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Your worst present ever.

(70 Posts)
Yammy Wed 15-Feb-23 18:15:17

Sago's courgette got me thinking about presents and the worst.
Mine was a box of All bran and dried fruit, that DD brought me after the birth of DD1.
Everyone else was getting flowers and fruit.
Also a visit he had set up by his friend in the middle of the night, who lifted the hospital sheets and moved my legs around to prevent blood clots.

Aveline Sun 19-Feb-23 08:46:02

I once received a card from a very nice old lady telling me that the enclosed cheque was to give each of my children £15 from her. Unfortunately she didn't include the cheque!

GrammyGrammy Sun 19-Feb-23 08:41:38

My only present for my 60th birthday was from elderly narcissistic autistic mother. She had given a friend/neighbour money to get me some chocolates. The neighbour produced a £4 asda box of inedible stale out of date out of stock truffles. The worst present perhaps. But the Christmas before last she wrapped two of her old jumpers up for me. So nothing new here.

Marydoll Sun 19-Feb-23 08:34:14

lixy

Secret Santa one year at work = three packets of sauce mix.
I guess someone forgot and so panic-bought on the way to work in the morning.

This prompted me to write about the Secret Santa, I once received at work.

Two hildren's hair clasps, with the reduced to 50p sticker still on them.
I had very short hair, and the suggested amount was £5.

I knew exactly who it was. This was the lady, who insisted on charging people for a dribble of milk for their tea, if they had run out. She was the meanest person I had ever met, but very comfortably off.

lixy Sun 19-Feb-23 05:34:07

Secret Santa one year at work = three packets of sauce mix.
I guess someone forgot and so panic-bought on the way to work in the morning.

Warbler Sun 19-Feb-23 04:38:48

A pair of black pvc leggings.......three sizes too small. We were living in Amsterdam at the time. They weren't even fashionable then.

Alioop Fri 17-Feb-23 18:35:54

I got wheel trims for my Christmas present one year. The following year he bought me a bottle of my favourite perfume, but as I was unwrapping it he sat and complained about the price of it. This was a guy who loved buying Rolex watches, expensive clothes and sunglasses for himself.

He is now my EX HUSBAND

Grammaretto Fri 17-Feb-23 18:34:53

Agaa4 that was like the huge crimplene outfits I was given. Insult and injury.

My in-laws always gave money. Always popular!

AGAA4 Fri 17-Feb-23 14:43:43

Two months after my first son was born I received a pack of slimming pills from my MiL as a Christmas present. I was only about 5 pounds over my normal weight of 8 stone so I was not impressed.

Poppyred Fri 17-Feb-23 11:50:29

A plastic plant pot with shells stuck on, from a sister-in-law. 😳

Minnyknit Fri 17-Feb-23 10:54:15

An ice bucket which was beyond the pale, it had some sort of horse theme going on, it even had plastic stirrups hanging each side. Another year an egg slicer. Both from my in laws.

PinkCosmos Fri 17-Feb-23 10:40:17

*buy

PinkCosmos Fri 17-Feb-23 10:39:59

When I was about six, a plastic hairbrush with bristles that went all the way around. My mother seemed to take great delight in dragging it through my long tangled curly hair. It was agony! I had my hair cut short shortly afterwards!

My ex SIL used to but cheap plastic toys for my children every Christmas. I think it was the first thing she picked up at the local market. I always used to make a big effort with gifts for her children and always bought them quality, nice presents. I was quite poor at the time. I stopped bothering after a few years.

When I was about five a nun gave me a sweet. I was so terrified of her in her black nun's garb, I didn't dare eat it.

NotAGran55 Fri 17-Feb-23 07:39:03

For her 40th birthday present my friend’s mother gave her a ‘deep clean’ of her house!
She’d not long had her first baby, was pregnant again after 2 months, admitted that the house was a tip, but nevertheless she wasn’t best pleased.

Grammaretto Thu 16-Feb-23 23:49:15

It wasn't a present for an occasion but my DH's step granny came to stay soon after my 3rd baby was born. I still had my baby weight.

I received a large parcel after she'd left and opened it eagerly only to find she'd sent several of her own crimplene dresses and jackets in various shades of beige.
I was not impressed!

AussieGran59 Thu 16-Feb-23 23:45:13

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toetoe Thu 16-Feb-23 23:31:24

Sparklefizz i thought he would hand me a pretty wrapped envelope with some nice crisp notes in , or even in a pretty Christmas box . confused

midgey Thu 16-Feb-23 11:17:13

One Christmas every single present I opened was thick patterned stockings, they were very trendy and I was thrilled with the first pair but twelve pairs! I was thirteen.

Dickens Thu 16-Feb-23 11:08:43

Aveline

When I was a little girl one of Dad's patients kindly handed in presents for his children. Mine was an enormous pair of pants! Even now I doubt I'd fit them. I can only assume there was a mix up and a large, surprised, lady received a very small cardigan!

😂😂

Greyduster Thu 16-Feb-23 10:35:19

Dickens that’s the way they get to be ‘financially comfortable’!!

Aveline Thu 16-Feb-23 10:15:57

When I was a little girl one of Dad's patients kindly handed in presents for his children. Mine was an enormous pair of pants! Even now I doubt I'd fit them. I can only assume there was a mix up and a large, surprised, lady received a very small cardigan!

henetha Thu 16-Feb-23 09:43:13

Many years ago, my husband gave me a tin opener for my birthday. Not an electric bells and whistles one, but a very ordinary one. He wasn't very good at choosing gifts.

Yammy Thu 16-Feb-23 09:38:18

AussieGran59

Yammy, you have to admit the all bran and dried fruit was usefulgrin He was being very practical wasn’t he.
The worst present I ever received was my mother’s old bedspread, dirty and stained. She gave it to us as a wedding present.

Snap,I forgot a candlewick bedspread we got as a wedding present. It was fluorescent orange. She was an ardent member of the Orange Lodge and actually caused an argument at our wedding when she was stuck in her taxi in a traffic jam with some Roam Catholics.
It was used as an under a blanket in one of the flats we had.
The worst from my mother was what seemed quite a nice handbag until I opened the inner pocket and there were packets of sugar. From MIL a nightdress decorated with dirty footprints.

Dickens Thu 16-Feb-23 09:26:53

Reading through these replies I'm struck by the number of GNs who've received used or second-hand gifts. I've also had a couple (used 'coasters' with the indelible marks of previous use).

I could never gift something I'd already used - especially an item of clothing like ParlorGame's green scarf! It's not just the meanness but the idea that you can fob someone off in that way!

The man who gave us the coasters also left us a gift in his Will - it was a hideous, cheap and nasty set of 4 chairs and dining table. He knew us well and had visited us often so would be aware that our taste was the complete opposite of his. He was an educated and financially 'comfortable' man. He also never, ever, bought a round of drinks in the pub but always accepted them from others. I mention this because I'm curious about the mentality of those who do this sort of thing!

boheminan Thu 16-Feb-23 09:03:34

For my 50th birthday my ex fitted me a handrail by the bath - in case I might need it at some time

Dickens Thu 16-Feb-23 08:57:51

Sparklefizz

Toetoe Would you have been happier if he'd just handed over the money there and then? Did you expect another gift as well? I have found men to be very simple creatures - you have to make things completely clear.

I have found men to be very simple creatures - you have to make things completely clear.

... I'm reading that and picturing the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey. It sounds like one of the zingers she'd come out with grin.