Christmas Presents You Don't Want

I'm curious NotSpaghetti, did she tell her mum after the event?

Hadn't thought of that Wishes - but I do know my daughter-in-law's mum bought her a new set of pans which were eye-wateringly expensive (😱) that she doesn't like or use.
She washed them, tried one, washed it up and immediately boxed them up again. She gave them away within 48 hours. I know, as I was there. Her mum, it turned out, bought a set for her sister too... I don't know if she's used hers.

If you don't really like something you don't use it unless you have no alternatives.

I think it's ok to be fussy with things when you already have something you like.

After I spent over £150 on a saucepan set and frying pan for my DS and DIL for their new kitchen I no longer buy them presents. Their pans were old so I thought they would be pleased. I found them still boxed under the sink

sazz1 did they have an induction hob as part of their new kitchen? If so, you can only use certain pans on them.
Just a thought.

One year my DILs mother gave me the present I had given her daughter the previous year.

One year I bought DIL a set of small towels for the kitchen as she has none and no drying clothes either. They have never been seen since and I always wonder how they dry their hands and dishes.

I have a large box of candles and body lotions. Don't know why they are so popular. This year I was given lots of nutty chocolate which I will put in the food bank.

just tell the person 'no gifts this year thank you'

sazzl

Perhaps they felt the pans were too good to use, and were saving them until the old ones dropped apart.

Daft, I know, but I have sometimes felt reluctant to start ‘the best’ things.

Many years ago, I bought MIL a shopping trolley as I would see her carrying heavy bags when she did her weekly shop. One of her sons gave her a lift to the shops, so no problem humping it on to buses etc.

Never ever saw her using it, so after a long time I asked her about it, because I felt if she was never going to use it, well, I would.

She sheepishly admitted she had passed it on to one of her daughters.

I felt miffed, and not inclined to try and find her something suitable in future.

Thereafter, we arranged for a delivery of coal to be sent to her house just before Christmas, and that was appreciated.

Charleygirl5

One of my neighbours gave me Amaretti, which I had never tasted before and was unlikely to again. Also, a packet of rosemary and sea salt flatbread, which I thought really odd.

I like both of these!

After I spent over £150 on a saucepan set and frying pan for my DS and DIL for their new kitchen I no longer buy them presents. Their pans were old so I thought they would be pleased. I found them still boxed under the sink when I was looking for dishwasher tablets while she was in hospital and I was tidying up to help son. Didn't say anything at the time thought it best not to. Now they get money bank transfer, biscuits, chocolates gift card, and bottle of booze. Was really hurt at the time as it was 2 years after I bought the pans from John Lewis.

One of my neighbours gave me Amaretti, which I had never tasted before and was unlikely to again. Also, a packet of rosemary and sea salt flatbread, which I thought really odd.

I appreciate being given gifts and anything that isn't going to be practical or edible will get donated to charity shop. Sadly no liqueur chocholates this year, as they would get eaten but I'm with OP on the candles.

Give them to a Home - for children or old people or people with different needs.

MissAdventure

Someone posted on here a while back, saying her mum always requested a bag of compost, and she regretted she'd never got her one.

When our DC asked us what we wanted for Christmas last year we suggested garden tokens, which they duly gave us. I bought two tonnes of top soil with some of it.

This year, the DC asked again what we wanted but said not garden vouchers in case I bought more compost. 😂😂😂

*can

I thought l would post what DH gave me. I had tried to find a selection of things l knew he would like. He bought me a crystal Disney figurine of Cinderella plus the chocolate bar. I collect certain figurines, but not crystal ones and certainly not Disney - l really dislike Disney. DH told me that he thought it would look lovely in a cabinet, would catch the light and was not cheap (even though it looks as if it is). After the initial disappointment, I can see the funny side of how we have been married for 35 years and he can't still get present buying spectacularly wrong. In any case, nothing could ever match the present my grandma was given from my grandpa one Christmas many years ago. It was the basket to fit inside a chip pan. He was very lucky to still be alive on Boxing Day that year!

I'm normally pretty lucky with presents, but last year a friend gave me an Amaryllis, which is something I always see as an old lady's present. I managed not to kill it for several months which was quite good for me but I was glad that she went back to chocolates this year.

I see nothing wrong or impolite in asking the people who give you scented candles not to give you any more, as you have more than you can use.

Chocolates are perhaps more difficult to prevent tactfully, unless you have reasons of health to state.

Our whole family agreed five years ago to stop buying presents and everyone has stuck to it. I have also told all my friends not to buy me any gifts. Its so liberating. The only gift I really want is their company anyway.

Someone posted on here a while back, saying her mum always requested a bag of compost, and she regretted she'd never got her one.

My daughter-in-law has bought me Christmas gifts that I neither want nor need. My son did ask what I would like, but she rang and said they had bought me a surprise—certainly did!! I hate the gifts I know it sounds really ungrateful bt I have been getting rid of the type of gifts she they me. A couple of bags of compost would have been just great and much cheaper.

I was given a poinsettia so I popped it to an elderly neighbour early on Christmas morning with a card
Her joy in a Thankyou note made my day

Just do a Martin Lewis and agree not to buy presents. Go out for a meal instead or donate to charity. Our family has agreed just to buy for the children and we now spend on going out for our Christmas Day meal. No-one wants to cook and none of us have big houses, so it’s a win/win.
I never use real candles because they’re dangerous - only battery-operated ones.
Any unwanted presents this year can go to a charity shop or be sold on Vinted.

Because of the constant regifting of some presents, we (tactfully!) changed the rules at our WI meetings as month after month the same items would be won....then put into the raffle again the following month. Gift sets got tatty, diaries unwanted after February at the latest, tins of biscuits went out of date.