Family member has bought refrigerated gifts

[ScottyandWestie]

AIBU - Family member arriving on Saturday to stay for the whole of Christmas has just advised me they are bringing gifts which need to be refrigerated. It’s not alcohol but they will not explain what the items are for fear of “spoiling the surprise” and will need “possibly two shelves of the fridge”. I have a large fridge but due to catering to a huge amount of people over the Christmas period it’s full and will be at capacity tomorrow. I explained this but they are adamant. AIBU to suggest they store their gifts in a cool box in our shed?

This is ridiculous. Everyone knows the fridge is rammed at Christmas! Can’t wait to hear what it is.

Poor baby cheesus, banished to the garage.

I don't think it's "sacred" for most people 😂 shops are only shut for a few days (or reopened with empty shelves, same thing)

but expecting 2 shelves in a fridge is rude at any time of the year.

Christmas or not, people ASK! Bloody rude not to. And they ask BEFORE buying their "surprise" . Not everybody has fridges the same size and a spare one in another room

🤣🤣🤣

It would be a waste if it's food that you've already got or are planning so hopefully your son finds out what it is.

If it needs to be kept cold, ask how they are keeping it cold during the 3hr journey to you. Or if its defrosting during the journey 🤔

😮Why did YOU have to eat it?! Nothing on earth could have persuaded me that I had to partake of that.

They sound eccentric and clueless. I’d politely follow up with a text to remind them to bring a cool box for their gift. If she rocks up without one just let her sit with her own stupidity.

I would assume its a cheese hamper.

I bought cheese once then realized it had to be refrigerated, was really stressful as everyone uses the fridge and I didn't want the receiver to see it. Lesson learned.

Still I have seen on worst gifts threads people who where gifted things with cheese without any storage warning and then it was put under the tree unrefrigerated in a cosy warm living room for days until everyone was like 'whats that ungodly smell'. Apparently not a rare occurrence.

How daft to expect there to be spare hfridge space over Christmas! You’ll have to tell them there just will not be room!

I well remember buying a small fridge to go outside in a covered area, when we were expecting a really full house over Christmas - 9 adults, two of whom were very big eaters and would be staying for 4 nights!

I'd have been googling the Norwegian word for 'No', quick-smart... 🤢

I'd just say no, sorry, the fridge is already crammed full so there is no space. Then leave them to it.
If they still turn up with it, repeat, I told you there was no space for it.
I would probably put it in a lidded plastic box in the garden or leave it in the boot of the car depending on what it is. It's so cold at the moment anyway.
I can't lose much sleep over people who do this kind of thing. They're quite happy to be thoughtless and inconvenience you, why worry about putting them out a bit.
And for the people who suggested mounjaro, I really wish we had a laughing emoji - 😂

I guess cheese. It will be fine outside in a cool bag. I wouldn't be giving up precious fridge space either.

I wouldn't be able to accommodate that

while this is funny, its also not. Who thinks its ok to turn up and demand fridge space in someone else's fridge over Christmas while they are being hosted?!

Horribly entitled of them. STBEXH and I are unfortunately still living together and his sister is visiting, but staying somewhere else, over Christmas. I had to suggest that the idea of STBEXH picking up her Christmas shop from the supermarket and storing it in our fridge on the 23rd wouldn't work. We have a huge fridge, but fitting a whole family's Christmas shop just wouldn't fit

I reckon it’s mushroom growing kits. They go in the fridge and can be pretty bulky!

Just say no OP, poor planning on their part doesn’t constitute an emergency for you.

Waiting to see what they gift.

If they ignore clear instructions - 'DO NOT bring anything that needs to be refrigerated, we do not have space, the fridge is already full' (all in caps) - and arrive with something anything anyway, then I'd let whatever it is go off in their room/outside in the garden. And not invite them again, ever. People like this disrespect everyone else until they are given consequences.

Genuinely cannot wait to hear about what it is. What a hilariously ridiculous request.

What on earth can it been that needs two shelves and how stupid, who’s going to have two free shelves on a normal day, let alone Xmas. Think shed is the way to go unless you have a fridge in the garage or they can bring an under the counter one.

That’s taken up two shelves? How much cheese can they be bringing?!?

I agree, it cant possibly be cheese. Shellfish perhaps?

They can leave it in my fridge if they want...shan't give it back though

God knows … sounds like a total pain whatever it is!?!

I can't wait to hear what it is. I reckon a ton of seafood