What gifts do you never want to be given again? And what do you wish people knew you would always like to receive?

[escapingthecity]

My never again list:
Mugs
Tea towels
Socks
Biscuits
Jam
Wine
Tea

Drawers and cupboards bursting with all of them!

What I would always love more of:
Knitwear, esp fair isle jumpers
Scented soap (it goes in drawers to deter moths if it's too pungent/floral for hand washing)

Please no to cheap gin or wine (gordons/blossom hill type) although I’ll receive with gratitude if you do give me it.
I loathe roses and milk tray. I used to love them but the changes have made them inedible.

There is no spaces in the mug cupboard. Though if you give me a lovely one I’ll make a space.

Soap. Awful gift and I’ll never work through what I have.

I’ll receive your cheap toiletries with happiness that you thought of me and as I don’t have sensitive skin they will all be used.

I’d like mostly consumable things and slightly up market versions of everyday - so craft gin, a nice wine, chocolates that aren’t Cadbury’s, candles (id prefer spa type but I’ll use whatever you give me), biscuits, jams and preserves, pretty stationery... I think I’m easy to buy for. I’ll be grateful you’ve thought of me tbh. Even another soap will get added to the pile I am sure I will get through one day.

Whittards hot chocolate set and a particular brand of handwash. Get them every year without fail. Basically if i ever express a passing liking for something, i then get given it in bulk for years and years to the point that I no longer like the stuff.

I'd love some Lego!

No to....
jewellery
Smellies
Candles
Ornaments
Make up bits
Hats, gloves and scarves

Yes to....
Books, books and more books but people get fed up of buying them fir me

It's funny, what sprang to my mind right away actually falls into both categories!

My dad finds me really hard to buy for, but always tries really hard to get it right and doesn't want me to give him a list–which results in the weirdest presents every year!

I'd happily never receive anything he's bought me in the past again (a massive tray for jigsaw puzzles, a 'tuned' set of wind chimes, a weird scarf that looks like the top 1/4 of a turtleneck jumper) AND I also know that the day will come when I'd give anything to get one of his weird presents again.

Between the ever growing lists of my intolerances, allergies and generally dietary restrictions I end up giving away most food gifts, including the standard 'everyone loves' gifts of wine and chocolate. I don't mind much (I don't expect people to keep memos on my diet) but I wish people would give me beer instead. That seems to be a generic gift that's only for men, for some reason.

No thanks:
Chocolate (I’m too damn fussy about what chocolate I eat)
Wine - again super fussy
Toiletries- see above!

Yes please:
Jams/ chutneys especially homemade
Christmas cake / puds / pannatone
Gloves
Scarves
Scented candles
Recipe books

Oh God, Fancy Tea is on mine

I only drink Yorkshire

Anything "for the house"

I am not a house and I have specific taste

Reading this I realise how fussy I am. Love the owl experience days being listed by more than one person. I love owls but thinking about it, it would also be a no (claws, crowd watching me hold an owl wrong, lands on my head ignoring the glove, worrying about its living conditions, sounds too complicated a gift).

Maybe an owl experience for someone else that I can go and take pictures of.

For medical reasons: no perfume, nothing smelly at all, no make up or anything that goes on skin, nothing containing wool, nothing containing lavender, no alcohol, no to most sweets/chocolate.
For pickiness reasons: no mugs, no diaries, calendars or wall planners, no pens, no clothes, no ornaments. Nothing bulky as the house is full. Nothing luxury branded because I’ll feel too nervous to use it. No long, complicated craft projects because I already have more ideas and supplies than time.
I do appreciate I’m not the easiest to buy for.

Random gifts I always like more of: fused glass necklaces, new children’s books, music on vinyl, nice craft tools or accessories, retro/vintage stuff that’s also useful.

No to
Mugs (decluttered when moved and now been bought about another 5 random ones)
Soap and glory gift sets- just why?
Hand cream - dont use

Yes
Books
Socks
Hoodies
Trainers (only nike as got awkward feet)

@Hexenhaus

Reading this I realise how fussy I am. Love the owl experience days being listed by more than one person. I love owls but thinking about it, it would also be a no (claws, crowd watching me hold an owl wrong, lands on my head ignoring the glove, worrying about its living conditions, sounds too complicated a gift).

Maybe an owl experience for someone else that I can go and take pictures of.

My DH booked me an owl experience a few years ago hence why I mentioned as I want to do it again!!

They were absolutely lovely and very well looked after. It was a bird of prey rescue centre near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. There wasn't a huge crowd, about 5 of us allowed to handle and 5 spectators. I got to fly the most beautiful barn owl, a buzzard and a European eagle owl. It really was incredible. They also have a tiny little owl but he doesn't fly much. Just sits on your hand looking adorable.

No thanks:

Toiletry sets
Gin
Novelty cups/glasses
Body lotions
Scarves/gloves

Yes please!

