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!

For me its not about whether it hits the mark or not, as sometimes they/we get lucky and it does.

It's the "that'll do" attitude that is upsetting.

Frankly if, in your eyes, I am only worth "that'll do" you can stick your fucking present.

Eta @imnotthatkindofmum I have been the recipient of many lovingly gifted things from my kids that have been loved but left me thinking "how long until I can lose this"! Obviously my rant wasn't about that!

My DH is great, genuinely, does loads around the house, great cook, great with DC, etc. I’m very lucky but god he’s rubbish at presents. My 40th came and went, barely acknowledged by him (luckily both my family and his did better!), his was 5 years earlier and I pulled out the stops 😡😡😡
He knows I’m not happy and that I expected him to fix it - he did try but I was sick and since then, nothing.
Kinda thought he’d make an effort at Christmas but no, the e-reader I sent him a link for, some chocolate and a bottle of wine we liked at a dinner six years ago, sentimental reasons 🙄🙄
Apologies, I know I sound ungrateful but am very over it!

Put Savlon on them everywhere they touch your skin. Then put them in your ears.

I did secret Santa at work and it is blatantly obvious that the gift was far less than the set budget. I am disappointed as I always think about what the person likes and spend the full amount. I appreciate people may be struggling with finances but surely you wouldn’t commit to secret Santa if that was the case…

I’m pre-diabetic - which the gift-givers know about - and been given a load of big boxes of chocolate and sweets. The whole lot will be going to the local Foodbank and homeless shelter.

*CoffeeBeansGalore *
I'm sure l could, but l don't think that would stop them sending me STUFF!

I was a little disappointed as I put weeks of effort into picking perfect gifts for my in laws, spent about $200 each on them. Items were antiques I found and drove hours for, or carefully picked things they would not think to get themselves but would love. Last year they gave me cash which while not exciting was useful. This year I got a King Charles ton of shortbread and a set of King Charles tea towels. Both 50% off at their closest supermarket.

my husband got me fancy chocolates also on sale at the same store about half an hour before gift exchange on Christmas Eve.

I guess I don’t care about cost or whatever, more about thinking of me at tiny bit. I’m so easy to please - fuzzy socks, scented candles, bath stuff, a new stephen long book and I’d be chuffed to bits.

My MIL gave me a family organiser type calendar, fine. When I unwrapped it she said ‘that’s so you can organise yourselves when you go back to work (I’m on mat leave) as you and DH can’t communicate’. My mouth was literally hanging open in shock!

*PyongyangKipperbang *
One of my friends used to do this.
He wasn't short of money (far from it!) but every year he'd buy a ton of stuff in the sales, then allocate it for birthdays/Christmas.
It was very hit and miss as to whether it was actually suitable for the recipient of not.

*It's the "that'll do" attitude that is upsetting.

Frankly if, in your eyes, I am only worth "that'll do" you can stick your fucking present.*

Exactly this @PyongyangKipperbang

BugsyMaroon
But it's not 'evenly reciprocated' if she has one more child than you!
So one more birthday present, one more Christmas present, two extra lots of postage....i
Honestly, l wish people would just THINK!

ExH bought me really extravagant but hideous presents. I hated feigning joy. If I didn’t, he’d have been sooo disappointed but he really never knew me at all 😕 the gift this year is that I don’t have to do that anymore 🙏🏻

Partner of 18 years bought me a painting picture of my late great grandfather with our kids who never met him.
hes not been allowed to buy Christmas presents for past 4 years since that

Those are very popular gifts.

I wish my mother had had more time with my younger kids (who where 1 and 4 when she died), I certainly would love pictures of her with them so THEY can have a feeling of her in their life.

I never met my step dads mam, she died when I was one and my dad didn't enter my life until I was 3. I feel like I know her (better than some family I met many times) because he talked about her all the time in a way that made her seem real. Same with my great grandma, I do vaguely remember her sat in a chair but I only saw her 2-3 times a year and she died when I was like 4-5 year old but my mam always told stories that made the memories much more vivid.

I would feel same as you I find that sort of thing really creepy.

A size 20 jumper!!! That is soooo bad, I hope you called him out on this. That’s is so thoughtless x

DH bought me a very expensive and fancy set of kitchen knives in a block, and a matching but separate knife sharpener.

I have no clue why. We already have perfectly serviceable examples of both. I had not asked for new, nor had I expressed any dissatisfaction with our existing knives. Just...random.

For context, he got a branded backpack that he wanted. And some sports gear for 'his' team which I knew he'd love (and does).

Husband and myself never buy anything for each other haven't done for years as we get stuff we want when we want it.
I told my son and daughter not to bother and hinted an afternoon tea or meal voucher would be appreciated. Anyway same old same old. Nuts, beer and shower gel /grooming products for him ( he never uses them ) . Chocolates ,scented candles, hand cream , shower gel a bloody tea towel and perfume I say every year don't buy perfume. I registered it to my mother in law the year after. I only wear my favourite perfume and they never buy that. I would rather they didn't buy anything than waste money and me have to put on the false delighted act every year.

That is utter garbage. 💔

Very generous Nando's voucher from a friend. Unfortunately I don't like Nando's!

I might be wrong… but when you get to a point as a couple and either of you can’t be bother to put effort into a present then that’s a big sign you’re not a priority to each other. And that doesn’t mean money. Effort is definitely different x

Generic chocolate boxes (think thorntons), alcohol and smellies from wider family.
I don't drink, hate chocolate boxes and have sensitive skin so can't use any of those.
No thought put in as usual

My poor aunt is diabetic and she got chocolate boxes/biscuits from everyone except me.

Id rather have a gift voucher then i could get something id actually use.

loads of mumsy clothes from my parents. when they asked what i’d like i said anything but clothes as i prefer to choose my own. it’s not even about the gift, it’s the feeling that they’re just not interested in trying to find something they think you’ll genuinely love

My dad bought me the same perfume my grandma (his mum) used to wear, quite expensive too. It was carefully chosen and given with love. It's a real one squirt, knock your head off very old lady smell. I put it on this morning in the bathroom (one squirt on my wrist) and it's still lingering. I don't have the heart to tell him. He asked me what I wanted and I asked for some hand cream or something smelly from boots. He tried so hard.

I got a lovely present- Chanel perfume… but I currently have 3 bottles of that same perfume…from previous years. It’s ‘because he knows which perfume I like😀’
before those 3 repeat bottles of Chanel perfume, I got the same Tom Ford perfume a few years in a row. I spray it maybe 10 times a year. Yikes 😬
The painful information was that the sales lady ‘tried to sell him a new version of Mademoiselle (and I would have been really happy with a different version!) but he refused as he knows which one I like 🥰’