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

Cheap toiletries, jewellery, scarves etc when people don't know my taste at all. There are only one or two relatives that get it wrong. My biggest pet hate is when something has clearly just been regifted without any thought. Just don't bother!

As I've got older, most of it really. I’d love to do away with it and just enjoy food and family.

Struggling to come up with ideas for people like my elderly parents and in-laws gets harder every year. They don’t need or want anything and have no idea what I like.

I agree with most of the above but what I hate more than anything is boxes of chocolates. I am a bit fat and actively dont eat sweets or chocolates. I haven't done for years. But every year I get a box or two. I usually take them into work and stick them on the table in the kitchen. But it makes me feel a bit sad that I have £20+ spent on me and I just give it away.
Also, can I add "funny" books like the ladybird books on school gate mums and Brexit etc. I'll spend 5 minutes reading it once. ONCE!

Three for Twos from Boots. I swear my ex husband just walked down the aisle chucking boxes of smelly stuff randomly in his basket.

Kitchen stuff. I quite like cooking but I dont want a sieve or spatula for Christmas (looking at you DH!)

I think PP have covered most of my pet hates. I know it comes from a kind place but I have really sensitive skin so most toiletries that are in gift sets are no good, and I can only wear silver or gold jewelry.

Used to get a ton of tat from the ILs, until we switched to a buy off amazon wishlist please and now I've finally converted it to presents for DC only.

DH's pet hate is random crap associated with his football team.

Jewellery that doesn’t suit me (I wear huge chunky Prue Leith-style necklaces, so getting dainty little silver things doesn’t really work).

Gifts where DH gets something cool and personal because they are his friends, and I get a bookmark or novelty toy clearly bought in a panic.

Anything that has been manufacturered just to be a Christmas present. Even if I like the biscuits, bubble bath, have cream “sets”, I really don’t want all the mad packaging it comes in.

I appreciate gifts, but some are just a waste.

Especially the food gifts, we are foodies but people think any food gift is a good idea, you know those useless sets from Boots, M&S, Salisbury and the like with rubbish chutney and oat cakes and small amounts of random spices chucked in a curry dish, just no thanks.

And any 'celebrity' endorsed olive dish/bread board/platter/cheese knife crap in tons load of packaging to cover up the poor quality . Charity shop does well out of them.

My MIL each year would buy me Yves rocher items, every bloody year, even after telling her for ever I have only used Clarins, but still got Yves rocher, but now its been replaced by Next vouchers, even though I have told her I dont shop at Next, not since the 90's.

Homemade gifts done badly.

I’ve opted out of secret Santa for this reason. I get really stressed trying to think of something thoughtful, and end up getting something shite from the supermarket and receiving similar shite myself. Even a secret Santa bottle of wine is a let down.
My mum buys lots of stuff from the charity shop. It does tick the environmental box, the charity gets to benefit and I think she enjoys it but I do still dread the ton of shite that no one wanted for a good reason.

Sounds awful and ungrateful but everything my 'in-laws' buy... that includes BIL's and SIL's.

Every year they ask for a list from us, then everything year they refuse to buy stuff off of it because:

'it wouldn't be a surprise if it was off the list and Christmas is all about surprises'

So I end up wasting time writing a list, and then with bags and bags full of small (usually) plastic tat that they've brought off though Christmas gift aisles in BHS. The list isn't unreasonable or very specific stuff either, it's the usual pyjamas, scarf, new pan, etc... they could just surprise me with the type/print of pyjamas they choose.

We are environmentally conscious and actively cutting back on waste. We don't buy stuff we don't need and always try to shop second hand. So it pains me to then get given bags full of what is ultimately land fill.

Wine, people know I don't drink it yet I still get given it.

Some toiletry sets can be nice but I hate getting Bayliss and Harding, Nivea or Dove ones.

DH often buys random food items to "give me more to open" like christmas chutney (I don't eat chutney) or biscuits that go in the tin for everyone. These gifts feel impersonal! I love smellies but always end up giving the body lotion away.

Oh yes, forgot about jewellery! Some of my step-family get me jewellery sometimes, usually very big chunky costume jewellery that I'd never wear, I'm also allergic to most metal so can't wear it anyway! I don't even know why these people get me gifts anyway, they never bother to actually spend any time with me!

DB and DSinlaw gave me a bottle of wine for my birthday (I don't drink which they know) and then made me a lovely hamper for my Xmas which included food and more wine. I appreciate getting a gift no matter what but it just feels like a waste and I end up giving the wine to someone else so it get used

Novelty books
Mugs
Body moisturiser (I have enough for about three years, and that's assuming I moisturise my whole body daily, which I absolutely don't)
Jewellery, especially earrings as I can only wear gold
Anything nails related
Jam

But I love lots of the things that others don't:
Candles
Reed diffusers
Chocs/Marzipan/Jellies
Booze, especially prosecco

The older I get the more I appreciate socks as a gift!

I don’t really like perfume gift sets, I always get them but I’m particular about the scent I wear so don’t use them.

Chocolate for my CMPA toddler 3 years in a row now “Oh just a little bit won’t hurt” Erm yes, yes it will. Makes me want to cram up their ass.

For me - anything toiletry related. I dislike most of the popular scents. Seriously, just buy me a notebook or a silly pen instead. Can never have enough of those.

Deffo toiletry gift sets and gift experiences
Hand cream
Weird cookery books from the book people

Anything with one of those silly Prosecco slogans on it "if you can read this bring me Prosecco" "oops I accidentally bought Prosecco again" etc. Also bottles of alcohol or liqueur chocolates. It's no secret that I don't drink but this seems to be a lot of people's go-to gift

No cookery books please. I look up recipes online.

Prosecco princess tat is just naff. I'm 35 fgs.

Nice socks, pyjamas, Emma Bridgewater all gratefully received.

Toiletry sets here too, and liquor chocolate - bloody hate the things but still get them because “I like gin”. I love my nana and I’m honestly grateful for any gift, but she always gets me some awful item of clothing I would never wear, which ends up being given away because she won’t give the receipt with it. She always gets my partner a Nivea giftset as well, despite him asking nicely for about six years for her not to get one. We also always get a box of After Eights, which neither of us like.

It’s just the waste that I hate, when we would honestly be happy with nothing and spending time with her instead - or at least something practical for the house we would use.

I love books but no one ever gets me any as a gift, except for bloody novelty books. I was given a ‘Cats Around the World’ book once, presumably because we have a cat.

Toiletry sets, chocolates (unless high end), plastic Glittery tat or those life motto quotes on cheap hanging plaques - always end up in charity! Also Christmas decorations - unless it’s a special bauble I’ve hinted about don’t buy me tacky crap to hang up next year

For those re secret santa, if you have a set agreed amount, as lazy as it seems i would love an Amazon gift voucher, that way i can put it towards anything i like rather than getting some of the mentioned items that then sit in a cupboard/get given away