Well meant gifts that didn't hit the mark

[imnotthatkindofmum]

Here's a thread to post your disappointing gifts that you can't be disappointed with in real life! Let off a little steam without upsetting anyone!!

My lovely daughter bought me some novelty earrings. I never wear novelty earrings but she's so proud of them i have to wear them. She was so secured about me opening them but now I have to work out how little I can get away with wearing them so she doesn't realise I hate them!

Also DH only bought what was on my list. It was a cheap and simple list. I would have liked him to choose something he thought I would like. After 22 years not sure why I expect that though!

Secured means excited!

DH and I are not exchanging gifts and there is no one else here to give or receive a gift from. It was my birthday in December and also no gifts or cards then (DH’s culture doesn’t give cards but my family’s does.) To be honest I feel like wrapping up my phone charger or a bag of rice just to have something to open and feel a bit festive. We also don’t have a Christmas tree although we do have a card from my Mum.

Try to get a few photos of your novelty earrings, OP, and that way there is a memory of them and don’t have to wear them very often after today.

wear the novelty earrings today op, so she is pleased

DS got me a 1000 piece photo jigsaw of him and his sister. It is lovely but will be almost impossible as the background is at least half water, which looks identical.

I made the same mistake with my own DM a few years ago!

my dm always tells a story of her df being given ties for christmas and wore them both at the same time to make both dds happy

You basically described our Christmas. My partner has a December birthday, so 'hates' Christmas because presents were always merged. I'm always roped into the cooking and 'thoughtful' gifts whereas for me they just want a list. It all gets very transactional, so this year, I said no. No tree. No presents. No decorations. Just another day.

It's feels somewhat freeing, but I wish people cared. So my 'disappointing' gift is that no-one actually cared about it at all.

I can’t put my finger on why exactly I’m disappointed.

I enjoy giving and will listen throughout the year to what someone likes/needs. I’ll also think about what they’ve got coming up next year (special events, holidays, etc) and gift with that in mind.

DH gave me some fairly odd things like a salt & pepper set, a size 20 jumper (I’m size 10), and earrings that I at first thought were decorations for the tree. They’re huge, brightly coloured animals on equally huge hoops and not something I’d ever wear.

He doesn’t really pay attention to my reaction when opening things either, whilst I can’t wait to see his when he sees what I’ve got him.

Sorry I turned this into a bit of a DH rant.

I once got toothpicks

Fucking toothpicks-not gorgeous earrings or a pretty necklace-toothpicks

My dear friend who I adore has bought me diamond art

I don't do diamond art-i cross stitch (I may have mumbled something once about wanting try diamond art)

My mother was the Queen of shite presents-shed buy tat and put it all in her spare room to pick out at random

An acid pink blanket with sleeves covered in someone else's food stains was a highlight

Dgc have bought me a lap blanket.
As my legs get very cold.
Lovely poem on the front.
So soft and warm.
The only thing is that it's in the
brightest Pink I've ever seen.

I bought DS a bottle of moonshine at a food fair in August. He's allergic to nuts. He's opened it this morning and it's hazelnut flavour. I don't know why I didn't see that when I bought it. There were plenty of other flavours I could have bought.

Sounds like a last minute TK Maxx dash to me!

My OH and I don’t bother with presents but he usually does get me some PJs from the kids but it’s always so obvious it’s the last ones Primark haven’t in my size. Always a washed out pastel colour with a cable knit effect or something. Just not what I’d choose. Then you need to act grateful for this tiny slice of half thoughtfulness. Tedious.

DP and I don't exchange gifts.
We just had a little alone time and he said - this is all I need.
Sorry pass the sick bucket.

@imnotthatkindofmum so sweet of your daughter. 🤗

They're obviously only for wearing at home though, you definitely wouldn't want to lose them outdoors. 😉

Have a lovely day.

eta; missed word

Dh got me walking boots which I asked for a while ago. A month ago my prolapsed disc became inflamed I can't walk for more than ten minutes currently but they will come in eventually (he bought them ages ago no shade on him)

I asked for perfume and got Primark supermarket sweep of reduced bits

Yes exactly this. I don’t want to bring the mood down so haven’t shown any disappointment. I’m grateful to receive gifts but would rather have some thought behind it, otherwise why bother? It’s just buying for the sake of it.

I got some noise cancelling headphones as apparently I keep saying I'd like some peace and quiet. I'm not sure that's quite what I meant.

Dh actually put some effort in this year, but he's been totally ripped off, and so I don't quite know what to do! He's bought me some opal gold stud earrings, problem is they're not gold, and they are fake opals. (I don't care that they're fake, as they are still pretty, but because they're not gold I can't wear them as I have a nickel allergy...nickel was supposed to have been banned as a base metal for this reason), but he was so excited to get me something he thought I'd love with no prompting, I really don't know what to do. I know he spent good money and has been totally had. Fuckwit who sold them to him must have known.
If I tell him they're nickel, he'll be gutted and feel miserable he's been had, if I say they are lovely he'll want me to wear them...currently already have a pair in, so I need to think this through carefully... Christmas dilemma!

I’ve not opened any presents yet but my mum buys me art products she sees in TK Max, but it stuff I wouldn’t use.

I paint miniatures, with tiny brushes and a particular brand of paint.

Even if I do paint on paper I work very small.

She buys me giant canvases and large brushes. I never use them.

This goes back to me studying art and I used to work big because we needed to do a certain amount of work. (I think it was 20 x A4 sides).

It just sits. It’s all rarely used.

I have the same allergy. You could try painting a layer of clear nail polish over the post and back of the earring. You'd still need to wear them 'sparingly' but you could tell him they are so lovely you want to keep them for special occasions.

DH kept asking me for ideas and I really couldn't think of much I wanted or needed this year. The only thing coming to mind was a new compact make-up palette I can use for travelling- you know the type of thing - 3 or 4 eyeshadows and a blusher in a wee case with a mirror. I showed him the one I currently use and how I'm scraping the sides as it's nearly empty. We went shopping together and I found exactly what I wanted. Suggested we buy it there and then but apparently that wasn't in the Christmas spirit and he would definitely remember... He took a photo to help too.

This morning I unwrapped one of those enormous 50-shade eye palettes full of bright metallics. Very much the type of thing you'd buy a young teenager. He looked so pleased with himself. I've quietly ordered the correct thing for myself while is in the shower.

I'm also a bit upset that despite saying categorically no chocolate as I'm really depressed about my weight at the moment, I got 6 boxes! 2 from DH and 4 from PiLs. I struggled to hide my feelings as I unwrapped those.

My mum bought my 9 year old some PJs, size 8-10 ladies. Luckily they fit me, and DD found it hilarious. I’ve ordered her some in the same theme to click and collect tomorrow. Disaster averted.

You might have to wash that with Dylon all the wrong clothes, how tragic.

I feel very ungrateful. I got a voucher for afternoon tea for one. I'm a single parent, quite lonely at times. Actually feel like the gift is tone deaf. It's made me feel quite low. I'm sitting here alone waiting on my kid returning from their dad's. Wish I hadn't opened it. It has accentuated my loneliness.

They would’ve fit DD at 9! She’s 11 now, 2 inches taller than me, feet 3 sizes bigger and a ladies 10-12 size. She’s going to be edging 6 foot, bless her.