Xmas gifts I hate receiving

[JammyRed]

As Christmas is approaching the gifts I dread getting that I get every year are : Xmas themed socks , slipper socks , body lotion , body scrub. Christmas ornaments , Christmas mugs and glasses . Really cheap pound shop chocolate . Mulled wine or spicy biscuits. They don’t go to waste as I donate them to charity . What are the gifts you dread getting ?

Although I have moaned about the home made skin care stuff that I have been given, I am grateful for all the other things I get. Just the fact that someone has got me something and wrapped it up is something I am grateful for. I like candles, chocolates, bath stuff, wine and socks. Close family always ask me what I want so that works well and my friendship group always go out for a meal and exchange small gifts. Reading this thread is making me wonder if they all secretly despise the things I give them 😦

Mugs, anything Christmas based, 'fun' stuff which is basically tat, cheap body sprays, nail clipper sets, restaurant vouchers where it costs you more than the voucher and same with luxury weekend hotel vouchers. I haven't got a car and they are always a really expensive train ride away plus 30 miles further by taxi in the middle of nowhere.

And loads more ..... most of which has been mentioned.

But we all know it's going to happen 😂

My ex's brother and sister in law once gave us (a joint present) an annual for Christmas. As in 'an Animal Rescue' (or whatever it was) annual. The kind of thing kids used to get at Christmas.
We were both in our thirties at the time. With no children.
I've no idea what they were thinking. Even my ex, for whom his sister in law could do no wrong, said "What the hell's this?"
We'd spent quite a bit on their little one, a very decent bottle of wine for them, and treats for their dogs.
I was all for reining it in after that, but he wasn't having it. It was ridiculous. We were spending about £50 on them (this was back in the 90s) and we got back something worth about £5. And they had more money than us.

Ferrero Rocher

Ferrero Rocher

Anything from Bayliss & Harding.

I actually love a new tea towel some of my favourite have been presents. I do prefer towelling ones.

Gift cards for £5-10 for a a store like Selfridges or similar. Last year someone gave me a £10 John Lewis gift card. Used online it’s £5 P&P. My nearest JL is 15 miles away so it costs money to get there. In the end, it wasn’t a gift at all.

I never get any of that shit, I don’t do presents with people that would buy that kind of stuff. We buy for immediate family only these days, discussions are had in advance, a limit on cost is imposed, everyone is happy.

Jewellery. Which sounds ridiculous I know but my mum buys me a load of necklaces and bracelets for birthday and Xmas. They are never my style and I never wear necklaces anyway so I have a jewellery box of guilt of many hundreds of pounds of jewellery that is never worn and is totally overwhelming.
I gently mentioned it to her last year and she understood but then produced yet another necklace and bracelet set for my birthday just gone.

My late MIL used to give me an aprin because ‘she couldn’t think what to get me’. I collected several aprons! I think she wanted me to be an old fashioned housewife, as she was. She gave up work when she got married!

I also hate soap stuff which I won’t use. I like a specific sort and anything else just goes to the charity shop.

Prosecco (yuck.... stick to good champagne, please!)
Body lotion
Hand cream
Scented candles
Anything Xmas themed
Houseplants (I kill them)
Any tacky "knick knacks"
Any type of tea, except mint

I usually prefer experiences, but definitely not a spa voucher!

@Allseeingallknowing sorry yes chuffing autocorrect on my phone 🤦‍♀️

happily keep babyliss gifts 😂 xx

Bloody hell, you’re a miserable bunch of people!

I had this "debate " with my sis recently she says I am the hardest to buy for. I was am so not. don't buy me actually stuff I don't need it or are particular to certain stuff. buy me vouchers 1st brown thomas ( fancy department store here in Ireland) 2 voucher for my hairdresser. 3 voucher for book store 4 voucher for my beauticians 5 voucher for my fab boutique that I can only afford to buy in sale ( same with brown thomas ) 6 voucher for supermarket ( January is a long pay day month it helps with pay day ) 7 one for all voucher and 8 cash - cash is king. why is giving vouchers or cash thoughtless? no thought given to it ? it means people can buy what they need or want. if you give my sis money or generic vouchers she spends on the kids so buying for a boutique she likes but doesn't or can't buy clothes for herself helps her do that. or a voucher for her hair helps her a little boost .I mind the kids for her. there was a post recently about a women asking her mother for cash to get her hair done her mother refused and she was lambasted for asking for cash. that her mother should give her a give she appreciates but thos post shows gives are not appreciated when not wanted and needed and people would prefer gifts that they want.
this xams I am buying everyone gift vouchers. we do kids kindle on both sides of family - my one actually had a space you could write what you wanted wrote gift vouchers for both me and my husband he will say the same to his family.
the only presents I will buy are wine and sweets for post man courier and hairdresser - she gets flowers maybe instead. and something like small lego or coloring books for my nieces ( my sis has asked for vouchers for a specific shop for kids that has an excellent jan sale and she will buy new clothes and shoes for them - stuff they actually need. nieces and nephews on husband side get cash - and they bloody love it.money for stephens night going out they tell us 🤣 oh to be that age again.
everyone gets vouchers or cash. they are all very well appreciated

I adore getting tea towels, especially if they're attractive. Seriously! It's something I never buy for myself and it's nice to start fresh ones from time to time. Ditto oven mitts!

Me too!! 👿

I know you didn't quote me but I am another fed up recipient of tea towels.

My SIL, well off and very stylish, gives me tea towels for every occasion. Birthdays, Christmas, whatever. I have no idea why she thinks I need new ones every few months. We have been clear we don't need any more of the buggers but on she ploughs.

I hate chocolates like Thorntons, Lindt etc.
Id rather have a big bar of plain Cadburys.

Interesting that there is so much consistency in what people hate getting. I have many women in my life who say the same thing! What are safe presents for this cohort of women? The sort who knows their own preferences for food, toiletries, make up, home decor and begrudge any clutter. Basically you all sound like my mother and MIL who I struggle to get every year, insist they don't want anything but yet I MUST buy a token gift for at least to ease my guilt of eating all their food and wine on Xmas Day.

House plants?
... Vouchers?! (surely not, how impersonal)

Craft kits. I don’t have the time or inclination to complete them. My MIL gets me one every Christmas, and then asks pointedly whether I’ve finished it every time she visits…

I share a gift list with many easy to get ideas from £5 to £50.

DH's family recoil at this and follow their own flair. This is how we end up with duplicate presents, food they know I'm allergic to and all the endless tat I have no use for.

Such a waste of time and money when it would have been easier and often cheaper to get something I actually wanted or needed.

Any unwanted chocolates, body cream, alcohol, craft kits or Spa Day vouchers, please send them my way! Seriously, and I posted on another thread, this is my actual Christmas list.

OTOH, I don’t tend to use shower gel (prefer soap) or perfume, or scented candles.

Christ I LOVE a good candle (not cheap ones), pyjamas, fluffy socks (again not tacky or cheap), wine Prosecco and partial to a box of chocolates. Send your unwanted gifts my way 🤣

LOL, we can guess what YOU give your nearest and dearest then!