Would you rather have a gift from the dollar store or no gift at all?

[Anonymous]

As an adult, I think dollar store gifts are not great. I feel strange that another adult would do this...

[Anonymous]

My mom would do it. She tried to get the most practical or usable things she could find such as a nuetral picture fram or some hangars for my closet.

She always struggled with poverty. I was gracious and appreciated that she wanted to share a token of love no matter how meager it might be.

[Anonymous]

I'd probably rather have a nice card, but it's the thought from someone else that counts the most. Someone is trying to be nice and acknowledge you. The price isn't what counts, nor is the store something is from.

Always be gracious and kind.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the gift and the person.

When my daughter was very young, she received a dollar store Barbie-style doll wrapped in the comics page from her former preschool aide. We really treasured it.

For Hannukah/Christmas 2012, my supervisor gave everyone dollar store snow globes. I think that was questionable.

[Anonymous]

from a non poverty person...? graciously say thank you for the little writing pad?

[Anonymous]

It was a gift. Why would you judge it?

I've received gifts that cost a lot of money and were completely not to my taste or of interest to me.

Do what I did. Say thank you.

[Anonymous]

If I like the gift, I don't care where it comes from.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be better to say, we are adults and do not exchange gifts than to expect a middle class adult to be all kind and gracious over something you picked up at Dollar Village. From my hand to your hand to the trash can. (different for kids)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the gift and the person.

When my daughter was very young, she received a dollar store Barbie-style doll wrapped in the comics page from her former preschool aide. We really treasured it.

For Hannukah/Christmas 2012, my supervisor gave everyone dollar store snow globes. I think that was questionable.

A bit insulting.

[Anonymous]

My dad and his wife do this. I would rather them save their money, it's junk and will be treated as such.

[Anonymous]

Nothing at all. I don't want to be ungrateful, but I'd rather you not spend your money at all on some piece of junk I don't want at all. Just visit me, and have a cup of coffee with me. Or a phone call. Much nicer

[Anonymous]

Nothing at all. I feel so BAD when someone wastes their money on something I do not like/want.

It's different for kids though, you can get stickers or bubbles or something they'd really like for a few bucks.

[Anonymous]

We have a beloved elderly relative who is on a low, fixed income. When we visit her, we bring practical gifts such as food, and often times a card with some cash. I know she is very grateful, but I also know that after years being the caretaker in the family, it would be very hard for her to accept these things without repaying the favor in some way, so every time we visit she's got a little something for each of us. I might get a sample sized hand cream, or a pretty dollar store bookmark. She's in section 8 housing for the elderly, and sometimes they get gifts from various organizations (e.g. a church might distribute little gift baskets at Easter) and she saves them to distribute throughout the year. My son might get a candy bar, or a pen, or another small item.

Being able to give and not just receive is very important to her, and I'm glad she's able to do it. In this case, even though I don't always find a use for the items I'm glad she can do it because it makes her happy.

Similarly, my child has received dollar store gifts as birthday presents from friends at his title 1 school. While he doesn't need the items, I know that it would be hard for a child to arrive empty handed. It also lets us give the child something on their birthday, without feeling like it's "charity".

[Anonymous]

No gifts. I am trying to pare down my belongings so the fewer things I have the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a beloved elderly relative who is on a low, fixed income. When we visit her, we bring practical gifts such as food, and often times a card with some cash. I know she is very grateful, but I also know that after years being the caretaker in the family, it would be very hard for her to accept these things without repaying the favor in some way, so every time we visit she's got a little something for each of us. I might get a sample sized hand cream, or a pretty dollar store bookmark. She's in section 8 housing for the elderly, and sometimes they get gifts from various organizations (e.g. a church might distribute little gift baskets at Easter) and she saves them to distribute throughout the year. My son might get a candy bar, or a pen, or another small item.

Being able to give and not just receive is very important to her, and I'm glad she's able to do it. In this case, even though I don't always find a use for the items I'm glad she can do it because it makes her happy.

Similarly, my child has received dollar store gifts as birthday presents from friends at his title 1 school. While he doesn't need the items, I know that it would be hard for a child to arrive empty handed. It also lets us give the child something on their birthday, without feeling like it's "charity".

+1

I think it depends on the situation. About 20 years ago, I purchased two candle holders at the dollar store for $1 a piece. I still take them out every year at Christmas because they look nice.

Cheap looking items I would donate, regardless of where it was purchased. I've seen some high end stores with cheap looking stuff. I sew, so I have an eye for mistakes when it comes to stuffed animals or clothing. Disney stuff from the Disney store had some mistakes and they were pricey!

Overall, I think you should be gracious and say Thank You. If you don't like it, donate it.

We have so much stuff, I donate a lot because it does become overwhelming. My family loves to buy trinkets and little gifts and I've told them not to waste their money because I really don't have the space. They don't listen, so now I donate excess items.