When relatives insist on getting you things that you just don't want

[Pagan]

OK I admit it - I'm totally different from everyone in my family in that I hate clutter and tat, useless stuff just lying around gathering dust that sort of thing. I love em dearly but their taste is just not me so how do I get the message across that honestly I won't be miffed if they never buy me things without seeming ungrateful.

just hide them i do! or sell on ebay, which i did with a lovely vase my mil gave us, it got quite a few bob!

Have done that previously but this time my Mum wants to buy me a fireguard and has specifically asked if the one in the Argos catalogue would suit. I've said no as we want one that attaches to the wall but they are way beyond her budget and I know she just wants to be nice - sigh!!! Also after giving my brother a painting about 4 years ago that he was going to reframe he finally got around to doing it and I hate the frame coz it makes the painting look keck so do I get it redone elsewhere and offend him else not hang it up and offend him - sigh!!!!

Pagan,I dread getting presents too ! (Sour cow that I am...)
From now on,will tell people to buy me a cow or a goat from Oxfam.

I can't understand all these threads on MN about what to buy the father/mother/dh/kid who has everything.
Hello?????? There's a real big clue in there!

I'd just rather people didn't bother. My mil is forever bringing tat back from her holidays.. little drum type thing that .. um have no idea what it's for .. some sort of wooden tat she brought back from canada .. and the latest was a glass swan she brought back from malta .. she thinks it's lovely but imo it looks like an ashtray! We keep telling her and she keeps bringing it all back anyway, clutter clutter clutter.

I love the Oxfam Goats idea - I must start dropping huge hints. My pal went to a humanist wedding today and they got them an Oxfam goat for a wedding pressie - I thought that was fantastic.

We should start a thread on tattiest tat pressies - I got a spoon tray in the shape of an Amish couple from the US along with a bending over butler which you are supposed to balance a bottle of wine in - frankly dangerous if you ask me. Both from my SIL whom I love dearly but is a bit of a clutter freak. I saw the perfect pressie for her which was a hand knitted bunny thing where you store your plastic bags in the skirt part!!!!!!!