What are your ‘pet hate’ Christmas presents?

[YellowsunriseClara]

Lighthearted thread, as I’m sure everyone is grateful for any gift they receive.

Just with Christmas coming up I’m wondering which gifts you are dreading getting (but know you’ll probably get)

Mine are the Lynx women gifts sets (hate it but seem to get it every year!)
Any Poundland creams as they seem to make my skin itchy and red
Anything Bayliss & Harding (I know there is another thread about that)
Cheap perfume that smells like paint stripper
Obvious second had gifts that the giver didn’t want for themselves (it’s usually something totally unrelated to the things you’re interested in)

One year my friend got me some unwrapped Poundland glitter body spray, not sure why as I’ve never worn the stuff and it was clear that it was in the back of her wardrobe from a while ago

@Redspider1 Spode sets in different designs: offloaded the Christmassy design set. Also donated the Mr & Mrs ones. Kept the third set in the vain hope that someone will make me a gorgeous gluten free torte or something worthy of specifically digging out the fancy fork set

Plasticine
Cacti
Those ladybird 'joke' books like 'The Wife' or 'Brexit'. Mildy amusing for 5 min and then wtf do you do with it?
Anything you can get in the gift section of a garden centre.

@Greyponcho you must have some foodie friends.

scented candles - can't stand them.

Wow, i’m jealous...please send all posh hampers, nice bath sets, chocs, scented candles and body butters my way. I have a cunning way of dealing with this by massively cutting down the number of gifts I exchange...this year, I have spent that money on something lovely for my family instead.

Candles, mugs, cheap/strange chocolates. Or gift cards that don't actually work when you try to use them.

Although I don’t use bath sets they are handy to have When school/work want raffle and trombola prizes donated.

I hate being given clothes. I don’t think I have ever received a surprise clothing gift which has been right for me.

I love those tacky toiletry gift sets, always have, but sadly can't use them now because thrush. If it's Dove I'm ok ish, and I'll happily use the body lotion etc, but nothing that goes in the bath.

My XMIL went through a phase of getting me dreadful South African-themed presents (they lived there for over quarter of a century). So nasty scarves with 'The Big Five' on, jewellery with ditto, wine glass markers...All truly awful.

TBH I would rather get homemade ANYTHING than a generic gift, but a lot of people either don't make stuff or think it's somehow cheap to give a homemade gift. Shame really.

From people I'm close to I always think a scented candle (including expensive ones) are lazy presents.

Perfume is wasted on me as I don't really wear it.

Toiletries too - I buy what I want (although an advent calendar is always welcome) and have quite expensive taste and sensitive skin so I'm difficult to buy for.

I'm always happy to get clothes, stationery, experiences, tickets for shows, nice things for my house, cashmere, jewellery, trips away, meals out, art, gadgets, underwear (from dp, it would be odd from my friends or children), books,

Stuff I have always loved getting;

Toiletries.
Make up sets.
Socks.
Scarves. I get cold easily, but even if I don't wear them, I actually like pretty fabrics and can repurpose them easily enough.

Stuff I have no interest in;

Chocolate
Wine
A miniature of whiskey/gin. Give me the tenner and I'll put it towards a proper bottle.
Biscuits.
Hot Chocolate kits. Especially with a shitty mug - I have exacting requirements from a mug (never ever anything but white inside, a good shape to hold with crappy hands, no slogans, etc).
Anything alcohol or food related - I don't want the usual shitty quality kitchen gadget unless you want to put a Vitamix into the Secret Santa, of course, I don't want wine bottle charms and if I get a cook book with some TV twat grinning inanely on the cover, I'll throw it through the charity shop door and run away before they can tell me they aren't taking any more books, thank you.

Just as well I don't tend to get any presents, isn't it?

i shall direct you to the ringons website...and then tell you to protect your grannies/mothers purses from them!

MitziK you forgot the thickness of the mug.especially the rim.too thick,yuk.too thin eek.it has to have the right feel to drink from :D

Oh dear. I just bought some beauty product sets from Joules! Should I send them back?!

Agree with all the things others have mentioned they dislike.
I like miniatures selection sets of different baileys or gins
Artisan chocolates
Occitane toiletries
Aesop’s toiletries
Nesti Dante soaps
Wool socks
Cashmere hand warmers
Theatre tickets for a show I want to see

Horehound aah of course not.this is a pretty scathing thread for most gifts that given from the right person to the right person would actually be really nice.

Hampers.
When my cupboards are groaning under the weight of Christmas food, what I really want to open on Christmas day is yet more Christmas food. (To be eaten in January when the whole country is craving salad).

Oh I love a hamper!!

@kateandme you are right. I think the people I had in mind will enjoy :)

I have no use for body lotions, body butters and bars of handmade soap. Also little use for scented candles. I love bubble bath however.

Gosh I’m so surprised about the candles!! I absolutely love candles on winter evenings, hygge cosiness, and any candle gets used so I feel like they’re always useful, if anyone gives me a candle I’m always so pleased!! Is it scented candles in particular people dislike?

A pack of 5 high waisted floral knickers from my sister! I’m highly tempted to repay her this year with a pack of 5 string thongs!

It’s all a load of total profit making utter shit just knock it on the head and don’t bother and buy what you want all year round, ‘christmas’ is a con - we haven’t bothered now for at least ten years and everyone’s happy. We just buy nice booze and food and enjoy the day - If I want socks I will buy some and vice versa
Yes I’m ra grumpy old bag -but at least I am realistic and sensible

Metal manicure sets.
Jewellery I haven’t chosen myself.

I think this threads made me realise that really were mostly a lucky old bunch. Yep it’s not great getting disappointing gifts but most of us get gifts when some don’t. Most of us have food in the cupboards when some don’t.
Most of us have presents to give and receive .
Obviously ( before some one comes on and tells me that they would feel lucky to get an out of date bounty from trump because they have never had a Christmas) I understand that some people have none of these things and I get Christmas for some highlights what they havnt. But I feel lucky I can complain I’ve been given too much chocolate... rather than maybe no one’s given me anything .... wanders of to polish halo

Anything from wish really or knock offs in general.
Leopard print things (there’s one every year and most of my clothes are grey/black).
Stuff from Lush, perfume or anything strongly scented as these set off migraines. There’s 2 candles that are safe and am very happy to get one of those.
I love getting socks and I love most of the stuff my husband gets and sometimes I steal it He gets lots of nerdy stuff that he’s not bothered about but I love!
I love gift cards but everyone seems iffy about giving them as “it’s not personal” but it’s one of my favourite gifts to receive and feels personal to me.

I love candles but one year my mum bought me the most awful smelling Yankee candle which I had to remove from the house (a Christmas line one) 🤢.

My mum often buys me tea towels, useful but not a great gift 🤣.