The shit Christmas presents of 22 thread.

[ChristmasPresentsof22]

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.

So glad you took the voucher back!

How did she react?

Absolutely not! My 3 year old granddaughter wears a dressing gown every day and would love a unicorn one! Your gifts aren’t crap, her parents are.

I don't understand why people think items that are associated with housework are a good gift- I do not want: tea towels, oven gloves, knives, aprons, kitchen gadgets etc.

Nor do I want Britney spears Midnight Fantasy perfume when I already have a collection of high-end Niche perfumes (everyone knows this about me).

I got bath bombs too, and I also hate them. I don’t even take baths. Pretty sure DH will use them though!

She acted all indignant and tried to rat me out to mum like we were teenagers again (she’s 43 for the record and I’m 39). Mum just told her she was an idiot. 😆

I would rather have no gift than shit tasteless gifts like these. You can still get someone something thoughtful and nice even if you have very little money.
And you should all divorce your husbands and put them all together on Hopeless Island in the the middle of the Indian Ocean and let them get on with it.

No you haven't sent a crap gift, Hotel Chocolat is delicious, it's a lovely, luxury gift to receive and when I've received it I've felt thoroughly spoilt as I wouldn't buy it for myself. Don't change your mind on the basis of one very bratty sounding PP

We did Secret Santa this year with the price set at £30. I don't get many presents at Christmas so I was looking forward to my gift. I was really pissed off to be given a cheap looking photo frame. I looked at it again this morning and it even has the £8 price still on it. Cheeky fucker. I had spent a few quid above the £30 for my gift as I couldn't find what I wanted to buy any cheaper. Came on here for a moan because I feel irrationally pissed off about it!

A voucher to get gel nails is a great gift . I’d be over the moon. I bite and pick mine and the only time my hands look decent is when I have them done with gel. Just a shame it’s so expensive to get done every month. I got two nail vouchers when I had dd as a post birth treat and I was so chuffed I have bought a friend recently a voucher for a beauty place when she had her baby.

I’m sorry for you all having to deal with shit, sometimes hurtful presents, especially if you have to do an act of liking it which I really struggle with as I can’t act at all. I agree the ideal would be lovely thoughtful presents but instead I have managed to reduce present exchanges over the years by mutual agreement until I only get a few - yesterday got one from dsis (we both agreed what we would like from each other, but I asked for a book that is quite in line with her interests too IYSWIM) one from dd that is thoughtful and based on my taste, and will get one from ds that’s delayed in the post. My DC are only teens and don’t spend a lot (and I wouldn’t want them to) but they do think about what I’d really like.

In the past I’ve had awful presents from my mum that have really upset me (trying to use them to comment on my weight or appearance, getting me whatever is to her own taste not mine and telling me she couldn’t get what I suggested as she didn’t like it, or giving me things I might have liked when I was 14, then badgering me ever afterwards about wearing/using them) and meaningless tat from other relatives. I can afford to buy myself nice things sometimes if I really want them, and I don’t like the waste of presents no one wants. It’s hard and took years, but if you can agree with people that you just won’t do presents, or just something v small/edible so it gets used up and doesn’t make clutter, honestly it can be a happier day. I hope I don’t sound like a self-denying grinch, really I don’t feel like that.

Am I the only person to get a facial hair remover? (Not from my immediate family, thank heavens).

Some of these present stories are very funny, some show breathtaking cheeky fuckery, but the DH and DP ones are really sad. I can still taste the humilation of shite, thoughtless and non-existent presents from exes. It's such an eye-opener into how much you are valued.

This

My MIL got my mum and I one of these each one year. I was pretty annoyed originally but I actually used it a lot 🤣

Received a pair of socks. Just the 1 pair. Black cotton with a flower on. Bizarre.

Yes I agree a thoughtless or lazy DH/DP is the hardest to deal with. Ex used to insist that presents had to be a surprise, even though I would have preferred to ask for something I really wanted. Sometimes it would be something OK, but often clothes or home stuff I didn’t like but he would have acted all offended if I’d said I wanted to exchange it, so I never did In an 18-year relationship he never took on board that I don’t wear blue and never buy myself anything blue, for example. I’d make an effort for him but that also had to be a surprise and it was stressful. It’s such a relief not to have to deal with it and bonus, I save money and can get myself something I want at Christmas, like nice pjs.

It’s quite expensive, about £800, if you book a slot and fail to turn up you can’t claim a refund or re-book for another time, so every year he makes sure to book on, and every year they refuse to mention his lack of attendance.

Yes not nice when you get crap. My mother gave my teen nothing. Mean! Husband gave me money I use in sales. I dont want another bath set lol

Good for him! My only concern there is it's putting money in the course provider's pocket but I suppose your PIL have already done that.

My family stopped doing presents for adults years ago. The decision was made to buy for children only. I was quite upset about it at the time as I was single and childless. I was buying for nieces and nephews, all siblings husbands/wife's bought for each other, so I was sitting watching everyone open gifts and received nothing.

It's now over 18 years since I had a Christmas present and reading this thread makes me feel a lot better.

I always buy myself something lovely for Christmas. It's always exactly what I want.

I actually have a reputation for buying great gifts.

Except this year when I deliberately bought my brother something useless because I'm fed up of being dismissed. I'm not 5 and it is time he realised that.

We don't buy for adults. Waste of money, nobody wants the slightly off the mark gifts! Worst we got was a blank video tape back in the day, wall mounted foil dispenser and my 12 yo got toy dinosaurs aimed at 5 yo! (happily regifted!)

Every year I keep trying this, with some success and some notable failures.
Whenever I'm asked I say a donation to the charity of your choice or here are three I give to.
I wont know until later today if it worked this year.
Saying all that I wonder if charity shops would go out of business if it weren't for all the shit gifts we give them in January?

Anyway last years memorable failures included a cup, saucer and coaster set with a theme I dont care for, a cheap shitty knife set, I'm a chef, and a scarf, pretty enough but a colour combo I would never wear.

I've got my fingers crossed that this year I got through to them. Will update later.

I've read Rylan's 'Ten' book and it was very interesting, my take from it was a lot of respect for him he's not the insubstantial celebrity wannabe that he has previously been portrayed as.

I am horrified and saddened by this thread, particularly passive aggressive mils and DH. Just think you could get rid of both of them in one fell swoop....

I desperately don't want more 'stuff' and have told people that, but also made it clear that chocolates and Fizz are always welcome if they feel the need to buy something. So I got a lot of chocolate, it'll last well.

I dont actually know how well DH would do if he genuinely had to buy presents, but I know he'd make an effort. He buys me chocolate he knows I like, perfume I've mentioned and good quality socks, perfect.

I'm yet to visit my parents which is where the odd and the tat comes from. I just wish they wouldn't waste their money. I am 99% certain I'm getting a HC Velvetiser. My mum has asked me repeatedly about them, and each time I've told her that I can no longer tolerate much milk, can't find a milk alternative I like and it's just another thing to store when you can easily make it in a pan/microwave. We shall see.

I love Rylan, he seems like a genuinely wise, kind and reflective person who’s thought a lot about fame and celebrity culture and how to handle it.