very well. Years ago when we did go in for more extensive gift-giving it was very hit and miss. Much less stressful to eliminate it altogether!

Iamnotausername · 26/12/2022 10:00

My 11yr old is saving for an ipad.
This year her grandad gave her money. It topped her savings up enough to buy an ipad.
However AFTER she got excited, he said it was for school shoes. Eh? She doesn't need school shoes and if she did we're quite capable of buying them ourselves.
She was gracious and said thank you etc but was still disappointed. As soon as we left we said she could use it for her ipad but she didn't want to because grandad said it was for school shoes.
I don't know why he let her get excited BEFORE he told her. If he'd said as he handed over the money, it would have been very different and she would not have been upset.

Holidayhomehell · 26/12/2022 10:01

Wow some of these gifts are awful.

It’s the lack of thought that upsets me in situations like that. Even with a low budget, if you put some thought in to it, you can buy presents that people love.

My SIL used to buy is tat - I could tell she just picked cheap stuff up without thinking about us personally. A mini wine bottle with a glass when I don’t drink wine etc I know she and BIL were on a tight budget but I don’t think that matters.

So I suggested that we only buy for the kids. I always put thought in to my gifts so I wasn’t prepared to keep doing that and receiving rubbish in return.

frami · 26/12/2022 10:01

Cat treats - I don't have a cat.
(To be fair the same person also gave me a beautiful purse. )
Also no gift has ever quite lived up to the cable ties my friend gave me 4 years ago!

sazzy5 · 26/12/2022 10:08

A Baylis and Harding set, which was fine until I saw that one of the items was missing. It’s clearly a regifted item that’s been used.

ehb102 · 26/12/2022 10:11

@ChristmasPresentsof22 Time for some drama next year. Open the offending present and start wailing about how they obviously hate you and are trying to hurt you/kill you. Storm off and hide i. The bathroom for twenty minutes. Play sobbing sounds on your phone. Make sure you have snacks in your pockets before you go in. When you emerge play the martyr, forgive them for not caring enough.

Seriously, what is with these people? I run my entire Christmas menu around the person with dietary needs. I even refrain from burning my orange and cinnamon candle as they are allergic to citrus. Not poisoning people is a minimum requirement for me.