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

Not "hate" but MIL always gives me a showergel set. I use bar soap. She means well though, just doesn't have a lot of imagination .

Yankee Candles.
Any ornament or novelty item.
Jewellery I haven’t chosen.
Silk scarves.

Bubble bath
Scented candles
A scarf
Thornton's chocolates

All of which I have received on numerous previous occasions, and none of which I either want or need in my life.

Cheap paint stripper that is only any use as a perfume.

Baylis and Harding shit

1. “Gift sets” = small version of product with half a ton of single-use packaging.
2. Scented candles
3. Novelty gifts = landfill waiting to happen

Fake brands. Literally the worst.

Bath and body stuff. It’s never the stuff I like, and I feel awful donating it, but I have cupboards full of the stuff.

One forend once gave me a huge gift set - obviously regifted - everything smelt dreadful and gave me a rash. Such a waste.

Hand cream. I have tubs and tubs of the stuff. Again toiletries are quite personal - it’s never the brand, scent or texture I like.

But feel bad!

got so fed up with random tat , from candles and smelly stuff to novelty nightwear that i let it be known that in an effort to help the environment that i will only be giving people "virtual" presents such as vouchers to restaurants, experiences and if people were kind enough to give me a gift, could they please to do something similar . Seems to be working so far , have received no gifts from some who had previously but totally fine with that.

@wheresmymojo:

“Every January me and my friends have a 'swap shop' where we take any unwanted presents (plus anything else we want to clear out).

Everyone takes stuff they don't want and can take away anything they would like.

Everything left over goes to charity.

Makes for a good night in once alcohol and snacks are added.“

This is g e n i u s

I had a massive give away on a free Facebook group of unwanted gifts a couple months ago, was great people snapped stuff up and seemed genuinely happy to take the gift sets of bath stuff (I don't do baths and the most expensive one I'm allergic too) and plastic noisy toys that we are quiet open in our hatred for.

Stop buying my Ferrero Roche's, I'M ALLERGIC TO NUTS!!!! This extends to buying DP nuts too, stop it, he won't eat them to keep me safe.

Also blingy jewellery and shouty fake designer goods are so not me. I have a smart watch I always wear, no need for a cheap next one. I'm slimmer than most/all of my family, giving me the clothes you forgot to return that were too small for you is shit.

I'd rather have one lovely thing that I couldn't justify buying myself than a doused random cheap things.

I have a friend who's a teacher and I'm sure she has a cupboard full of stuff to regift. Every birthday and Christmas for the last 20 years she has given me truly awful regifted shit. I told her I wasn't giving gifts to anyone except my children anymore.

She still gives me the shite, but now I don't mind so much

Definitely agree with the toiletries sets. I personally don't buy products that have been tested on animals, and I have sensitive skin so can't use a lot of them anyway, so if people buy that for me, it just smacks of I couldn't be arsed to think of something you'd actually like, here have this instead.

My other one is homemade gifts. Not the sort where someone knows I love chocolate shortbread and so made me some shortbread. I love those kinds of gifts.

No the ones I hate are the people who decide I have loads of blackberries so I'm going to make blackberry jam and give the same gift to everyone. I hate those kind of homemade gifts because there is no thought or care put in to what the recipient wants. Instead, they just think about what they want to make. If they haven't asked for something specific, I usually put a lot of time and effort into choosing something I'd think they'd need / like / use abs making the same thing for everyone just smacks of "I can't be arsed to give a shit about what you'd like". So I hate those homemade gifts. Especially if it's something like blackberry jam, that I don't eat. You can't donate that stuff to the charity shop, so it has to be thrown away. Such a waste!

Toiletries (unless very obviously chosen for me- sustainable etc). I don’t wear perfume at all and always get some.

Alcohol, too- I literally have maybe 2 or 3 glasses of gin or wine a year. It’s piling up!

Bath bombs. I hate baths, maybe have two or three a year where I inevitably sit for 20 minutes thinking 'this isn't relaxing at all!'

Hand cream. I get awful dry skin on my hands and so many heavily scented creams get into the cracks and are just painful to use. I know people are well meaning but a cheap tube of Nivea really is the best thing I can put on them.

@DogsnKids. My SIL retired from primary school teachng 10 years ago, and I think she's still using up some of her Christmas toiletry gifts!

Anything that’s wasteful, would rather have a voucher than a gift unless it’s something I have asked for.

Things I don’t like....

Smellies - I have sensitive skin so can’t use them.
Chocolates - I’m really fussy with chocolates and would rather have one nice box than large tubs or roses etc...
Mugs- I have too many mugs and I don’t even drink tea or coffee.
Clothes - I like to choose my own clothes, hate the primark jumpers and fluffy pj’s my mum gets me every year.
Wine - I don’t drink.
Useless gadgets - my dad usually buys me some totally useless gadget that I never use.

Things I do like (but never get)...

Nice candles
Craft kits
Hotel chocolate
Fluffy socks
A good illustrated book
House plants
Silver jewellery

Any "Best Teacher" crap. Don't want it - I don't care if it is a tree ornament/ paperweight/ mug - I don't need the clutter! Ditto framed photos of your child. They're a nice child I'm sure but they're 1 of 30 in the room. Keep the framed pics for granny and grandad.

Toiletry sets and chocolate are also a no.

Toiletries full stop

I am very hard to buy for unless you know me well.

I am Vegan silk, wool, leather etc as well as a lot of most popular cosmetics are out. Plus I don't buy from any company with an mlm arm. I'm looking at you Body shop.

Food again, there's a lot of vegan stuff about now but that doesn't mean I will eat anything that just happens to be vegan.

I have a tiny body, with child size hands so gloves sets are out. I buy gloves for 8yr olds. Same with jewelry, bracelets, rings etc have to be altered and made to order.

I am allergic to alcohol.

I love scented candles but am particular about the brand because of animal products, animal testing etc.

I am particular about charities. Don't buy a Vegan a flaming goat for petes sake. Nor do I want money going to vivisection in my name. Do that in your own name please if you must.

The few people who do buy for me know me well so the gifts are very personalised and special.

I would never get involved in a secret santa. Anyone buying for me would have a 99.9% chance of getting it wrong. Unless they used the fiver for a stranger who got on the bus/train and realised they didn't have their wallet. Random act of kindness. Love it. ❤️

@SionnachRua

Any "Best Teacher" crap. Don't want it - I don't care if it is a tree ornament/ paperweight/ mug - I don't need the clutter! Ditto framed photos of your child. They're a nice child I'm sure but they're 1 of 30 in the room. Keep the framed pics for granny and grandad.

Toiletry sets and chocolate are also a no.

When anyone asks "what should I get for a teacher or TA from my child?" I reply "get all your child's uniform and school stuff out and clearly lable it." 😂 I'm not a teacher or TA but I know a few.

I think most teachers/TA's just want a genuine thank you and for parents to take an interest in their childs learning. Not loads of mugs, frames, homemade shortbread, wine etc

Anything that isn't vegan if the person giving it knows we're vegan. So Nivea gift sets, milk chocolate, that kind of thing.

Booze - I've been teetotal for 15 years

Jewellery - I can only wear sterling silver due allergies and my taste is rather edgier than those gifting it

Smellies other than shower gel

Novelty items or cartoon characters, they are so not me

Ornaments and novelty tat, bath sets, candles, hand cream, Photo gifts, tiny diaries, chocolate liqueurs or truffles, things that have clearly been regifted and alcohol.