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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

What presents do you always get that you don't like (but are too polite to say)

63 replies

yellowflowers · 25/11/2011 18:54

People always get me mulled wine sets and scented candles. I can't stand either and put them straight back into the present cupboard to be recycled. Dh always gets ties which he hates as he likes to choose his own.

OP posts:
thenightsky · 25/11/2011 18:58

Any bath stuff that comes in 'special' gift set - you know the kind? Masses of straw or crumpled tissue surrounding a miserable little bottle of something detergent-smelling and a nylon body puff.

Yes also to scented candles, mulled wine sets, bottles of oil with chillis in, novelty anything (thinking bottle openers etc), ferraro roche.

Anything alcohol is always fab though.

crystalglasses · 25/11/2011 18:59

I don'tlike those very expensive perfume selection boxes which come with the perfume and lotion. I never get throught the lotion so it's a real waste of money. Would much prefer a bigger bottle of perfume

cece · 25/11/2011 19:00

DVDs - never watch them and so they remain unwrapped on my shelf for a while before I pass them onto someone else.

Toiletry sets as they always set off my exzema.

CDs - rarely listen to a CD, usually listen to the radio.

Any kitchen stuff as it's not really a present is it?

I quite like a nice candle.

ClaimedByMe · 25/11/2011 19:00

Every year for the last 12 years MIL gets me a smelly gift set, I can't use any of them especially the LYNX one!

Wonder what one I'll get this year.......

yellowflowers · 25/11/2011 19:01

I like Ferrerro Rocher

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 25/11/2011 19:01

MIL always buys me a box of Green and Blacks tiny squarees. I do like G&Bs, but would love something different as plain chocolate isn't exactly a treat.

I don't like (and put in the raffle box) scented candles, anything novelty, and pepper grinders etc

pictish · 25/11/2011 19:02

Toiletries. I've never understood the popularity of these as gifts to give. I consider toiletries a very personal thing and far prefer to choose my own. I wouldn't buy them for anyone else as I wouldn't presume to know their taste.

pictish · 25/11/2011 19:05

I love scented candles as gifts, but not cheapy ones I'm afraid. Arran aromatics ones are welcome.

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 25/11/2011 19:05

For some reason my mam and sister seem to think I like dark chocolate. I don't actually want ANY chocolate or sweets as I am overweight, but they always seem to buy me dark ones. They have done for years Confused I think it's odd that they just don't know me very well, given that they are my closest relations. My mam has the knack of buying little stocking filler type nicknacks and giving my sister the things I would LOVE and she is "meh" about and giving me stuff I am "meh" about or actually dislike it's like we're interchangeable in her mind, she knows one of us likes X but doesn't bother to remember which one...

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 25/11/2011 19:08

Oh and whisky or Baileys. Hate both, DH and I drink bourbon, but for some reason we seem to end up with at least three bottles of whisky and/or Baileys every year. Last years little chocolate fondue melter thingy with the mini Baileys bottle in it is still in it's unopened box in the cupboard. I have a friend whose birthday is on Boxing Day and she loves Baileys, so I just used to give it to her each year, but she moved away and the school won't take it for a raffle prize with it being alcohol Hmm

ShatnersBassoon · 25/11/2011 19:14

Milk Tray. They used to be something special, but they're completely tasteless these days.

BertieBotts · 25/11/2011 19:14

I think I have about 10 years' worth of toiletry sets in the cupboard. I am the least girly girl you have ever met. I don't even know what hand cream is for. The only thing we get through is bubble bath and that's because DP likes it. It's never in those sets, though. Always body lotion, hand cream, nail cream (surely this is just the SAME THING.) arse cream or some such bollocks... maybe if you're lucky a small thing of shower gel.

Not really keen on wine because there are very few wines I actually like. And I really have to be in the mood for it.

DP gets loads of chocolate which he hates so I get to scoff it Grin I hate the way people never buy you chocolate if you're a woman in case you're on a diet :(

Once I got a toiletry set which had a pretty bowl, so I opened it and under the tissue paper were several dead fleas. BOAK!

I would appreciate anything edible, unless it was cheese, or books or CDs, and candles are nice and other decorative things.

NoWayNoHow · 25/11/2011 19:18

PomBEar I'll have your Baileys!!

MIL gets me socks EVERY year. Black ones with different coloured matching toes and heels. I have enough socks now to open my own shop.

grumplestilskin · 25/11/2011 19:18

wine! every year! from people who've known my for years and whenever I go to their house/out for a meal with them I always decline stating that I prefer spirits

It always gets re-gifted, to people who DO drink wine

I think its bloody rude actually! they KNOW I NEVER drink wine but still give it because its a standard present andtheyaremiddleclasswinoswholiketobelievethateveryoneopensabottleeveryeveningafterwork

tiredteddy · 25/11/2011 19:22

My DH's family, his mum, aunt, nan always buy me several pairs of primark pyjamas each. And dressing gowns and bed socks. Last year I totalled 3 dressing gowns, 8 pairs of pyjamas and many pairs of socks. Nice gift but too many for any one person!

PrimaBallerina · 25/11/2011 19:30

DM loves to give me lots of things to open. I end up with a large bag of unwanted items from the pound shop every year.

BastardDog · 25/11/2011 19:37

My mum often buys me a bottle of Anais Anais perfume. I can't stand the stuff and always give it away. You'd think she'd notice that I never actually wear it?

dreamingofsun · 25/11/2011 19:41

beautiful perfume...husband brought it one year and now MIL. Don't like the smell and it gives me a headache. I also got an ashtray (I'm a confirmed non-smoker) and a second hand toiletry bag from MIL (still had old toothbrush in it). Oh and some nickers 2 sizes too small

AphraBehn · 25/11/2011 19:41

Oh grumplestilskin - I hate wine as well! If someone I don't know very well gives me a bottle then fair enough but it drives me crazy when I get a bottle from my sister.

dreamingofsun · 25/11/2011 19:43

prima - my IL's do that. I'd much rather have 1 nice thing than loads of cheap junk.

dreamingofsun · 25/11/2011 19:44

perhaps we ought to do online swap after christmas as i quite like getting some of the things on here - black socks with coloured toes, wine....

headfairy · 25/11/2011 19:44

My mum always gives me cashmere jumpers that are waaaay too dressy and middle aged for me. I know I am middle aged but there's no need to actually dress like mutton :o

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 25/11/2011 19:46

There are only ten sets of scented candles, mulled wine sachets and hot chocolate-with-wee-whisk in the country but they have visited many homes Grin. Regifting is the way forward, keep 'em moving along the road.

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 25/11/2011 19:47

We do do a MN Swap dreaming. I baggsy headfairy's old-lady cashmere. Grin

Tillyscoutsmum · 25/11/2011 19:50

Dressing gowns - I have more than I will ever need and still manage to get at least 2 new ones every year.

Any yellow gold jewellery. I don't wear yellow gold. Never have. I wear white gold or silver or costume jewellery.

YY to random (a.k.a. Boots 3 for 2) toiletry sets.