Christmas presents that you actually loved to receive!

[boymamahere]

This year, I want to do quality over quantity and stop worrying about the amount of presents. I give someone but the actual thought behind it.

What were your favourite Christmas presents that you gave or received?

My favourite presents tend to be unusual and beautiful books on quite niche topics that people know will particularly appeal to me.

I also love receiving expensive perfume and luxury candles, eg Diptyque, as those are things I love but would tend not to buy for myself.

I also loved receiving a really gorgeous hand-knitted infinity scarf from my MIL one year. She made it herself and it was really soft and a lovely delicate knit and in my favourite colours.

A few years ago my brother bought me a Swiss Army knife because he remembered I always wanted one when I was a child. I was absolutely delighted with it.

I also like getting given booze - not so much just a bottle of gin or something, but a bottle of something more unusual that you can’t get from a supermarket, especially if I can use it in cocktails.

Probably sentimental things that I can keep - notable favourites are paintings of loved pets. I like a Pandora charm too, as each one has meaning, I rarely wear that/my 2 chamilia charm bracelets, as theyre too sentimental for daily use. Each charm has meanings. Love a lego set. Love ornaments that look like a pet I have/had.

MIL always buys things that aren't to my taste at all. DH will very occasionally ask what they can get me, I usually say money or sometimes a nail voucher. They have never given me money. Frequently give me clothes that are 2 sizes too small (I guess at least they think im a small size when actually im not 😂). One year they gave me pj's, I returned them and used the refund to buy my soup maker! Ive discovered vinted while ive been on maternity so imagine theirs will be bound for that. Id far rather just money so i can choose something id like, or actually be asked what id like.

I hate smellies as gifts, as im massively headache prone and have VERY few scents I can tolerate. Same for candles, plus i worry about house fire, and we have naughty cats that will probably knock them over. Also dont like clothes as gifts as im not into them at all, if i could id live in joggers and vest tops. Not a fan of food for gifts, feels a bit meh, and I like gifts I can keep

Im hard to buy for 😬

I love a book token! Or nice kitchen bits that I wouldn’t buy myself, like kitchen tweezers or jazzy little utensils that I wouldn’t necessarily buy myself but will use all the time

Best ones were family gifts when the kids were small from the in-laws - one year it was gift vouchers for us to all go to the Harry Potter studio tour, another an annual National Trust family pass. Last year they gave DP vouchers for us to go out for a meal, which we just did last week, and it was a really lovely treat.

I personally prefer to receive something small but that's good quality - ie not the whole scarf, hat, gloves combo made from polyester, but instead a lambswool hat, or scarf - but usually end up getting stuff I don't really like or want (first world problems I know) but its just such a waste of money, like candles and bath sets.

Like other PPs I love quality things I wouldn’t buy for myself. Like a £30 bottle of olive oil in a nice bottle, Fortnums chocolates or biscuits, Neom candles etc.

But I also like thoughtful things that can be very cheap! My dad excels at buying kitchen bits - like a tiny sauce whisk great for making enough cheese sauce to do the kids cheesey pasta, or a wooden spoon that’s the best wooden spoon ever, or the thickest waffle tea towels that make you realise how shit all other tea towels are! A friend gave me some weaving in needles for my crochet projects, cost her about £1, but the absolute delight of her saying THESE ARE THE BEST IVE EVER USED as she gave them to be like they were priceless made me so happy!!! (And they are great).

Gifts that have stood out for me in the last few years are..
A night away
Vouchers for my favourite restaurant
A cashmere scarf
Plants for the garden
I also love a gift card, chocolate and books.

I love to get a bottle of Baileys at Christmas, or some cosy socks. I don't ask for much!

Candles, perfume books, posh socks, posh chocs

Bobbi Brown Facebase
Cashmere wristwarmers
Fancy insulated lunch bag
Jo Malone perfume
Nice gardening gloves
Tony’s Chocolonely
Gold hoop earrings
Ugg slippers
Clinique make up remover
Exfoliating cloth
Head massage voucher

I like the things that other people tend to roll their eyes at.
nice socks
posh candle
posh shower gel
nice body lotion

Im easily pleased!

