pointless Christmas Presents

ppolly

My worst present was the year that I told my mum I needed new socks - she told all my relatives and I ended up with dozens of the things and very little else. Another year one of my presents from my mother - when I was about 15 was a pair of fitted sheets. Very practical person, my mother. Nowadays she tends to get me and my husband a varied assortment of things she's found in charity shops - sometimes they are great, and other times they go back to the charity shop - its always exciting opening them.

The_Good_Fairy

mikki2d wrote: »

My ex sis-in-law once got me hair straighteners - even though she babysat while I went to get a perm!

Maybe she thought it didn't suit you

This thread is so funny, hadn't read it before and have just ODed on your offerings!

My own personal bests.....

I have always, always been scared of clowns, when I was 10 my gran got me a life size clown that sat on its own wicker chair, she must have really hated me!

My great aunt sends my 2 boys, girls presents every year, pink t-shirts, pink socks, pink files, George and Thomas are manly enough names no?

My SIL is totally random with gifts, some years she doesn't bother, some she goes mental, once she bought me a set of crayola crayons, I'm 32...
This year she admired my jug collection, and asked would I like a jug for Christmas, I sooo can't wait to open it tomorrow! I've been so restrained lol

redrabbit29

donny_osmonds_mad_fan wrote: »

years ago when i was a single parent, i always used to make sure I found out for the family what people wanted and would make sure my money was spent on something worthy....people asked me what I wanted and i would tell them but it would upset me that they always got me something different that i didnt need or want and i really did in those days honestly wanted things like a fiver sainsburys voucher etc but people say oooo you dont want that...arghh...

still solved it now dont buy for cousins and their kids etc xmas is very cheap these days family wise, we just hardly talk to anyone

Similar to mine.

My mum doesn't have too much money and asked what I wanted, and I said an A4 picture frame. She instead sent a cheque for £100.

Am I grateful? Not really. I can't help but think that firstly she didn't have the time or couldn't be bothered to make the effort to go and get something that I specifically asked for. I'm not spoiled and don't want to come across like that. I didn't want money, and I won't be cashing the cheque.

Also this year it's really got to me that all my family give meaningless gift vouchers, and seem to be more interested in making sure they spend enough to make it acceptable.

Again, not wanting to sound ungrateful, just a bit upsetting and disappointing as I feel that the real value of christmas has been lost.

P.s. I don't think it is all about presents.

methekidsandthecat

Hi everyone

What a great thread - I have been having a good chuckle at all of your presents....

I have one to add to the mix - when I was married MIL gave the then husband a lt bottle of Southern comfort - I got a really naff peg bag. Glad to say I have not seen her for several years and no longer get or give presents.

Can I place a request that you update this thread with funny things you have received this year?

Me

jackieb

My MIL gave me an ashtray as part of my present one year. The only smoker in the house is her son.

santashelper_2

2005CLAIRE wrote: »

My sister in law always buys pretty awful presents - last year (AND the year before) 2 of my sons received a bumper book of The Lion, The Witch and the wardrobe - so that means we have 4 sets - boys are 15 and 13. The youngest son got a teddy money box with a pink ribbon round it's neck that you paint.

Trouble is she insists on her daughter (our niece) getting money off us!

could you suggest to her that now your boys are older they would appreciate money to spend in the sales (then they can get something they really want) after all if she insists her daughter has money then how can she refuse the same for you

hope this helps

morganb

My most pointless birthday present was a battery operated pocket translator.
Might sound impressive, but I had just graduated with a BA Hons in Modern Foreign Languages.
Obviously my parents didn't reckon much of my linguistic skills.
Still, it's the thought that counts. Maybe they'd bought it ten years previously, stashed it and only just found it ...

luxor4t

Little sis ALWAYS gets tea towels from her nightmare of a MiL, she has 100s now. Sis has a dishwasher, so rarely uses them.

Her MiL has an eye for a bargain, so her gifts often come with the charity shop price stickers still attached and are usually nasty. The worst was probaly the broken remote control car - for a 13 year old. When she 'realised' it was broken she tried to say that he had done it, then claimed she had 'lost' the receipt.

She also brings them out of date food - the kids think it hilarious to go through the bag and spot the oldest items. Niece went down in history for asking "Are you trying to poison us?"

The lousy thing is, she spends a fortune on the other grandchildren.

Sis now dreads her visits as her husband gets so upset afterwards.

My MiL always says "I wasn't sure if you'd like it...." and, do you know, she is ALWAYS right! I usually don't like it, and sometimes I hate it. The worst was a pair of mini ceramic ducks in pink bonnets. Entirely naff, and totally unlike anything I own.

morganb

luxor4t wrote: »

The worst was a pair of mini ceramic ducks in pink bonnets. Entirely naff, and totally unlike anything I own.

Go on, post a pic .. make our day!

Charis

About three decades ago, when I was married to my first husband, his Christmas present to me was a large Kermit the Frog puppet thing and a Christmas candle making set, too late to make the candles until the next year, of course. I reckon the local toy shop must have had an early sale. Either that or he bought them on the way home from the office Christmas party :rotfl: