The list of unwanted gifts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From my brother and SIL: every year they give my kids (ages 9 and 6) a 1000 piece puzzle. The kids aren’t interested in doing puzzles and we have never even started one. I don’t know where they got the idea we like puzzles. I wish they’d give us nothing instead of a giant puzzle every year. It also does annoy me that I buy their kids gifts that i actually put time and effort (not to mention more $$ since I’m buying each kid a gift instead of one joint gift) into thinking of something I know they ‘ll like and be excited to open, that’s personal to each kid.

My BIL gave my 6 year old daughter a packet of miso soup mix, which is not something she has ever had or would want to have. I just don’t understand…

My parents are good gift givers now because they finally got to a point after years of bad gifts where they will actually ask me what the kids and my husband and I want and get exactly what I tell them. But honestly the whole gift giving thing is so ridiculous at this point. Either you are shopping from a wish list which is a way to guarantee you’re getting something someone wants but it’s not very fun since the recipient knows what they’re getting. Or you give them useless junk. There’s no in between it seems, in my family anyway.

Wow. That is pretty bad. My husbands brother-in-law sent him a single tea bag-but at least my husband drinks tea!

The miso soup is inexplicable unless he is training her to someday join him for a meal at a Japanese restaurant. Was it wrapped?

It was “wrapped” in a pencil case/bag which was also part of her gift. It was just so random to see her open the pencil bag expecting pencils or markers or something and seeing a soup packet.

I still have no idea why he gave it but I think he is just a really weird person.

Any chance it was a Japanese anime/character pencil case? Pokemon? The soup packet might have been a little extra gift from the original vendor. Amazon Z-Shops and E-Bay vendors sometimes give a little free gift to encourage good reviews. For example, once I ordered a 4-pack of a hard to find flavor of Celestial Seasonings tea from an Amazon 3rd party vendor and it came with 3 unbranded honey straws. I've gotten a couple other samples over the past two decades.

Sorry...my family likes Japanese school supplies and miso soup...so I'm too curious about the explanation.

Interesting idea but no it isn’t an anime character or any kind of distinctive design it’s just a solid color pencil case. I’m pretty sure the soup and pencil case were bought separately and then BIL combined them. I know it makes no sense but a lot of things BIL does make no sense haha

NP - my kids would love a miso soup packet. They are 6/8/10 and super into anime/manga and love trying new ramen or boba tea. Maybe your BIL is nerd cool and didn’t realize your family doesn’t get the vibe?

[Anonymous]

Since when did the point of gift receiving become about getting EXAcTLY WHAT I WANT? This thread reads like a bunch of entitled UMC a holes. There are people on here complaining they get no gifts or not good enough gifts and others complaining they got gifts. It literally is the thought that counts. My husband and I are in agreeement that our kids shouldn’t expect to get everything that they ask for or exactly what they ask for. Not the point of gifts and I don’t want them to grow up to be one of these ungrateful complainers!

i teach my kids that receiving gifts is about expressing gratitude that someone thought of you. As a kid I remember opening gifts at my birthday party and learning to make positive comments and thank people - my mom would scold me if I said something unkind. Similarly when we shop for Christmas, I am teaching my kids to think of the giftee and brainstorm things they like. Sometimes that is chocolate. This year my son bought me a whisk bc he remembered mine broke. We complemented him on repaying attention and thinking about me.

All you whose husbands are crappy gift givers? You’re raising the next generation. Either you teach them how to pay attention and buy gifts or you’re setting an example that you complain about everything and throw it away so they shouldn’t make an effort.

It does answer the question of all these crappy ILs though. All you who received nothing from your in-laws? The next generation of MILs who don’t gift their DILs are growing here.it is not hard to tell your family you are not participating in Christmas or quietly donate/regift things you don’t like. Put them in a tub in the garage, next November donate them to a charity that allows lower income families to “shop” for presents. Not hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn’t do presents this year, so for once, NOTHING!

I did receive a metric ton of cookies and fudge that I could never eat. Sampled each and threw it away.

People are putting this stuff on my local buy nothing group and there is actually a competition for it. You don't realize how many people here are living close to the edge and would like some treats or some nutritious food.

Really? Wish I had known. It’s too late now, sadly. It hadn’t even occurred to me to offer it up that way. I figured nobody would want partially enjoyed confectionery.

Mostly people just acquire things on buy nothing as sport or as an activity that feels economically comforting.

Yep, the people on buy nothing are doing just fine. Better than fine in most cases. It’s hyper local and really only in Middle class and above neighborhoods, and generally the people with the time and vehicles to stalk the site and go around picking up stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From my brother and SIL: every year they give my kids (ages 9 and 6) a 1000 piece puzzle. The kids aren’t interested in doing puzzles and we have never even started one. I don’t know where they got the idea we like puzzles. I wish they’d give us nothing instead of a giant puzzle every year. It also does annoy me that I buy their kids gifts that i actually put time and effort (not to mention more $$ since I’m buying each kid a gift instead of one joint gift) into thinking of something I know they ‘ll like and be excited to open, that’s personal to each kid.

My BIL gave my 6 year old daughter a packet of miso soup mix, which is not something she has ever had or would want to have. I just don’t understand…

My parents are good gift givers now because they finally got to a point after years of bad gifts where they will actually ask me what the kids and my husband and I want and get exactly what I tell them. But honestly the whole gift giving thing is so ridiculous at this point. Either you are shopping from a wish list which is a way to guarantee you’re getting something someone wants but it’s not very fun since the recipient knows what they’re getting. Or you give them useless junk. There’s no in between it seems, in my family anyway.

