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.

my son bought me a big box of them for my birthday in March and another for Mother's Day a week later. So far, I've eaten 2 chocolates from that batch, so I said to my son that I'm still trying to get through all the chocolate he bought me in March, so please don't buy me any for xmas.

Hang on, you got two boxes of chocs in March-April,and you've only eaten two chocolates? It's...nine months later? I mean, do you not have a single friend who would eat a box of chocolates or who works in an office and would be happy to share them there?

Again, this perhaps goes back to the point I was making about lack of human contact resulting in people investing way too much (emotionally) in presents.

Not only that those chocolates are going to be stale by now.

IK, R?

I mean, even if they are kept in the fridge, they are going to get "fridge taste" after that length of time.

The post earlier with someone annoyed at recieving the £75 Swarovski bell shaped Christmas ornament instead of the £75 bauble shaped one seems so entitled it must be satire right?? Or are these posts humble brags, 'look how much people spend on my presents' type of thing?

Claims of wanting 'thoughtful' presents is just another way of saying 'I want presents I like' without sounding bratty. What's ironic is a thoughtful present is the last thing they actually want. They want something from their mental list of acceptable presents from their mental list of acceptable brands at their preconceived acceptable price point for a gift. They have no interest in understanding the givers thought process (or even acknowledging there is one) if the outcome isn't acceptable.

As I mentioned before, I do feel there is a genuine lack of self-awareness in all this. Far from 'having a go' it would be great if those unhappy with their presents could reflect and move away from the automatic thought process 'I was upset at recieving this present therefore the present was bad, no thought had gone into it.' At the very very least, the giver would have thought 'you are important enough in my life' to give you a present this Christmas. That's a wonderful thing in itself, and that's what you should be grateful for.

A friend who I have helped a lot over the years and for whom I gave up a weekend in the summer to help her aged mother, but never really got thanked, gave me a tiny coffee spoon with a fox head. I was speechless. Reading the back of the tiny box it came in, it was supposed to be a set of 6 spoons! Did five other friends have a spoon each for Christmas? If anyone can understand the psychology of this friend, do enlighten me. This friend is renowned for being as tight as two coats of paint, but this is beyond the pale even for her. I feel insulted. Time to give up exchanging gifts with this friend for birthdays and Christmas.

Hand out a wish list next November. Be specific.

My Christmas presents to me from my children were olive green faux leather trousers 15.00, turtle neck navy blue non-baggy plain jumper 12.00, both Primark, rose facial oil from Aldi 3.99 and M&S honey almond & aloe Vera hand-cream 2.00 = 32.99 ÷ 5 = 6.50 each.
They then each transfer that into my bank.
I was thrilled with everything as it's exactly what I wanted. They all live more than 100 miles from me and each other, so saves postage. I hate getting flowers as they're a waste of money and I have enough house-plants. No booze either as I don't like alcohol.
I don't get disappointed with my gifts since we started to do it this way.
One friend gave me a tiny melamine tray which just about fits a mug and a biscuit. It went to the charity shop.

I would be taking chocolate to the foodbank, selling things like expensive fans and the rest to charity. I love a no gift rul apart from kids.

Worst one this year - a basket of “time for tea treats”. Contained a packet of biscuits and several tiny pots of jam. It was from DB who did also give me the gift I’d mentioned when he asked me what I’d like, it just seems like such a waste of money and I’m not sure it’s even going to get opened. Honestly, I’d rather a proper sized jar of nice jam. Best present this year - the jar of Marmite with my name on from DH, who always manages to get me the perfect gift that I didn’t know I wanted.

Do you mean you the items and your children transfer you the money?

Update - so after shoving candle in a cupboard for a couple of days, I told DP it wasn’t really to my taste, so let’s return it. Which he did. To the supermarket 😱 where he bought it.

Sorry. Reading it back I didn't make it clear that I bought the items myself and WhatsApp'd the AC a screenshot of the receipts so they could divide it up. It works well and everyone happy.

Why didn’t you take your presents to him back? He deserves the shit off your shoe.

And why then did you cook for the cunt?

@poefaced
Yes, they tell me to treat myself (no limit but they know I like H&M, Primark a bit of M&S and Aldi Lacura products)
I was really pleased with 'their' gifts and showed them on Zoom.

Last year it was a coach trip with Just Days Out which comprised of lunch on a paddle steamer river cruise and afternoon tea at a farm shop cafe on the way home. That was £79 so they ordered a £100 e-gift card from the company so I could choose a trip (£20 each) which I took last spring. It was exciting to have the choice. 😁

@LoisLane66 sounds lovely! It’s a great idea, so much nicer to get gifts you can actually use.

MIL got me an in-tray. An actual in tray for on a desk. And a tea towel.

Older uncle on husbands side got me talc and my husband shampoo for thinning hair. We’re late 30s, and husband has loads of thick hair!

One of the cousins (also husbands side - there’s a pattern here), sent a Christmas card saying ‘hope you have a lovely 2021’ and tights for my 3 year old daughter that are age 1-2. Genuinely wonder if she’s had them since December 2020?

Sounds like you should all set up an unwanted gift swap shop.

My partner didn't bother getting me anything. Litrally nothing said it was all about the kids. Had huge bag of clothes and shoes he chose for himself ...I paid for. Then few things he didnt know I had ordered. Few more I had delivered late. Made no effort with my birthday few weeks back either this year. Just grabbed few reduced weird chocolates from tkmaxx....on the way back home from the kids school had me waiting at home for hrs with t b. Yes he knew it was coming up our 19 year old and 13 year old gave him plenty reminders.

@Lizzy2022, why did you buy him anything for Christmas after the birthday disappointment? Didn't you have a frank talk about how his behaviour made you feel? If you didn't, you need to do that now. Shape up or ship out would be my feeling about this. If it matters to you, he should make the effort. Alternatively, if present-giving for adults is something he just doesn't get, obviously it will apply to him too.

With manners like that sweetheart I can see why getting you a nice present isn't top of anyone's agenda .