What was your biggest Xmas waste of money?

gloriouslyhappy

Maybe we loved it too much!!

florere wrote: »

WE bought one from B & Q a couple of days before Christmas, used it, took it to France before the New Year, and planted it straight away, two years later it is growing well, it's name is Bob, perhaps you should give your Christmas tree a name, make it feel loved.:j

[Quote:
Originally Posted by gloriouslyhappy View Post
And while I'm on the subject of christmas trees - don't bother with a 'living tree', because it never survives beyond January or February, then you have this brown unattractive half-dead thing hanging around in a pot, hoping it might revive come spring - it doesn't.[/QUOTE]

barbiedoll

When the black artificial trees first became available, I told DH that we simply had to have one. We have a black marble fireplace and black shelves in our living room and I thought that the tree would look great. I kept on at him until he drove me to our local (and much missed!) Woolworths, where we managed to grab the last one in stock, for around £30.

Of course, I needed the blue LED lights to go with it, along with some expensive matching blue baubles etc etc etc.

When I put it up, I hated it. The black tree looks so dreary and the blue lights give me a headache. The tree is in the bay window and "my" seat on the sofa means that they are always shining in the corner of my eyes. I didn't dare say anything and I have put up with it for years, just by covering it in loads of cheapy decorations in bright colours. I have treated myself to a set of coloured lights this year (£8 in Morrisons, I used my £5 voucher so only 3 quid really ) so at least I won't have to suffer the blue lights any more.

balletshoes

Physicsfiend wrote: »

Hotsparkle bought his MIL a whisk!!

I'm afraid I really hate getting presents that are obviously for the house - no matter how nice they are! I'm not a house I'm a person!!!

My husband bought a vase for our first Christmas together - he's had to buy flowers to go in it every week since!!
Now I'm afraid I say "How lovely, the house will love these!"
I even got a toilet brush one year - you can image how that went down - 1998 is forever known as the year of the toilet brush!

was it at least a nice expensive tasteful toilet brush????

kokobean

Physicsfiend wrote: »

Hotsparkle bought his MIL a whisk!!

I'm afraid I really hate getting presents that are obviously for the house - no matter how nice they are! I'm not a house I'm a person!!!

My husband bought a vase for our first Christmas together - he's had to buy flowers to go in it every week since!!
Now I'm afraid I say "How lovely, the house will love these!"
I even got a toilet brush one year - you can image how that went down - 1998 is forever known as the year of the toilet brush!

Hahaha, sounds similar to my present one year (from hubby no less!) - a tray. In those days he wouldnt do anything about getting me a present until Christmas Eve and then dashed around the shops in a panic buying frenzy, hence the tray as he couldnt think of anything else. The children never let him live it down and even a good 20 or more years later, they still talk about it.

I do have to say, hes a lot better now and at least thinks about what hes going to buy and on the whole gets it right :T

roses

Absolutely anything I ever by my mother in law.

It gets put away and saved for a special occasion aand is never seen again as her house is an abyss.

I've given up buying her expensive gifts.

CupOfChai

Probably food, got eyes bigger than my belly!

Bennifred

SailorSam wrote: »

I'm not getting my MIL a present either. I bought her a coffin last year and the selfish cow hasn't used that yet.

Maybe she has plans for it .......look out, BEHIND YOU!! :eek:

gloriouslyhappy

Have you tried spraying it? Those non-toxic spray cans might work, silver would take the edge off if you did a light spray, wouldn't matter if some of the black came through?

barbiedoll wrote: »

When the black artificial trees first became available, I told DH that we simply had to have one. We have a black marble fireplace and black shelves in our living room and I thought that the tree would look great. I kept on at him until he drove me to our local (and much missed!) Woolworths, where we managed to grab the last one in stock, for around £30.

Of course, I needed the blue LED lights to go with it, along with some expensive matching blue baubles etc etc etc.

When I put it up, I hated it. The black tree looks so dreary and the blue lights give me a headache. The tree is in the bay window and "my" seat on the sofa means that they are always shining in the corner of my eyes. I didn't dare say anything and I have put up with it for years, just by covering it in loads of cheapy decorations in bright colours. I have treated myself to a set of coloured lights this year (£8 in Morrisons, I used my £5 voucher so only 3 quid really ) so at least I won't have to suffer the blue lights any more.

chocky

I bought my (retired) dad a breadmaker for Christmas once. He gave it back to me on Boxing Day saying it took too long to make a loaf - 2 hours! Its not like he had lots of other stuff to be getting on with as he spent all day, every day watching TV!


Another time, I bought my husband a gift experience of an hours' flight in a glider. When he opened the box and read what it entailed, his response was "is it just the one" in a disappointed voice. I think he thought he'd be working towards his pilot's license lol

vulpix

I received a dead tortoise in a box one year from an ex boyfriend!!!!!!!!!! I had said in conversation that I always wanted a tortoise as a child but never got one.He sourced a "preserved" tortoise,I was horrified.I refused to accept it.Call me ungrateful !:o