Presents you won't use.

My mother used to give my aunt Helena Rubenstein Apple Blossom for Christmas in the 1960s! When my aunt died in the late 90s, they found all those gifts still unopened after 30 years at the bottom of her wardrobe. She was meant to enjoy them but felt it a shame to open them so she kept them for 'neverwhen'.

BlueBelle

So sad GoodAfternoonTea I would be mortified if I thought my friends did that. I hope I know them well enough, and put enough thought, an energy in my presents for them to be kept

I totally agree with you. It is just that I don't want to offend them by telling them as they are both elderly and get so much pleasure out of giving. One in particular gives gifts she finds in a charity shop. This year I got a fridge magnet that was rusted all around. That sadly went in the bin. She gave me a mug once that was chipped. Shame but better they get the pleasure than I do.

I received a light-up tin house containing M&S Gold teabags. I dislike Gold tea so I guess it will go to the food bank.

An elderly friend came round last night for drinks. She brought a gift bag full of good quality chocolate bars and bags. After she left we looked through them and discovered that every single one was long past it's use by date!! All in bin now.

On BBC this morning they had a camera crew in a local recycling centre where the staff reported the few days immediately after Christmas are always the busiest of the year.

According to DEFRA figures £43 million pounds worth of unwanted Christmas gifts will be dumped this year. That’s not including unwanted gifts donated to charity shops. It’s those that are dumped in recycling centres around the country.

What a shameful waste of money and resources. It’s hard to believe that people are so ungrateful they head to the recycling centre to dump unwanted gifts. It’s sickening.

My son gave me a hot water bottle in a furry cover. I really feel the heat and would never use it, so I waited for a couple of days and asked if he had the receipt - I think he's a bit offended. He's printed off a return number (John Lewis) so I can take it back and hopefully get a gift receipt - but I think that the money will simply go into his account.

JamesandJon33

A relative keeps sending my aunt, who lives in a care home , hampers. My aunt and me have told her repeatedly that hampers get taken into the kitchen and all residents benefit from them. My aunt would like a Christmas present just for her.

Well that’s an outrageous cheek! Do the staff ask if they can share her gift among all the other residents or does she get no say in the matter?

It’s standard practiceFoghorn Things like bottles of Sherry have names put on and kept for the individual, but a Christmas cake, boxes of biscuits etc, are shared. A 90 year old would not be able to eat all the food in a hamper on their own.

When my mother downsized , myself and my sister sorted out her things as she was moving from a 4 bed house to a 2 bed flat. We found a box full of unwanted presents . All were labelled with the name of the giver , date and the occasion. I was really upset as some of the presents were from my dc who’d saved their pocket money to buy gifts for grandma .
She would also regift items , which surprised me as my mother is financially very stable .
We support several local animal charities and give unwanted gifts to the raffle or Tombola .
I was recently at the birthday party of my goddaughters 3yo dd . My goddaughter had an unwanted pile. She’s very particular about toys etc . Nothing plastic , must be gender neutral. She’s vegan and toy animal products from a toy kitchen went on the unwanted pile.

Son and DiL gave me a jumper that is huge. I'm hoping I can change it. Weird as they bought me something to wear for my birthday that is a bit tight. They obviously can't work out what size I am.

I wonder why they do not ask, some time like mid summer so that it does not need to be a hint about a present, or why do they not look at the size in ther clothes you wear?

M0nica

I wonder why they do not ask, some time like mid summer so that it does not need to be a hint about a present, or why do they not look at the size in ther clothes you wear?

No idea but my birthday was eight weeks ago so I assume they think I've put on about six stone in eight weeks.