Useless/unwanted gifts?

bundly

My boyfriend's mother is a well off widow and my b/f is her only child. One xmas she gave me a small, flimsy-looking plastic manicure set. A few days later I saw them in the 'new goods' section of our local charity shop, price 79p.

A close female friend made up a lovely basketful of toiletries for me.... bath salts, bubble bath, bath bombs, a bath pillow. Must have cost her at least thirty quid.

Thing is, and she knows this, I only have a shower.

bundly

fatvond wrote: »

my mum once gave me a print of a hunting scene, despite me being (then) vegetarian and a member of lacs

roflmao! Funniest post on the thread.

spirit

*newstart* wrote: »

Were they a rectangular box? I've forgotten the brand of whisky but they has these in the 99p store. I got them to go with my grandad's bottle of whiskey

No, it's a square box. think they are Bells. Perhaps both people won them in a raffle and didn't want them. Not consigned them to the bin yet, but they will be destined there I think

baconandcabbage

*newstart* wrote: »

Were they a rectangular box? I've forgotten the brand of whisky but they has these in the 99p store. I got them to go with my grandad's bottle of whiskey

Doulton isthe ones you mean i think..

cleofish

this thread made me laugh, there are more funny presents out there than you think.

I always get off my grandmother every year, a duvet sets, which i dont mind becuase for a double bed some of them can be expensive but sometimes they are in her taste so lots of frills, or lots of satin for some reason? doesnt last 2 minutes with the 2 cats i have. but its normally more than 1 set as well, i think she shops throughout the year and must forget until it comes to wrapping at the end of the year.

the other thing she always gets me is tea towels, think ive had them every year since i was 16, and im nearly 30 now, they just make me giggle now but when i first got together with my oh, he couldnt believe it and i suppose seen through another set of eyes tea towels for christmas are a bit unique. I think i must have the biggest tea towel collection in the world!

But i suppose they arent 'useless' as i will end up using them, and its the thought that counts... well thats what i say when im drying the dishes with the towels.. not the satin sheets!

4nnabella

My mum has a thing for buying people tea towels as well... I get one most years. Half the time they're really stiff fabric though, so actually useless for drying dishes!

Hermia

My worst present was a tissue box cover that was in the shape of a very chintzy sofa (complete with lacy pink cushions). That went in the charity shop bag straight away! I also got one of those model shoes last year. It was pink and from the pound shop. I hate OTT girly things and I'm not a big one for ornaments so I don't know why people get me these things.

Last year I was also given some slippers 3 sizes too small.

I regularly get given boxes of champagne truffles by one person despite the fact that I am allergic to champagne. I am starting to wonder whether she is trying to bump me off!

abby1234519

My presents from my OH weren't bad, they were thoughtful. But you'll see what I mean....


I casually mentioned once that I like Bonsai trees as they are cute and small

So he has bought me a grow your own bonsai tree kit for xmas. Which is thoughtful and sweet ,but I will NEVER be growing it as it takes a lot of time and effort and I have a small child that needs growing!

Then there is a game I used to play on my xbox that I enjoyed (for about 2 months) so if we have ever discussed it, I've said oh I like Borderlands. I haven't played it for a long time. Nevertheless he has bought me a novelisation of the game...which is thoughtful but I am an English student, I do not have time to read if it isn't my books for university!

So it is possible to be thoughtful and sweet as well as being unintentionally useless

euronorris

This year, the worst gift was a horoscope book from my MIL (which really isn't that bad a gift overall). It's the thought that counts though, and she also got me a little piggy bank (I now have one for sterling change, and one for euro change), a flannel with my name on it (lol), some vaccum storage bags, chocolate, a very pretty travel document holder and €50 cash!! Now, I know some of those things don't sound fun, but they were needed and much appreciated. Did have to tell her not to spend so much in future though! She spoilt us this year! And the €50 was used to purchase 3 new items of work clothing in the sales, and a takeaway for OH and I.

OH was not so impressed with his luggage scales. I think they're great, as we didn't have any of those either!

juliedotcom

Aged 13 my parents upped sticks and we moved to New York to be near family we had over there in December 2001.

In the second week of December one of my dad's cousins won $100, 000 on a scratchcard, and on Christmas day, with all the family around the table, he awarded all the kids a cheque for $5000 each.. in no way did I expect to be included in this, but I also didn't expect to be given a shoebox full of mens sport socks for a present, either..! My mum and I still laugh about this even now.. and my dad had very snug toes going to work that winter :rotfl: