Tubs of chocolate & toiletries gift sets - show no thought

[notedbiscuits]

Now shops have aisles full of gift sets - mainly toiletries. Plus tubs of chocolates

To me, they make me think they are bought by people who give no thought. Plus some gift sets are more expensive than buying them separately. Take Dove, 2 bottles of shower gel and a body puff thing. Cost in shop £6. Go to a shop and can buy the bottles for £1.50 and body puff thing is 75p-£1 (though doesn't have the Dove tag on it) You are paying £2 for a box! Card Factory do sell gift bags for that size for about 75p. For me also, there are things in gift sets which I don't use such as bubble bath and bath salts - have shower. Last week I had a clear out of the cupboard which has medications, toiletries etc and put some of these into food banks and the posher brands, to those charity shops that do sell (unused) toiletries.

Those tubs of chocolate, which get smaller each year, There's always one chocolate families don't eat. Quality Street- toffee finger and penny - due to fillings, Heroes - Eclairs (they cheapen it by adding Eclairs) again due to fillings.

Remember being behind a woman buying 50 odd tubs of the same chocolate. Said to the cashier "Oh that's my Christmas present shopping done in one shop". Glad I am not related/friends with her. As she would give each member a tub.

If you have no idea what to buy someone, don't buy anything. My family have not sent each other Xmas presents for many years. Why waste time, money and stress?

I agree.
I kind of understand gift sets from more expensive places but a box with a Dove body wash, body lotion and shower netting thing makes absolutely zero sense to me, and screams "I don't know you or care about you but feel obliged to buy you a present so here you go..."

Me and DP call them "Aunty Presents" because he has an aunty that he's not seen in about 25 years who sends him a Lynx gift set every year 😅

But, these sections in shops are kind of my guilt pleasure. I love meandering around them because they do make me feel quite Christmassy 😛

I sort of agree but also it's stuff that I always use so I'm happy to receive them as gifts

I quite like getting the gift sets. Saves me buying shower gel etc!

I used to agree but now think they are quite useful for regifting, donating for raffle presents at school or for a cause, or just using - you always need more body wash at some point! I have a stash of candles and body lotion that will end up in the PTAs hands.

Agree that Chocolate tubs are shrinking annoyingly! I'm always happy to receive any type of chocolate though.

TBH as someone in their 50s with a house full of stuff it's the 'thoughtful' presents that I'm expected to treasure forever that cause me more pain than the standard bottle of booze, toiletries sets, boxes of chocolates type consumables that I can either use or dispose of easily without feeling guilty. Gift giving is a social expectation but it works best if everyone gives low stakes gifts.

It's true that you often do end up using the body wash or whatever comes in these gift sets but that doesn't make them good gifts

I'd definitely use a 4-pack of bog rolls, a year's supply of tampons and a tube of Anusol if someone gifted them to me. Doesn't mean they're particularly thoughtful or exciting presents to open on Christmas Day 😅

I like getting the chocolate 🤷‍♀️ Between the family it all gets eaten because we have different tastes, it’s a treat and not something I’d usually buy myself so the perfect definition of a present and it’s a nice gesture from someone that either doesn’t know me that well/doesn’t want to spend a lot.

If someone bought me dove shower gel, even if it was nicely packaged, I’d assume it was a hint I had bad BO or something as it’s so generic, in the category of something you chuck in the weekly shop, that it surely isn’t a present. Thankfully it’s never happened though!

I agree it's a cop out present, unless it's a gift set of some luxury brand that someone loves that they wouldn't usually buy. I always remember browsing with my mum and looking at stuff like that, pointing out one that I really did not like the scent of, and she then proceeds to buy it for me every sodding time! It felt quite passive aggressive! We no longer do Christmas presents, or Christmas in general, but that's a story for another day

Shower gel seems insulting as a gift. Like an implication that the giver thinks you're unclean.

I don’t think they necessarily don’t show thought- it’s just often hard to know what people want or need and practically everyone has to wash and enjoys chocolates so it’s a safe bet.

The woman buying 50 plus boxes of chocolates sounds like someone extremely generous who probably buys for lots of random people like receptionists and neighbours. I have done this myself (not 50 plus!) but have used a box of Chocs as an excuse to knock on at a neighbours to wish them merry Christmas.

It depends who you're buying for really. A close relative or friend - perhaps not unless they really love a particular brand. But colleagues, hobby friends, relatives you'll see at a family gathering but don't particularly know very well, neighbours? All fine - can be donated as a PP pointed out if they aren't wanted. Although in all cases I'd rather just agree to no gifts!

Oh God yes! We’ve been gifted quite a lot of artwork/ crafty stuff that we feel obliged to display in our home forever more because of the time that’s gone into making them. I would have loved a toiletry set with no strings attached in place of some of these! 😂

I agree OP - BUT
Some people seem to feel hugely pressured into buying "something, anything" just "because you have to". I'd much rather have the gift of "let's not get anything for each other this year" between the more extended family (in-laws etc) because I understand how much headspace a "thoughtful" present can take, and it's just not really my skillset.

I've relatives I'd genuinely rather they saved the money than buy loads of these boxy sets of high st stuff, but that seems ungrateful and they seem to enjoy doing it.

Tbh, I'd rather get consumables in most cases than something that I feel obliged keep (whether I want it or not).

Most people have enough stuff and don't want more junk to store

Why are people intent on stuffing their faces and adding to landfill?

I quite like shower gel especially nice ones

At least it is useful and doesn't clutter in the long run

Also like chocolates

There's always one chocolate families don't eat. Quality Street- toffee finger and penny

Pfffttt. Send those to me. Heathens 😱

Not everybody has someone to buy them a thoughtful gift though. Lots of people will receive a generic gift like these from a charity. And it might be their only gift. Don't buy them if you don't want to, but they're a decent/practical option for many

Doesn't mean they're particularly thoughtful or exciting presents to open on Christmas Day

But how many gifts really are? I'd rather get dull but useful than something that is aiming to be thoughtful or exciting that isn't.

Here's an example. My sister has great taste. She bought me a set of three beautiful vases for my birthday last year, I really like them. However I already have 10 vases that I like just as much that I have either bought myself or have been gifted over my 30 odd years as an adult. I don't want or need more vases. So what do I do? A bunch of flowers or box of chocolates or set of smelly soaps is much better. TBH with 3DC a box of loo roll would be fab!

To be fair the £6 dove gift set is usually so you can buy it in a month “half price” and feel you get a bargain.

I always like receiving these type of gifts , it means someone thought of me and even a little thought and a small gift is still something to be grateful for. I’ll eat any type of chocolate though 😂😂😂

YABU. People can buy me them any time and anything from L'Occitane, Molton Brown or Hotel Chocolat will be gratefully received and used/eaten.

If it's something I don't care for then I'll just donate it to charity.

I do agree that some gifts are unnecessary at Christmas though and it can get a bit mad. I stopped a lot of it ten+ years ago. Just nice to catch up with friends and we don't need to exchange gifts.

Sometimes there's a requirement/desire to buy gifts for people you don't know very well or have limited interaction with. Think work colleagues, secret Santa groups, that neighbour that helped you out once, the old lady down the road who always smiles at the kids, kids teachers and sports coaches. In those cases I think chocolate tubs or toiletry gift boxes are fine. You don't know them but it's a token of appreciation. Agree, if you're buying them for close relatives or friends it is a bit shit.

I an always happy for chocolate as a gift. And I LOVE the eclairs. But buying gifts for the sake of it is a waste regardless, doesn’t matter what the gift is!

Have to say. I quite like a rub of chocolates and toffee pennys are the best