Useless/unwanted gifts?

msb5262

Bluemeanie wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. We have a £5 secret santa at work, rule are no choc/food etc or smellies. And can be a jokey pressie which is why we keep the spend so low. It's voluntary to take part.

I go to a real effort looking for something nice that the person will like. I was shopping at lunch with the girl who I pulled out the hat and she saw some slippers in Primarni (Primark lol) she liked. But didn't have her size. I nipped back when they got a delivery and got them for her.

My boss got the crappest cheapest whiskey flavoured chocolates, it is well known she is allergic to choc and it is banned anyway. Crap effort. Then an asian chap we work with who makes no secret of the fact he doesn't drink was given a bottle of peach lambrini, again banned and comppletely thoughtless.

Why bother. I spend ages every christmas panicking and buying nice stuff for everyone. Going to real effort, asking and making sure the person can exchange or take it back. I don't know why the two people who bought such tat agreed to take part.

I know what you mean. We had a Secret Santa at work and I took lots of trouble choosing something the person would like, while the person buying for me didn't - and clearly didn't even spend the whole £5 since the thing I received was from the book man who comes into work every week and I know it wasn't that much!

On another forum, someone posted a different way to do Secret Santa - everyone puts a £5 note in a sealed envelope, then each person writes the name of their favourite charity on the front of the envelope. One envelope is picked out at random and that charity gets the lot...I quite like this idea as nobody has to get anxious about choosing the right present (or pretending to be pleased with something dreadful in case the giver is watching them) and nobody can get away with spending 79p instead of a fiver, and a charity gets all the money. I'd much rather do it this way!

MsB

Bluemeanie_2

msb5262 wrote: »

I know what you mean. We had a Secret Santa at work and I took lots of trouble choosing something the person would like, while the person buying for me didn't - and clearly didn't even spend the whole £5 since the thing I received was from the book man who comes into work every week and I know it wasn't that much!

On another forum, someone posted a different way to do Secret Santa - everyone puts a £5 note in a sealed envelope, then each person writes the name of their favourite charity on the front of the envelope. One envelope is picked out at random and that charity gets the lot...I quite like this idea as nobody has to get anxious about choosing the right present (or pretending to be pleased with something dreadful in case the giver is watching them) and nobody can get away with spending 79p instead of a fiver, and a charity gets all the money. I'd much rather do it this way!

MsB

That's a really nice idea. I will suggest that next year and don't think I will take part if no one is up for that way. As we have rubbish presents every year.

I buy for quite a lot of my family, and this year I came very close to saying to my Aunties, Uncles, Grandparents and one cousin, her hubby and daughter I buy for not to exchange gifts this year (we are all very open and close so no one would be offended) but then thought stop being a misery.

My Grandad has made my mind up for me. He regularly (4 times a year) goes on bus trips with a company called Daish's, with his lady friend. About a week before christmas he was looking at the book planning which one and when to go on next. My Mum and Aunty bought him a £50 voucher and me and my sister clubbed together and got £30. With the thought he would get a "free" holiday. Me and my sister even got his lady friend a £20 one too. He paid us a little visit on Chritmas day, I asked him "have you got enough vouchers now for a free holiday?". The response I got was "they were a waste of time. I'm not going on anymore holidays". I was really upset and my Mum said you were only looking at the book last week saying you were, hence why we got you the vouchers. We really thought they were a nice thoughtful present, instead of buying him tat and junk, we were under the impression this would save him the hassle of using his own money.

My Aunty said he had been miserable and whingey all day but I was upset at his ungracious attitude.

So decided I will let them know in September that I would not like to exchange gifts this year. I am only buying for Mum, Dad, sis, hubby and stepkids.

Bluemeanie_2

Sorry do not mean to digress this thread with debates about buying Christmas pressies!

Bluemeanie_2

One "useless" gift I have always wanted is an adult sized spacehopper! I have asked several different people several times over the years, but i don't think they will buy me one because they think it is a waste. But then they will buy me posh Thorntons chocs that I don't want as I always do WeightWatchers or smellies I don't like.

pleasedelete

lipsthefish wrote: »

That would have been my dream present! I collect them

What is it? I looked at the picture ? A fertility symbol?

SUESMITH_2

i have a very dear friend who has been a committed veggie for many years - her mum bought her a microwave bacon crisper, and when asked why said she thought it might come in useful! she gave that to me.

last year my mil who is lovely and buys fab gifts gave me a bottle of baileys in a bottle bag for having them on christmas day, fast forward a few weeks and when we finally got round to opening it discovered it was almost empty, all we can think is that they had 2 bottles, one for them to drink and one for us and they had got mixed up; i never told her as she would have been mortified. we got another this year but this time i lifted to out to "admire" it and it was full.

i once got clip on earrings off dh, have had my ears pierced since i was 11 and they were the same style as the ones he bought me for my birthday which i didn't like, an apron, wooden spoons and fluffy high heel mule type slippers - thankfully the kids buy his gifts now and they have improved a lot.

Bluemeanie_2

I have got the point where I just give Husband a detailed comprehensive list!

GlasweJen

I had a heart transplant in October, still in hospital and my uncle bought me theme park tickets!

winterwhite11

CRANKY40 wrote: »

My MIL bought my 7 year old a 2700 piece jigsaw.....

.....lol:rotfl:

winterwhite11

CRANKY40 wrote: »

My MIL bought my 7 year old a 2700 piece jigsaw.....

was it a picture of baked beans as well.