Nice chocolates
Scented candles (but not Yankee Candles)
Decent thermal socks
Good french red wine
Pyjamas

No thanks
Gift sets with tiny little bits of crap in them like mini cheeses or preserves. Too small to enjoy properly
Wine -- I love wine, but I have very specific taste
Non-fiction books. Just not interested
Twee personalised crap -- The XXXX Family Rules wall vinyl etc
L'Occitane toiletries
Boxes of biscuits
Bamboo socks. I bloody loathe the feel of it on my skin

Yes please
Audible tokens/gift card
Yoga stuff
Scented candles
Soap, especially handmade
Houseplants
And I'll have that owl experience if it's going

Scented candles, especially those woodwick ones that crackle annoyingly.
Sparkling wine - don't drink it
Anything made of wool - makes me itch
Adult colouring books - got several and never use them
Scarves, hats, gloves - I rarely wear them and am very fussy about how they feel.
Pampering vouchers - no thanks unless I can use them for a manicure

Yes please to:
Most types of giftcard
Books
Bone china mugs
Handcream - I use lots of it
I'd like an owl experience

No thanks
Mugs
Candles (I've 23 in the cupboard)
Body lotion - I don't use it.
Sparkly wine.

Yes please
Pretty much anything else.

No cheap chocolate, toiletries, ornaments, non alcoholic wine (whyyyyyyy?) Green clothing, to someone who NEVER wears green, why would you give green gloves (lovely gloves but.....) to someone who alternates between a pink coat and a burgundy puffa?

Yes to good choc, good soap or moisturiser, cashmere, wine, gin or unusual liqueurs, pens and stationery , nice food gifts ( not cheap chutney), cookbooks, the more unusual the better and happy with second hand, in fact kudos for seeking out one you know I'll be interested in!

No more lotions.

I'm known to be an avid gardener & would love vouchers toward seeds & supplies.

Don't like

Body lotion/hand cream. What is it FOR? It just makes you feel unpleasantly greasy.
Sets including the former.
Alcohol (at least until I stop growing/feeding/sleeping with babies).
Socks unless bamboo/cosy
Novelty cups that don't go in the dishwasher
Diaries/notebooks, never use one
Novelty mugs that are ugly
Slippers
Paperback books. Love books but need to be on kindle due to babies/toddlers!

Like

Chocolate
hot choc
biscuits
PJs
Soap
Warm stuff (scarf, gloves, heat pack etc)
Cooking stuff like spices etc
Cookbooks

This has been very useful for my Christmas shopping. No-one will receive a gift set and everyone will get an owl experience. Job done.

No thank you:

Scented candles
Itchy gloves/scarf/hat
Hot chocolate gift sets
Prosecco. Gin.

Yes please to:

Lindt balls
Books
Turtle doves wrist warmers
Molton Brown
No 7

Clothes, Handbags, Shoes... everyone buys me clothes, I have 5 wardrobes, 2 chests of draws and 12 storage containers full I do NOT need more clothes especially in sizes that don't bloody fit (I'm size 14 not 8 ffs).

The gifts I liked most where surprisingly books, I'm not a big reader as I'm Dyslexic and never have the time but there are a handful of rare books I always wanted (not just any random best selling novel) and my DH tracked down and bought two of them and it was really surprising, its the gifts that stick out the most in my memories.

The no list

Calendars - we get one every year ☹️
Shower gel/moisturisers - they go in the bathroom for everyone to use.
Amazon vouchers - I never buy anything for myself on there so spend them on the house.
Waterstones vouchers - have plenty of them online already from previous years.
Novelty books

The yes list
M&S vouchers
Ponchos (love the handmade ones I have)
Woolly hats
Gym leggings and tops
Any Pilates stuff
Hotel Chocolate liqueur

@mam0918

Clothes, Handbags, Shoes... everyone buys me clothes, I have 5 wardrobes, 2 chests of draws and 12 storage containers full I do NOT need more clothes especially in sizes that don't bloody fit (I'm size 14 not 8 ffs).

The gifts I liked most where surprisingly books, I'm not a big reader as I'm Dyslexic and never have the time but there are a handful of rare books I always wanted (not just any random best selling novel) and my DH tracked down and bought two of them and it was really surprising, its the gifts that stick out the most in my memories.

• 1-2 storage containers not 12... even I don't have THAT much lol.

Really its just a chore they give me as I have to resell things but I clearly SUCK at doing that so they just get put away and I never get round to it.

I like small and/or consumable things. Most decent chocolates, gin, candles, coffee. As well as a book that has been chosen for me and any kind of useful gift voucher. I also love proper wool things (not staticky fleece things)....blankets, mittens etc. I'm not bug on experience days. They are always bought by my mum who proceeds to hassle me on a fortnightly basis about when I'm going to book it for.

I don't want puzzles, mugs, anything that is big and requires a rearrangement of my house. Pointless gimmick books. Clothes for the dog (my dog hates clothes).

I don't mind most stuff, but I never use body lotion, or hand lotion so gift sets are mostly a waste of time. My dad buys me a chocolate orange every year - and every year I tell him I don't like it and he is delighted and eats it for me. I'm 56 and he has been doing this for approximately half a century now. I've never liked chocolate orange.

I really, really want book tokens. My mum will BUY me books every year. Books that have been recommended by Richard and Judy. Or have won the Booker prize. Fuck knows. Not books I want. Not books I'll read.

I just want book tokens.