Presents you won't use.

A calendar of a dreary Scottish town!

We do a wish list and I know my adult children discuss us …. we also receive what they choose to buy us ( sometimes nothing on list is bought ) always some happy they think of us .. this year my grandsons 7&9 wanted to buy me a hotwater bottle …. Very random as I’m ’always Hot ‘ but I love it as they choose it … it’ll never get used but so much love in it ….. I never regift always eat /wear whatever as it was chosen for me. Hotwater bottle will live in my bedroom for ever now 😘

I have 3 nearly-teens to buy for, and was pleased to read this everyday-reading.com/non-toy-gifts-for-kids/ and even some ideas from here
everyday-reading.com/gifts-for-husband/

because I am pretty hopeless at choosing.
Now I need a page for a daughter who does not wear anything perfumed, hates flowers, is on a diet, and as a busy working mum does not have time for adventures

Oreo

Aveline My Nan was the same, we found so many unopened and unused gifts in cupboards but we think she was saving them for best as she had such a poor upbringing.It was sad to see that she hadn’t felt able to use them up.

My late mother in law was the same… back in the 1970s/80s she wrote us letters o any old scrap of stray paper she could find. I gave her a lovely 2 layer boxed set of stationary with paper and envelopes for her birthday.
It was still in its clear cellophane, unopened in a cupboard when she died. With other things …and hidden money … when she died… all “kept for best”!

Aveline

My late MiL was very dear to us and we put a lot of thought into the gifts we gave her. Sadly, after she'd died and we were clearing her house we found most of them in a cupboard. Wed obviously not chosen as well as we'd thought.

My mum was the same but I think mostly it was because she always 'kept things for best' jumpers and cardigans etc while she wore old, worn things unless she was going out somewhere. Very sad really as they all went to the charity shop.

Definitely a better Christmas... Pressies only for children pact.
I was flattered though as I was given a couple so they must see me as a child!!! (Spectacles for them next year)

My partner and I have a pact that we only buy things for each other from charity shops (apart from edibles), which also extends to my 92 year old mother - she also doesn't want lots of "stuff" at her age (she's STILL trying to clear out Dad's stuff from when he died 18 years ago!) and doesn't then have to feel guilty if she doesn't want things as she knows we will put it back into another charity shop for her.

My son and his partner and the grandchildren live a long way off and as I don't see them so often I'm never sure what to get them so I ask for a wish list and they get brand new.

...But I keep telling my partner how much I love the marzipan logs from Aldi and Lidl, but I've never received one!

My late mother kept unwanted presents and then used them as presents. More than once, she was in the embarrassing position of giving a present to the person she actually had received it from!

This taught me NEVER to use unwanted presents as gifts.

Often they can be changed if you know where they were bought. If not, charity shops are an option, unless the gift is obviously home-made and the giver lives nearby.

I have often asked good friends or family if they would like something I had received which I either could not use, being allergic to perfumes etc. or knew I would not use.

If all else fails, there is always the bin!

Large desk top diary, I only use a small one in my handbag.

My DS always receives shower gel, body sprays, soap etc. He thinks there may be a hint thereby…
He hands them over to me and I’m pleased as I don’t care if it’s designed for a man or woman.

Boadicea I have three marzipan logs from Lidl as the DC know I love them!

Yes,I got random stuff that I have no idea why you would look at a light up rotating ball and think yes ....would like that????? I honestly would rather theydid nit waste their money! I also got 2 lovely plain paper leather notebooks and bookmarks? Why..I'm not a writer and I generally read on my Kindle. Pointless,we're not children if I need anything I'll buy it myself...Ive tried to broach subject to 3 close friends, of not giving gifts,and just going out for a nice lunch instead but they're having none of it....It stresses me out what to buy them every year!

kircubbin2000

Nice presents have been discussed but did you get some things you didn't want and will never use?
I keep a box of these to pass on next time I need to give a present.

I got several candles, shower gel and hand wash, body and hand cream. Nutty sweets, a very expensive sewing set,a back massage machine and a set of perfume sprays so small that my fingers can't press them.
.

Great idea. You are doing the best to save the planet so they dont end u in landfill

You couls also maje a few bob fir yourself by puting the on ebay.

No Worries

The theme seems to be the gifts don’t link to the person. If you don’t like it pass it to charity or say I’m not doing gifts this year . The waste and disappointment is real , some gifts are so thoughtless. All that time and money wasted.

We have purchased gifts for our grandchildren and have recently seen them in the children's play area of the other grandparents home.

My friend bought me an Advent calendar with 24 different organic tea bags. It made me chuckle as I don’t drink tea, ever! I regifted it to the Cattery who looked after my cats for Christmas. They were very happy .

I started work at M&S in the early 80s back when stores had Customer Service desks. My job after Christmas was to run the ‘returns’ team in our store, unpacking, hanging if necessary and repricing all those unwanted Xmas gifts. We were in the basement, 6 of us sorting out skip loads of items, some still wrapped in Christmas paper.
Sad to think that this was happening in every branch across the country, all those unwanted gifts exchanged for cash.

Recycling gifts you don't want , why do you think someone else wants them. I've been on the receiving end of these often and I know straight away they're unwanted gifts . Make up sets for example with garishly pink colours , bulbs half dead in a box . Old cookery books ...please . I'd rather not get a gift . Of course I always thank the giver graciously but I don't reciprocate the following year and I tell them to use the money they would have spent to purchase a nice gift for themselves or give it to charity .
I find it a bit of an insult to be honest , if you know someone well enough to buy a gift then give it some thought and if you can't do that give them a gift card

I feel really lucky I loved all my presents .

I have gratefully received lots of lovely soaps/smellies, mostly Lush which I love the smell of but annoying can't use because of having eczema. I very much regret they will be recycled - either to Sally Army shop or food bank

I hate Baylis and Harding products……they are always around at Christmas time .

Why is everyone so pretentious now?
“I ‘gifted’ my unwanted present.”
What’s wrong with ‘gave’?

Crossstitchfan

Why is everyone so pretentious now?
“I ‘gifted’ my unwanted present.”
What’s wrong with ‘gave’?

Nothing wrong with gave instead of gifted, which I dislike as well.
I suppose I could use passed on or offloaded my unwanted gifts.
Possibly less pretentious?

Crossstitchfan

Why is everyone so pretentious now?
“I ‘gifted’ my unwanted present.”
What’s wrong with ‘gave’?

You can just give someone something, or you can gift someone something, there is a difference.
I don't think it's pretentious to say gifting.

If I get another candle I think I’ll scream. Still, they come in handy during our not infrequent power cuts .