PILs bought me a tiny photo printer one year. It wasn't something I wished for, but it's been rather useful.

MIL knitted me a fair isle sweater in wool. Bloody lovely for when I'm outdoors.

I love gifts that make me feel seen or heard.

My younger db gave me a packet of sweets when he was a broke student. I’d tasted one at a friends house, loved it and thought no more about it. He remembered I’d liked them and knew I didn’t buy them for myself. £1.30 to put a huge smile on my face.

Mil gave me a voucher to a shop I love. She knew she didn’t know me well enough to pick for me. But she knew where I liked to browse. I really appreciated it even though vouchers are generally seen as low effort.

My dsis’ gifts are more of a slow burn. She has often given me something that is a bit of an ouch at first Last year was decent primer and a green concealer. The year before was a course of teeth whitening treatment. She sees me - just through a highly critical lens - but she’s always right. 🤣

Consumables all the way for me because I’m really particular about what I bring into my house and don’t like an excess of ‘stuff’.
Candles, chocolate, olive oil, alcohol, perfume, hand cream, all stuff we will either use or can share when we have people round and will ultimately not take up space in my house for long!!
Mostly though I’d prefer no presents.

Anything homemade! If someone has put effort into making something for me then I will cherish it. A thoughtfully chosen book, cosy socks, functional stationary. I was once gifted a red scarf for Christmas that was beautiful wrapped in a box with a bow. It felt so special unwrapping it and it has been a wardrobe staple for years.

A nice thick wooden chopping board - any size, small ones sometimes the most useful - from a local fete or somewhere you've been away. I always forget to buy the good ones and the bamboo ones aren't as durable.

A few of my favourite presents over the years:
Samsung galaxy smart watch
Kate Spade handbag
Mid calf boots
New coat
Mini photo printer

Feel like I'm a bit of an outlier here. Consumables are nice but I like presents I can keep. They often remind me of the person who bought them.

My DB once bought me a pandora bracelet (I wasn't a big fan of them) BUT he had added certain charms to reflect my life as he saw it and I was genuinely touched by the thought he had put into it - I really treasure it.

Other gifts that really hit the mark

My DH bought me a gift wrapping with Jane Means

A DF bought the most lovely "bouquet" of 5 tall red amaryllis flowers with some eucalyptus foliage - absolutely stunning and lasted for ages

DH popped the M&S box of cocktails under tree last year - I think there were 7/8 cans in there - I have really enjoyed trying them

A book - love a book - a DF gave me one of those clothback hardback books that you can buy of Jane Eyre to remind me we had studied it at school

Presents others have loved from me that I'm aware of

Dad - I bought him 31 different bears to drink throughout January

DH - a vintage pen I hundred down (wasn't expensive) but reminded him of his father

Cinema vouchers to Everyman for my best friend and her DH

Potted up an amaryllis each for book club friends

Lots of different types of licquorice for elderly neighbour who loves licquorice

voucher for my favourite massage place.

special skincare that I have chosen myself.

Just thinking of all the amazing things I would buy myself lol

Hi end - skis
low end - lego men heads for my bike tyre valves

A child at school gave me a hot water bottle with a furry cover with a fairy on it. Still have the cover but with a new bottle inside.

A child at school gave me a hot water bottle with a furry cover with a fairy on it. Still have the cover but with a new bottle inside.

Some of my favourite Christmas presents have been personalised gifts. Not the most expensive ones either! One was a decent quality mug with photos of me and my kids on it. Another was a jigsaw made out of a photo of our family together on a day out. These two came to mind straight away. I can't even think of anything spenny I've been bought off the top of my head - so that says it all!

Yes consumables all the way. Last year I was given a beautiful ceramic plant pot holder just the right colour filled with Neals Yard hand cream, the new paperback I wanted, a bar of Italian rose soap and some Lindor chocolates. Perfect.
This year I am hoping for sheepskin mittens. My fingers are getting a bit arthriticy and I find ordinary gloves are a pain because I have to take them off to do anything.

L’occitane Almond shower oil.
I’d love the body cream ( just once ) but it is wildly expensive.
I know I can buy almond scented dupes.