Great 'Biggest Christmas waste of money?' Hunt

[Deleted User]

I don't mean to sound ungrateful but after spending ages finding out and shopping for exactly the right type and brand of chocolates/books/music/perfume/make-up etc etc that recipients want/use I always end up myself with smellies, especially perfume, in fragrances I can't stand. Anyone who knows me must realise that there is only one fragrance I ever use and have done for the past 15 years. Yes, it is expensive but I use it very sparingly (albeit a little every day). No one could fail to notice that it's what I always wear and many have complimented me on it and asked what it is. An annual purchase at Duty Free or from the sales will see me through a whole year. If they don't want to spend the money on it then I'd much prefer a non-fragrance product as a gift, something like stationery or a book token would be brilliant. Instead I end up with fragrance sets or perfumes with a scent I just can't stand, something lemony or the latest 'celebrity' offering which obviously wasn't cheap but is just no use to me. I try dropping hints etc but to no avail. Fragrance is such a personal thing, someone's 'signature' and I just wish people would realise that. Never mind though, the charity shops do well out of me after Christmas! Not all that much consolation though after I've spent so long and gone to so much trouble making sure I buy exactly what the recipients will use.

Glowboy

*Louise* wrote: »

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I use them so when it comes to christmas day I know which gift is which when I take them all out from under the tree.

If it wasn't for tags, we would just have a free for all :rotfl:

We use gift tags for members of the extended family, whose presents need to stay under the tree after we've picked out ours. But Mrs G wraps the boys' presents in different paper: older one blue, younger one red, or whatever. It doesn't work if you plan (like one earlier poster) to use newspaper, unless one of them is the FT.

hurricane32

buying things that will never last is also a waste of money....isn't it:mad:

hostertlady

i noticed stuffing balls in asda yesterday.. £3.00 for 12!!! now that is a waste of money......

also the already made sausage and bacon wrap thingees, they are more expensive too than making your own!!

whats wrong with people that cant open a packet of stuffing and add hot water and butter to it???

i also hate receiving pressies that i know damm well i am not going to use... especially drink... i told a certain someone what drink i prefered and what did they get me?? something completely different....

harv

Several years ago the adults in our family stopped buying presents for each other. Instead my mother chooses a different charity each year.

The kids still have a great time While we can enjoy a relaxing time with no pressure.

hurricane32

yeah it is good to give out your old clothes or make them new designs before you give them as a gift...:j

tight_scotsman

i write my cards out in pencil and ask my freinds and family to write mine out in pencil then i can rub the writing out and re-use simples

wammy77

zeke wrote: »

All of it. The whole bl**dy lot. The true spirit of Christmas is well and truly dead. Kids expectations get more and more demanding each year. You spend every waking moment and every spare penny in the run up to Xmas trying to get it right and make sure you haven't got one more than the other and come Xmas morning its 15 minutes of gratitudeless frenzy and sulking because its not right. As for buying for the missus/ mother, guaranteed to be wrong and yet more hours of stress trying to make sure it isn't (and failing miserably every time).

Christmas dinner- hours of unsupported slavery, so much waste, at least the dog has a nice day.

Cards- gave up as a bad job years ago, don't send any, don't open any received- straight in the recycle bin.

Trees and deccies- why on earth do these need to be renewed every couple of years to match the latest interior decor fad?? If it was up to me (and again this is a major cause of argument) they'd go up Xmas Eve and down Boxing Day (well, it's something to do as there's never anything half decent on telly) if at all.

Everything overpriced, repeated shopping trips just in case- never managed to figure out just why we need chilli pickled whelks each year. Cupboards are already groaning at the seams.

Running around visiting every arm of the extended families, trying to please everyone and failing spectacularly on all counts.

Why oh why oh why do I bother every year?

All in all, not my favourite time of year, as you may have guessed. If it was up to me (and sadly it isn't) I'd rather spend the money on a nice holiday and come back with a tan when its all over.

I laughed out loud when I read this!!!! I used to feel like that too until one year I decided that enough was enough and that Christmas should not be such a stressful time.

Now we do as we please, not try to please others. We buy gifts only for the children in the family, adults receive a small handmade gift from us.

Trees and decs - my tree is a total mish-mash of old and new, bought and made, none of it bough within the last 4 years and it certainly doesn NOT match my decor.... I hate that riddiculous 'trend'... it's Christmas, not an interior design competition!!!!!

We only buy enough food for what we need.... we don't buy tons of snacks, sweets and party stuff that we just don't need.

As for "buying for the missus/ mother, guaranteed to be wrong and yet more hours of stress trying to make sure it isn't".... how can a gift be wrong???? The receipient can be ungrateful, but any gift you give is kind and thoughtful so can't be wrong. I love the gifts my hubby gets me every Christmas and birthday

Dellers

Wrapping paper !! in the summer I found a load of rolls of wrapping paper for 10p each and 200 bows for 50p . None of my family are in the uk so postage is a lot for us and I hate hate hate gift sets. I never use anything in them ! I would be more than happy with a £3 lush bath bomb.

themull1

I hate the tree matching the decor as well!!