Christmas Presents You Don't Want

theworriedwell

It's a bit of a trap isn't it. You will see lots of threads about being grateful for gifts even if you don't like them and I am always very thankful, tell people it is lovely etc. There comes a point where you feel like OP and the thought of another smelly candle is just too much but how do you say I know I've been telling you for 20 years that I love the smelly candles but actually I can't stand them so please stop. I know that's a bit of an exaggeration but I think you know what I mean.

For me it is the flowers, I really don't like cut flowers, having a big bunch delivered is expensive and I hate that someone has spent that money and then I just feel sad as they wilt and die and then I clear them up. How do I tell them without upsetting them? It is hard and I sympathise with OP.

Sorry OP i am definitely with you but no idea how to deal with it.

My eldest son has sent me flowers at Christmas for years, always the same florist who knows me and which blooms I like.This year she has retired and closed the shop and I just knew my son would find a different florist and pay a fortune for perhaps flowers I wouldn’t like so I dived in head first and phoned him with a request.
I am due to have a hospital stay shortly so I asked if he would buy me a pretty nightdress instead of flowers as my current nighties are getting rather worn.
The relief when I asked him I could feel over the phone, yes of course if that was what I wanted he was quite happy to buy me but what kind. We sorted out one I liked on Amazon, he ordered it, paid for it and I received it, washed it and it’s now ready when needed.
It cost him half of what the flowers would and I, hopefully will enjoy wearing it.
Problem solved 😊

My dearest lady friends here in The Madrid Capital and I, select a day before the Christmas Holidays and we go out for a special lunch ..

Sort of a reunion.

We do not exchange physical personalised gifts.

We can all open a 2nd hand boutique !!

Sometimes a "white lie" can curtail these unwanted presents:
1) I developed an allergy to chocolate for example.
2) Another is I developed a mild case of bronchoistis and cannot use any scented toiletries or candles.

That might solve the problem !

I have just moved house so not much time to think about Christmas - I said to my adult kids, just get me ‘unwanted gifts’ that most people don’t like, so I was delighted to receive an arty teatowel, numerous bathroom salts, handcream etc, choccies and a houseplant. Very happy and stress free all round.

We put all unwanted gifts in a box , our local school / church . Take them as donations for fête's etc

I've managed to convince friends that I'd much rather they spend any money gifting something to me at a food bank or their favourite charity , I do likewise .

I had really thoughtful gifts from a DIL who normally gives tat. However, a little deeper thought about why anyone would want to receive homemade fruit, Christmas pudding and cake when they are things we have already purchased because it's Christmas. Still, it's the thought that counts...!

melp1

Keep getting scented candles & have so many I don't need any more. Also Liqueur Chocs that I dislike from the same person every year.
How to make it know without offending I really do not want these type of gifts.

It must be annoying but I have nobody to give me presents, the last time I received anything was 2013. I often sit and cry at Christmas feeling lonely. All my friends from childhood, work, college have passed on and I have no relatives that care about me.

Aah, if you feel you could trust mem inbox me your address, and I'll send you a little parcel, just for you x

Not mem - Me!!!

My ex mother in law had the funniest tale, one of her son't bought her a china siamese cat which she claimed she loved but didn't and put in a corner of the stairs. She seemed so fond of them that for the next five years or so everyone hunted high and low for more china cats, which again she seemed to love!! But eventually she had to confess and the cats went to the charity shop and we all had a good laugh!!!
I usually get things I don't need so they go straight to the charity shop too, I'm sure they are useful for those on low budgets.

RVK1CR

melp1

Keep getting scented candles & have so many I don't need any more. Also Liqueur Chocs that I dislike from the same person every year.
How to make it know without offending I really do not want these type of gifts.

It must be annoying but I have nobody to give me presents, the last time I received anything was 2013. I often sit and cry at Christmas feeling lonely. All my friends from childhood, work, college have passed on and I have no relatives that care about me.

I'm so sorry to hear that RVK1CR, its easy for us to forget how lucky we are,

My mum had the same happenwith brass, and later frogs.
She didn't like either.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

*can

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. 😂😂😂

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

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.