What is the worst present you received this Christmas..and why?

Sue14

When I had my first home, my sister bought me a couple of ornaments (they were ok but not what I would have chosen), because 'they always come in useful!' Yes, for gathering dust, lol! One year my parents asked what I wanted and I said I'd like a pink mirror for my bedroom, they bought me a lovely mirror but it was blue so I had to put it in the bathroom instead. They never were bothered about colour schemes, unlike me.

Two years ago at Christmas, after losing my dad 6 months earlier, my DS bought me 2 baubles for the tree, one with a picture of my mum and dad, and one with a picture of my dad on his own, they were very nice and quite a thoughtful gift, but not something you would expect to be your only present from your son. I was expecting something similar from him this year, in memory of my DH who passed away in July, but he actually bought me some really lovely presents this year, including the Elvis CD I wanted, although I've not managed to play it yet as it has a few songs that remind me of my DH including one that I had played at his funeral.

Probably the worst thing I got this year was a cheque from my MIL, with her maiden name on it, rather than my married name, even though of course she and I share the same surname, lol, hopefully she'll give me another with the right name on it when I see her next.

purplevamp

This year I suppose I was lucky. I liked most of my presents. I'm very hard to buy for. My inlaws did ok this year (for a change!) My FIL got me chocolates (Thorntons), SIL got me chocolates (Tesco bleurgh flavour), BIL got me 3 bottles of prosecco :j:beer:. MIL, who is infamously known for buying absolute crap, got me 3 bottles of apple cider. DH had told her I liked fruit cider, eg strawberry, etc and definitely not apple...:cool:

jintyb

Severina wrote: »

I got 12 bottles of glittery shower gel. TWELVE! And a packet of stones- I kid you not. Not polished or ornamental stones, but a bag of pebbles that you'd find on a shingle beach; which is ironic given that I live opposite one! It has actually made me feel quite down ��
which brings me to this: how long to leave it before taking unwanted gifts to the charity shop? I am still ploughing my way through last years massive supply of bubble gum glittery shower gel , and can't face this stuff cluttering up my flat and making me feel sad. Do I leave it a week? Month? I am new to all this!

Don't let this stuff that makes you sad stay in your flat any longer. Bung it in a bag get yourself down to the charity shop and get rid. Then go for a nice coffee, or do something you enjoy.
Its depressing when people buy you crap, but you dont have to live with it.

moneyistooshorttomention

Severina wrote: »

I got 12 bottles of glittery shower gel. TWELVE! And a packet of stones- I kid you not. Not polished or ornamental stones, but a bag of pebbles that you'd find on a shingle beach; which is ironic given that I live opposite one! It has actually made me feel quite down ��
which brings me to this: how long to leave it before taking unwanted gifts to the charity shop? I am still ploughing my way through last years massive supply of bubble gum glittery shower gel , and can't face this stuff cluttering up my flat and making me feel sad. Do I leave it a week? Month? I am new to all this!

Personally - I don't see the point of hanging around or trying to use up something I don't like at all. It gets put straight by the door - ready to hand in to a charity shop the next time I'm out by the shops. So it's gone within a week of me getting it. What's the point of cluttering my house up with it? I've got quite enough possessions to find room for anyway without adding to them with crap. To me - if someone gets something that is very clearly wrong for me - then I'd rather have the reminder that they don't seem to care for me enough to take a bit more thought about what they buy out of the place asap.

DigForVictory

I think for me the worst was the rash of shame.
I dutifully hauled over my parents gift to m'mother-in-law. A monster box of assorted teabags. For a lady with clearly expressed & blissfully simple tastes. (PG or nowt.)

Three days later I still go an unattractively mottled tomato colour just thinking of it, and I suppose the one bright gleam is that the spectacle gave midear ma-in-law the best laugh she's had in weeks...

To ensure the gift went on giving, she sent it home with me to take into the office. I do hope my colleagues enjoy the range of really pretty fancy teas, but I also wish fervently my mother would *liaise* a tad.

Witless

Hmmm

Not necessarily "worst" but certainly unusual.

https://www.wish.com/c/57ac5e043a1ff61891b11c55?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=pla4&_force_country=GB&gclid=CLXe1_6KntECFcEy0wodb9MP7w (with bottle of wine attached)

&

http://www.gearbest.com/night-lights/pp_401941.html?currency=GBP&lkid=10143743&gclid=CJ3xi7GLntECFcEy0wodb9MP7w

&

http://www.geekalerts.com/things-we-didnt-know-toilet-paper/

(all from different people)

purplevamp

Witless wrote: »

Hmmm

Not necessarily "worst" but certainly unusual.

https://www.wish.com/c/57ac5e043a1ff61891b11c55?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=pla4&_force_country=GB&gclid=CLXe1_6KntECFcEy0wodb9MP7w (with bottle of wine attached)

My husband was talking about these the other day. I actually think he wants one :rotfl:

Severina wrote: »

I got 12 bottles of glittery shower gel. TWELVE! And a packet of stones- I kid you not. Not polished or ornamental stones, but a bag of pebbles that you'd find on a shingle beach; which is ironic given that I live opposite one! It has actually made me feel quite down ��
which brings me to this: how long to leave it before taking unwanted gifts to the charity shop? I am still ploughing my way through last years massive supply of bubble gum glittery shower gel , and can't face this stuff cluttering up my flat and making me feel sad. Do I leave it a week? Month? I am new to all this!

:rotfl::rotfl:. I'm still working my way through countless bottles of shower gel from about 3 years ago. My Mum always gets me something fancy as a "tree present!" But as I always use shower gel it does come in handy. BTW my daughters middle name is Severina :j

System

Bath foam and body lotion that smelled of wee....:D

katkin

Some comedy gold in this thread. The cat fur felting book gets my vote!

Great to know charity shops will benefit from all these inappropriate gifts, bless you all.

Owain_Moneysaver

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've recently got a copy of the 1970s version though - and it's a totally different kettle of fish and is clearly from "make do and mend" era and I'm quite astonished just what can be mended.

Most of the mending involved covering things in or with asbestos, or using chemicals that would put you on a terrorist watch list today.

The 1920s - 1940s ones are even more fun. If you can't afford to buy an electric kettle here's how to make one with an ordinary kettle, a broken electric fire element, and some asbestos.