Disappointing/weird/inappropriate christmas gifts

kerri_gt

thelittlestranger wrote: »

This thread has made me laugh so much! Thanks for putting a smile on my face this evening. :rotfl:

So this year my slightly strange presents included a potato bag, rubber gloves, toothpaste, and a meat thermometer, although all will be used! :-)

Unfortunately I have quite sensitive skin, so can't use some smelly sets (without sounding horrible, the more cheaper ones it seems). Bath salts make me itch (plus I don't do baths, just showers) and I can't use the little bottles of lotion. I'd really like to donate them, but any idea where would like them? Not sure if a charity shop would take them?

There's a womans refuge charity called giveandmakeup who need toiletries amongst other things. A shop near me does a local collection. Could be worth contacting them https://www.giveandmakeup.com I think is the address.

adouglasmhor

angeltreats wrote: »

A pair of dangly earrings from a friend. When I opened them she said "I know you don't wear dangly earrings" (she's right, I only ever wear studs). Which I thought was very strange - why give someone a present that you know they won't want, and actually tell them you know they won't like it? Most odd. I'm also extremely allergic to nickel so wouldn't be able to wear them anyway (which she also knows).

Same friend bought me a big Union Jack canvas picture for my last birthday. I'm Irish. I gave it back to her and suggested she put it up in her own house. I felt a bit mean but it was the second Union Jack themed present she'd bought me and I thought it was best to nip it in the bud...

GF is Irish - last year we got a Union Flag bin.

adouglasmhor

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Ewwww that's disgusting!

I know - imagine recycling a Billy Connolly joke from the 70s.

Alleycat

MIL last year (I think) bought the kids festive dog toys. To be honest we didn't initially realise until DD who likes to read all the labels loudly proclaimed in front of us all including her grandma what exactly they were! MIL however didn't bat an eyelid despite the rest of us failing miserably not to crack up laughing!

Alleycat

celyn90 wrote: »

Some gifts were very practical - like a collection of those "harvest festival" tins of random from the back of the pantry.

All of it was a fantastic post and something I reckon I might suggest next christmas, but the harvest festival tins of random really made me :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: as it's so true!

This_Year

gozaimasu wrote: »

I agree, that should be the point of it, but unfortunately gift giving at this time of year is just a box ticking exercise. It's a social convention that most people are forced to take part in because they'd rather be known as people who give terrible presents than a miserly grinch who doesn't partake in a commercial festival. Cheap things on a grabbit might be the only thing people can afford.

Did you read my post?

My point was that people were viewing the present buying as "have to buy for 4 female 3 male - ooh a framed potato stamped print of a rutting elk, fantastic that's the males sorted" with never a moment of "would they actually like this?" "what are their interests?" "are they downsizing and getting rid of clutter to emigrate?" etc etc

I buy grabbit things myself - but the difference is now, I buy if I need it. Not just because it's 4 things for tuppence ha'penny. If it will sit in the drawer and not get used or as a gift it would be Charity Shopped - there is no point in wasting your money.

Far nicer to just spend the most valuable thing you can give someone - your time. Definitely not a grinch!

:money: This is a money saving forum! :rotfl:

Georgiegirl256

adouglasmhor wrote: »

I know - imagine recycling a Billy Connolly joke from the 70s.

I'll have to take your word for it, I'm too young!

browneyedbazzi

This is a great thread!

This year I was really looking forward to a gift from my mom - she usually buys really naff random things but this year I had asked for something really specific and she'd told me all about her shopping trip to go buy it so I knew what I was getting - a 2014 team Canada hockey jersey so I could wear it when watching the Olympics this winter. I thought surely this can't go wrong!

I did get the jersey and it would be brilliant - if I was a 6'6" 25 stone hockey player (I'm 5'5 and size 14-16). For some reason (known only to herself) she saw fit to buy a men's XXL. Given that they generally fit on the large side (designed to be worn by blokes who are usually large-ish over their protective equipment) I'd said a medium would probably be best. I'm even more baffled because she told me she had tried it on and was sure it would fit!

Arlandria606

The in-laws are awful present buyers! I hate them (secretly, for DH's sake - it's a long story, but I do have good reason to) but still make the effort to find them something they'd like. They, on the other hand, keep buying me either books aimed at children ("Baking for Girls" and a collection of colour-in place mats) or bottom-of-the-range clothes and accessories (never anywhere near my size and always from a shop local to them so I can't exchange or return) or toiletries (which I've specifically said I wish people wouldn't buy me).

DH, who doesn't drink hot drinks and never has, routinely gets mugs. This year he got a computer mouse in the shape of a car (because apparently he's five?), along with the Amazon voucher he asked for.

His sister and her kids, on the other hand, get well-thought-out gifts that clearly cost a lot more. Now I don't really care how much someone spends (it's the thought that counts - if they bother to put some in), but when it's parents buying for their children, it should be roughly equal, however old the children are.

rachiibell

My boyfriend got me a jam making set. I have never expressed any interest in jam making! Even worse him mother actually does like making jam and is always giving us far more than we can use. Whats going to happen if I start as well! The jars are qctually quite cute though and they fit the kitchen colour scheme so i'm sure i'll find a use for them. When I told bf I was impressed he'd remembered the colour scheme he told me that was just a coincidence! You just have to laugh sometimes!