Did you get many unwanted presents?

Baglassy I have fine straight hair and buy hair claws on line from TegenAccessories. They have plenty of choice for fine hair, hand made French, so not cheap. They are excellent quality and even small ones never slip in my hair. No connection to this firm btw. 😀

What is the best claw clip for fine straight hair? I’ve tried so many and they slide off my hair. I don’t want the tiny ones but about 4” long so I can easily tie my hair up in one clip.

Some of my earliest memories of Christmas are of my Mother opening beautiful gifts from her friends and family , then saying she didn't like them.

She has always been very hard to buy for. She could never enjoy or take pleasure in what was given, always relegated it to her "gift drawer" to be regifted, but always thanked the sender profusely in a wordy letter.

I have tried hard over the years to buy her nice things, that she might actually choose to use and not regift. Some of the gifts are displayed but un used. This year she did not acknowledge my gift at all, or that it was even Christmas. I don't think she can enjoy things.

I'm grateful she didn't buy me anything at all as last year's gift was a pretty awful scarf in vomit shades and patterns. I said thankyou , of course. If she had given me something this year then I'm sure it would have been an unwanted gift- probably one that she'd not wanted.

I think it’s better, rather than feel duty bound to buy gifts at Christmas, to give other small tokens of appreciation at random time/s during the year, when you see something that you think a friend/relative may like.

If you explain this to them I think it takes pressure off Christmas buying.

I’m shocked at the amount of stuff such as toiletries that are unwanted and re gifted. Aren’t toiletries personal preferences? I wouldn’t want them, even cheap from a charity shop.

I successfully stopped gift giving/receiving a few years back but it has started up again. Sister now gets me a 'little something' as I think she feels sorry for me no longer having a significant other, so I get her a small present too.

BIL does the same. It's a bit embarrassing as I've never reciprocated. He said, 'I know we agreed just to get cards, but we saw this and thought of you,' so he took the suggestion on board but chose to ignore it. He's a strong character so the only way to get him to actually listen would be downright rudeness - I'm not confrontational so I smile politely and say thank you, for what else can I do?

RVKICR. These virtual gifts are for you, with my good wishes.

Alioop

I spoke to my friends about stopping gifts, four were happy enough to stop, two others got upset. These friends won't hear of present stopping as they seem to think I need gifts to open on Christmas morning as I live in my own, but I really don't need anything, especially if I can't use them. There's just my sister and I and we have a £15 limit which is great. It's usually chocolates and gloves or a scarf which I can wear walking dog.
The two friends that still buy me are the ones that bought me the clothes that are far too big and endless boxes smellies that I can't use, so going to the charity shop anyway.

So sorry to hear that Alioop. It's not a good gift if it's actually giving you work to do taking to the charity shop. It's going to be hard to say something, but it would be good to. Or maybe if they absolutely insist on swapping gifts, you could introduce a £5 limit AND point out you can't use smellies. That way they couldn't buy you clothes, at least.

I know charity benefits from it, but having to pretend you like something when you don't can't be good for us.

Stopping gift giving with most people at Christmas = best thing ever.

I got literally three gifts this year and loved them all because the givers asked me what I wanted and bought specifically that. I also gave what was specifically asked for. Anything else is just a waste of everyone's time and money.

I spoke to my friends about stopping gifts, four were happy enough to stop, two others got upset. These friends won't hear of present stopping as they seem to think I need gifts to open on Christmas morning as I live in my own, but I really don't need anything, especially if I can't use them. There's just my sister and I and we have a £15 limit which is great. It's usually chocolates and gloves or a scarf which I can wear walking dog.
The two friends that still buy me are the ones that bought me the clothes that are far too big and endless boxes smellies that I can't use, so going to the charity shop anyway.

For the first time ever, this year I made a list of several items from £5 up to £30 of what I would like as a Christmas present. I emailed the list to my eldest daughter & she chose an item then forwarded the email (less the item she picked to buy for me) to my other daughter who then also picked what she wanted to buy, she then passed it on .... etc. So, I received lovely presents and my family spent what they wanted to on my presents. It worked really well and my family thought it a great idea.

2mason16

Pashminas!! I could open a shop with the one's I've received over the years. They are all nice but not my thing. Any ideas for other uses for them?

I got one from SIL two years ago it shed so much fluff it ruined whatever you put on. I washed it decided it had a false label on and put it in the recycle I couldn't let anyone else fall for its charms and a repeat last year. This year I got a diffuser made in China with all the warnings of not lighting sticks or to be careful of contents as they might burn, so again a visit to the bin.
I think I am getting the message she wants me to self-combust while choking on a scarf that pretends to be a pashmina.

I agree Iam64.
Let’s do our bit for the planet and stop buying consumer cr**p.

Chapeau I like the idea of her being Batman's wife . We haven't got a Batman though (no GSs, only GDs)

Seriously - if you don’t want gifts at Christmas, tell everyone. You could suggest people donate cash to a local charity that works to support people/families who are in need.

My SIL never fails to give me the most useless presents. This year a head massager across between a sparse hairbrush and a whisk. She also gave me a pet snack gun for dog snaks when we have cats, that aside shooting mini-bone shaped biscuits with a loud bang will traumatise any pet and risk blinding them. Both went to a charity shop! She seeks out the most awful things often quite expensive but invariably a total waste of money and materials.

Pashminas!! I could open a shop with the one's I've received over the years. They are all nice but not my thing. Any ideas for other uses for them?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My DH buys me things regularly clothes etc, he had recently bought me a lovely navy gilet which I love , but then on Xmas morning I opened a present from him and it was another navy gilet! It cost a lot of money and I feel bad as I won’t use it enough , but he doesn’t want me to return it , suggestions pkease?

HowVeryDareYou

Shall we have a Swap Shop?! I got a thin, peach-coloured sarong (when the hell am I going to use that? I haven't been on holiday for a few years, not got one planned)

Could you wear it as a scarf ? perhaps the buyer thought it was a scarf?

HowVeryDareYou I got the Crazy Cat Lady last year in a work secret Santa exchange. My 5 year old GS loves her! She is now an action figure and Batman's wife.

I never have unwanted presents because I am not allergic to anything and can't have too much chocolate! Family always ask for suggestions so I get exactly what I want or need. Even if I got something else I would be so grateful that I would give it a try. I'm easily pleased.

We do a family Secret Santa among the adults with an agreed £30 and a wish list so everyone gets what they want. We all have more to spend on the children in the family that way.

Shall we have a Swap Shop?! I got a thin, peach-coloured sarong (when the hell am I going to use that? I haven't been on holiday for a few years, not got one planned)

A beginners vegan recipe book which I don't want, a book I've already read and yet another shopping bag. IbthinkvI now have six unused shopping bags I've received as gifts.

I also got this for Christmas (yes, I love cats, No I haven't got one now). What am I meant to do with it?!