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 ?

I don't mind 100% cotton teatowels. DP buys one now and then, but more as a souvenir.

But oven mitts?? Dead god no! They have to be what you want in your house, not some funky flamingo design (I feel now for my poor mum, as kids we were always encouraged to buy this sort of thing). And the only ones that are actually any use are expensive and not fun.

I got £100 Selfridge voucher last year. They don't sell much in that price range.

And shipping I think was £10.

I did get some Crocs. But I didn't really need them.

Any alcohol. I don't drink because I hate the taste and the effect. I'd really like a multipack of J20 or San Pellegrino.

We do wish lists, yet one sibling (+spouse) always goes off-list with something weird or otherwise unwanted.

As a single person it does grate that I buy sibling, spouse, and child nice personalised gifts that they actually want, and get one crap gift back. I did actually cry one year (in private) as I felt so let down and disappointed.

Thinking about doing a couple gift for then this year, but want it to be something they actually want. Of course, their wish lists never include couple things, and siblings list never anything reasonably priced in comparison to what they spend on me!

I can’t believe how many people landfill items! Olio is great for getting rid of anything especially food etc.
But I even like any bath/ shower gel etc. I use bubble bath as a shower gel it still works! I love Dove etc, saves me money on my weekly shopping!
Any pjs are just worn all year round.

There was always a ‘Christmas Present Swap’ thread on here.

Not sure if it still exists?

@GripGetter - my favourite. My DS used to buy me these every year from his saved pocket money. As a young adult he has continued and remembers ever year . A fond giving!

Art or ornaments. I am so particular and take weeks and weeks choosing anything. There's absolutely no way someone (my DM) could grab something in a shop that I'd want to look at every day.

Fluffy anything
Ornaments
Candles
Toiletries

Frankincense & Myrhh - Gold however is fine.

They are balls of butter…I’ve asked my Mum not to buy them for me 🤣

Most things in the Boots 3 for 2 Christmas promotion!

Alcohol because I don’t drink.

Anything that comes from my young 'niece'.. because usually it's not from her AT ALL.. it's her mum picking awful, cheap tat and blaming it on my niece, 'oh I hope you love it 'niece' chose it for you'.. piss off did she 🤣

Nothing really, apart from toiletry sets that contain body lotion as I don’t use it. I probably should use it but I’ve never found one that is light and absorbs quickly into my oily skin. I think years of teasing over teenage acne, greasy skin and hair have left me with a complex about anything oily feeling on my skin and hair. So ditto hand cream. But most people know that about me. We tend to ask each other for ideas what to buy, this keeps the crap to a minimum.
If I’m dieting I’ll just ask folk not to get me sweets or booze but usually I try to relax over Christmas.
Im quite easy to please really as far as gifts are concerned.
I love to get nice pjs but one thing I do hate is when they are too small! That makes me really sad. I’m on the curvy side so I urge people to please err on the side of larger! (Like if choosing between 14-16 or 16-18 even though I generally wear a 14-16 in regular clothes).

@Emmz1510 I do wonder about those toiletry sets, they always have 'body lotion.' Does anyone use this? Ever?

Felt sad on your behalf seeing that. have these off me💐

I'd lovw tea towels, nobody ever gets us them! We go through them like wildfire.

I hate cheap body wash sets and chocolates though. Also those tiny beverage with novelty glass sets.

All I want for xmas is someone to say I'll have DS for you for a few hours while you have a soak in the bath and an Everything Shower so you can finally shave your legs, armpits, toes and chin. I'd probably weep tears of joy if somebody said that to me. I don't want more crap I've to find space for or find time to donate.

Scented candles - have asthma, so they go into the garage (where I can’t smell them) until I can give them away to a raffle/tombola

toiletries
prosecco
chocolates
amaryllis bulbs

I’ve never been given tea towels but would be happy to have them.

Me! I prefer a creamier texture, body butter or cream but if not, then I’ll use a lotion. It’s often the only thing I’ll use out of a set.

Similar things to the OP, with the exception of slipper socks, those are always welcome gifts. Anything described as ‘smellies’ even that word irritates me. I have a skin condition though so people who know me well tend not to get me anything that might set it off.

Anything Baylis and Harding #thrushtastic

I have tried this with my family and variations of (eg secret Santa so you’re only buying one, more expensive and hopefully therefore better quality, present). But they still insist on buying stuff for everyone anyway and mostly I don’t want it.

I also encourage them to dial down how much the kids get as it’s obscene when you look at it all together. My dad and his wife in particular give a lot of plastic tat. And cheap Next toiletries gift sets to me which end up at the PTA Christmas fair 🙄 it’s lazy and thoughtless.

All of it, I tell them every year not to buy me and waste their money and every year they buy me stuff I don't want, like or use.
I do genuinely feel rotten about it because usually it adds up to a lot of money and it feels like a waste of their cash.
I'm fussy, I know I am.
When we used to do secret Santa at work, I'd write a wish list and they were very good at not deviating from it.
My closest friend chooses excellent gifts for me. Never fancy or expensive but something she knows I'll like.
My MIL is the worst with DH, every single year for birthday and again at Christmas she buys him Calvin Klein boxers from sports direct (usually with price tag left so we know they aren't especially cheap) and every year he donates to charity. And JCB socks, also to charity.
No matter how many times we tell her what to get him or nothing at all. Sure as fate. The boxers and socks arrive amongst other unused items.

Eugh I hate it.

One year my aunt bought my son, around 7 years old at the time, a black burglar balaclava. One of those with just eye holes. She thought it would keep him warm. I didn’t even dare give it to a charity shop. 🙄
We’ve done family WhatsApp group messages the last couple of years, with suggestions for what we’d like and what we don’t want /need. We also limit how much we spend per person. We’re all adults and can buy what we want during the year. It’s much better now, just one or two gifts nicely wrapped because we don’t have to spend ages fighting sellotape. No mountains of things we don’t like, no clothing from my mother or sister in size 10 ( which is the size they say I should be rather than the size I am) to return to stores. This year I’ve said no body lotions or perfumes as I have enough to last me for the next few years.

Could you agree a budget with them, eg “let’s each only spend £20 as life is too expensive”, and then spend that on a gift for all of them, like chocolates and a jigsaw? Then when they ask why you only spent £20 you can say because that’s what was agreed - they can’t very well then say they actually expect you spend end £60 on them while they only spend £20 on you, and if they do you can point out that’s not ok.