A box of biscuits for xmas....

shiny76

onlyroz wrote: »

Speak for yourself
We buy biscuits once in a blue moon, so a box of nice biccies (and I'm not talking digestives here) would be appreciated.

angling for hobnobs? You must be posh!

margaretclare

No one eats either biscuits or sweets at this house! We might have ONE gingerbread man if individually-baked, or ONE lovely home-baked cheese scone, but please, not a tin of! However, DH recently saw someone in Tesco with a trolley full of tins of chocolates, so obviously, some people do this!

Mojisola

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

Depends who it is for. If it is for a family then I think a game would be better than biscuits.

Jenga, Bopit, Uno, they are very similar in price to a nice box of biscuits.

Shows how different we all are. If someone gave us a game, I'd thank them nicely and then drop their gift into the next charity shop I passed.

Hermia

Erinnire wrote: »

I agree a box of biscuits is abit of a pants present. People's houses are stocked full of shop bought chocolate and biscuits.

Every January I have to stagger into work with tins of biscuits in an effort to get rid of the ruddy things. Unfortunately everyone else does the same so we end up with piles of biscuits hanging around. When people buy me a tin of cheap biccies I do tend to assume that they were either a BOGOF or an unwanted gift. What's annoying is when they aren't even biscuits I would eat. If you are going to get a food gift I'd rather it was something with a bit of thought behind it.

themull1

I suppose giving a box of biscuits is nearly as bad as giving a selection box to a child if you don't know what to get them, my kids had loads one year!

ShAnE

margaretclare wrote: »

No one eats either biscuits or sweets at this house! We might have ONE gingerbread man if individually-baked, or ONE lovely home-baked cheese scone, but please, not a tin of! However, DH recently saw someone in Tesco with a trolley full of tins of chocolates, so obviously, some people do this!

I assume DH was only in Tesco to do research on the commoners and not actually daring to shop alongside such filth.

maman

I do give joint presents to couples occasionally (candles or a nice 'house' gift or champagne/good wine) but I certainly wouldn't give supermarket type tins of biscuits to a close friend. I'm so anti giving rubbish as presents then I think consumables are a great idea.

I've given elderly people a sort of hamper made up of several packets of good quality biscuits. They've enjoyed that well into the new year rather than some 'stuff' to put in the drawer. I've given M&S biscuits or tins of sweets to teachers at my children's school (meant for sharing in the staff room). If it was a family, I'd probably buy for the children rather than the adults.

So, to answer your question I would buy biscuits but only good ones in certain circumstances.

embob74

I asked MIL to buy is chocs or biscuits last year as she was spending £10 on each grandchild (we have 5 :eek:) and we would get a cheque for £25 for OH and I.
I didn't feel happy knowing she was struggling to pay for Christmas. We never cashed the cheques she sent us anyway and I thought a family present would be welcomed and used rather than her trying to guess what the kids like and buying something that never gets played with/worn.
So I'm definitely happy with a tin of biscuits - I agree though it should be a nice tin rather than a packet of own brand rich tea lol.

I am grateful to receive anything at Christmas and I know times are hard for everybody - I think it is churlish to turn your nose up at any gift no matter how small.
As for the lack of thought - I have spent hours every Christmas time looking for the perfect gift and coming up with nothing. So if I have given anybody a box of chocolates or biscuits please be assured it was not the first thing I picked up and I did try to find something that was ideal and cheap ..... just to no avail

embob74

A bottle of plonk is usually thought to be more appropriate as a gift but then you have the problem of finding out what they will actually drink (many of our wine bottles end up at the summer fair!!)

LondonDreamer

I think it depends on the recipient more than anything else. The cost of the present makes no difference to me. Spend a fiver or £500, just put some thought in it. As a biscuit specific example, my in-laws love shortbread but rarely buy it because it's too expensive for them. So a tin of good quality shortbread would be much appreciated. My father-in-law's favourite present from us (just a random, no reason gift) was a bag of organic peanuts that I picked up for 99p because I thought he'd like them!

But done without that thought behind it, it doesn't come off well. As an example, one year I received a slab of nutty milk chocolate from a family member. I hate nuts and can't have dairy (has been the case for years) so a complete fail for me. Worst part was she later went round seeing what slab everyone got so it was clearly a random selection of already wrapped gifts at the local chocolate shop. The shop even has a lovely vegan chocolate range (I'm not vegan, but at least it's guaranteed to be dairy free) which would have been gratefully received, such a shame.

ETA: Would rather receive nothing (and I do request no gifts) rather than something I'd never use. Have also received several bottles of wine as gifts, even though I don't drink (never have) and have always hated wine in particular. I just give them away at the next available opportunity.