What’s your gift personality?

[Alanamackree]

I’ve been going over my gift list and it got me thinking about how people can have very different gift-personalities.
I like useful things whereas DH feels a gift should be something either fun or luxurious that you’d never buy for yourself.
I have people on my list who really appreciate the thoughtfulness of a gift and others for whom the price tag is most important.
My dad would appreciate a gift twice as much if he thought I got it for half price but that would diminish a gift hugely in the eyes of my mil for whom a gift is like a tribute. In fact a lavish gift would make my dad deeply uncomfortable.

It’s taken me years to work that out! But this year it’s taken a lot of the stress out of it. I’m not overthinking my mil’s gift just making sure it’s got a posh label. I’ve got my dad a new version of his favorite well-worn jacket in a clearance sale so that ticks his boxes for useful, frugal and not too novel.

I like useful things as well but things I wouldn’t necessarily buy myself. For example nice skincare or bath gift sets from brands such as loccitane or rituals. If I was given a cheap one I probably wouldn’t like it as much. I love the thought of somebody taking the time to get me a gift and thinking of what I would like . I’ve received my fair share of crap presents but I can appreciate a good present even if I don’t like it. My parents really don’t like it when me and my brother buy them expensive gifts. They always ask how much we’ve bought them for, so perhaps your dad doesn’t want you to waste your money on him?

I find that most people will appreciate a gift if it is from a brand that they know and love. My dad likes expensive clothes so If i was to buy him anything it would have to be a ted baker top or a brand that he likes. Otherwise he won’t like it as much.

I’m a minimalist (except for toys 😭) and used to despair when MIL, younger sister and a cousin used to give me gifts that were neither useful or beautiful. They had known me for many many years and still didn’t have a clue. I used to donate their gifts every year rather than be rude and say I didn’t like it, after all, I was a gift however ill thought out.

Then one year MIL was chattering away about gifts and mentioned that she always got her sister a tacky ornament for their garden because she hated them. I thought it must be a family joke but no, she did it for spite! Hmm...

Then DH and I acquired a storage space because we were trying to make space in our home for a nursery and my sister mentioned that she’d said to cousin that buying me gifts wouldn’t be as fun anymore because I could just store them and they wouldn’t, quote “clutter up your tidy home”. Huh? So she was doing it on purpose as well. I began to think that maybe MIL and sister and cousin were all doing it because they objected to my minimalist space?!

They had no idea I had none of these gifts, that they all were donated. Signs that said weird things, twigs for the fireplace I haven’t got, a pretend panic button, a cushion that lights up, a pet rock... I’ve had them all.

I’m an every day gift person as in I’d rather have something that I use on a regular basis, like my usual perfume, lipstick, toiletries, dressing gown or pyjamas etc. Nothing fancy just something that will definitely get used.

I like useful but posher than what I'd buy myself, so designer make-up, luxury chocolates, nice socks (not just socks for the sake of it) etc.

It feels special because they are nice things but useful because they are things I'll use. I can't stand "junk" which clutters up my house.

I must be a control freak, as I prefer to generally choose my own gifts. I like what I like, but I also have a quite a practical mind when it comes to gifts - I’d rather choose something myself that I love as opposed to something a bit meh that someone else has chosen. I will ask recipients what they want, for the same reason.

I like receiving luxurious gifts that I wouldn’t buy for myself. For example, I wouldn’t spent £20 on a bar of soap, but would be happy to receive one as a gift. Likewise, I would be happy with something practical like a hot water bottle, or woolly hat.

MIL on the other hand is the total opposite and likes to give piles of much cheaper presents. She would see a £20 bar of soap as a total rip off. MIL seems to buy the majority of her gifts from the supermarket, so I have had a jumper from Tesco and slippers from Lidl. Don’t get me wrong, I will happily wear supermarket clothes, but it doesn’t feel very special when it’s a gift.

Don’t get me wrong, I am very fond of MIL, but we have such different gift personalities.

I’m definitely in the ‘useful stuff but posher than usual’ brigade. I live nothing more than a slightly more luxurious version of a scarf, candle, bubble bath etc.
My mil is of the ‘quantity over quality’ brigade- she spends a lot but likes to get loads of things for the money, Eg chocs from Aldi, scarf from the market etc.
Neither is right nor wrong, just individual preferences.

Cross posted with EmpressJewel! I think we may share the same mil! Or maybe it’s a generational thing- older people tend to prefer larger amounts of items or maybe don’t get the point of more expensive versions when you can buy cheaper?

I love useful things like makeup, deodorant, perfumes, gift vouchers. Stuff that'll make me go 'ah! That's handy' a month later.

I hate being given gifts,it makes me feel obligated.Am I odd? I'd much rather buy myself something.

If you must give me something,get me a book voucher from Amazon so I can get a book for my kindle.

I like stuff that I want but which is a bit too indulgent for me to treat myself to. A nice ornament, a posh china mug, luxury chocolates, etc. I also like to receive designer Xmas baubles, I get them out every year and I remember exactly who gave each one to me.

Mother chip you made me laugh about us having the same MIL.

OH told me that there wasn't much money when he was growing up, so MIL had to work hard to stretch her money and I guess that old habits die hard.

MIL thinks that M&S is a luxury and will only ever shop there during the sales, so I will often buy her presents from there as she appreciates that.

I like things which are 'personal' - not as in 'unique', but things which show that the person knows me.

It doesn't have to be anything OTT - my loved ones tend to know that I like positive quotes, and I have had some lovely prints given. Or my best friend, for example, got a print made of a watercolour owl because I love owls.

I find the psychology of gift giving fascinating. As we approach Christmas, MN will be full of threads about crappy gifts that have been received and the lack of thought going into them, but the giver may have a different perspective and may have genuinely thought the gift would br appreciated.

I like useful things, or kitchen wears since I'm fond to cooking and baking for my family. They always support me with my cooking.

I think gift giving is a nice thing to do, but I’m not really bothered by what the girt is. Cheap or expensive, thoughtful or a hand on, useful or beautiful, I honestly don’t mind.

The only item I object to is slippers from my MIL. She’s known me for over 20 years and never seen me wear slippers!

That should make me easy to buy for, but I think actually people find me hard to buy for as there’s no obvious thing they can fall back on for me.

I would like upgrades of things I use everyday
Simple example Nesti Dante instead of Pears soap
Wool socks instead of cotton mix from Sainsbury's

I like to receive presents that are useful and/ or beautiful.
I give the same, or a thing that’s lovely, but that the recipient would not have bought for themselves but would love.

DH and I are both quality over quantity. My family are the opposite, whereas DH’s family are neither

I start thinking of ideas around this time of year and have notes on my phone when I see things for people. Then from mid November, I start shopping around for the best deals etc.

I’m known for buying really thoughtful, personalised gifts so it’s always been frustrating to not get the same back. I’m resigned to writing lists of things I want and asking people to just pick off there.