I don’t understand why you don’t just get them a puzzle every year too. They’re telling you they like puzzles.

Because their kids are 4 and 1 so it doesn’t seem like a very thoughtful gift. But maybe I should, just to be done w thinking about what to get them.

If there are flights involved, that’s the other reason they get puzzles for you and you can give them back. Easy to pack.

Obviously no gifts would be preferable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My adult stepdaughter sent me a digital photo frame loaded with pictures, including ones of her mother.

They may have been included by mistake. But I doubt it.

Is she in the photos with her mom? Grandkids? You’re in a blended family! Congratulations, it includes your DH’s ex-wife. Is she supposed to pretend she doesn’t have a mom?

DCUM really makes me believe in evil stepmothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My adult stepdaughter sent me a digital photo frame loaded with pictures, including ones of her mother.

They may have been included by mistake. But I doubt it.

Is she in the photos with her mom? Grandkids? You’re in a blended family! Congratulations, it includes your DH’s ex-wife. Is she supposed to pretend she doesn’t have a mom?

DCUM really makes me believe in evil stepmothers.

Post says photos of her mother. You are a bigot to assume and ascribe the term "evil" to a woman simply because she is in a stepmother position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A satin pillowcase. Who uses a satin pillowcase?

We already have silk ones.

I think those have been popping up a lot in gift idea lists (pretty sure I even saw one on Wirecutter before the holidays), as something to get women because they’re gentler on your hair than normal pillowcases. Less breakage, maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A satin pillowcase. Who uses a satin pillowcase?

We already have silk ones.

I think those have been popping up a lot in gift idea lists (pretty sure I even saw one on Wirecutter before the holidays), as something to get women because they’re gentler on your hair than normal pillowcases. Less breakage, maybe.

I use only satin pillowcases. Less face creasing or knotty hair. The pillowcases are also cooler than the cotton ones.


I already regifted my MIL's present: she gave me a set of lotions and a candle. I have atopic dermatitis and only use 2-3 things I know won't irritate my skin. I also get headaches from fragrance.

[Anonymous]

I think a satin pillowcase is a thoughtful gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My adult stepdaughter sent me a digital photo frame loaded with pictures, including ones of her mother.

They may have been included by mistake. But I doubt it.

Another thoughtful gift. It takes a lot of time to set up and load pictures on these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My adult stepdaughter sent me a digital photo frame loaded with pictures, including ones of her mother.

They may have been included by mistake. But I doubt it.

Another thoughtful gift. It takes a lot of time to set up and load pictures on these.

Most likely stepdaughter gave one to her mom also and just didn't think through the photo curation.

Her mom probably got pictures of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when did the point of gift receiving become about getting EXAcTLY WHAT I WANT? This thread reads like a bunch of entitled UMC a holes. There are people on here complaining they get no gifts or not good enough gifts and others complaining they got gifts. It literally is the thought that counts. My husband and I are in agreeement that our kids shouldn’t expect to get everything that they ask for or exactly what they ask for. Not the point of gifts and I don’t want them to grow up to be one of these ungrateful complainers!

i teach my kids that receiving gifts is about expressing gratitude that someone thought of you. As a kid I remember opening gifts at my birthday party and learning to make positive comments and thank people - my mom would scold me if I said something unkind. Similarly when we shop for Christmas, I am teaching my kids to think of the giftee and brainstorm things they like. Sometimes that is chocolate. This year my son bought me a whisk bc he remembered mine broke. We complemented him on repaying attention and thinking about me.

All you whose husbands are crappy gift givers? You’re raising the next generation. Either you teach them how to pay attention and buy gifts or you’re setting an example that you complain about everything and throw it away so they shouldn’t make an effort.

It does answer the question of all these crappy ILs though. All you who received nothing from your in-laws? The next generation of MILs who don’t gift their DILs are growing here.it is not hard to tell your family you are not participating in Christmas or quietly donate/regift things you don’t like. Put them in a tub in the garage, next November donate them to a charity that allows lower income families to “shop” for presents. Not hard.

It sounds entitled because this is a vent post site. I'm sure people are fine in person. It's just hard to put on the game face to receive yet another sickeningly sweet pillar candle.

I also found out my MIL gave the specialty coffee I sent her for Christmas to my BIL. I thought he drank it at her house until the context became clear he had it at his house = given away. Makes me not want to bother giving courtesy gifts if they all have to be rehomed.

[Anonymous]

Oh man… I received alphabet blocks for our LO in my native language from SIL. They’re made by an American company and I first saw them online two years ago, but immediately noticed in the product photos that there were mistakes on some of the blocks, and more ridiculously, fully 1/3 of the alphabet was missing. I actually wrote to the company back then to let them know but never received a response. Since no one in DH’s family has any familiarity with my language, everyone raved about what an amazing and thoughtful gift it was, but sadly they’re unusable to me. Imagine if you received an ABC alphabet block set for your DC with only 17 blocks and some misshapen letters! I thanked her enthusiastically of course but I have to admit the whole thing was triggering some depressing 90’s childhood flashbacks that I won’t get into here. At any rate I know she tried to do something tailored and special, and I wouldn’t want her feelings to be hurt, so I guess there’s not much more to say on the matter—

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband gave me a custom family name sign. The problem is its grammatically incorrect. Our last name ends in s and he didn't make it plural. So the sign says (for example) "The Jones" instead of "The Joneses" or "The Jones Family" I don't honestly know what to do with it.

My uncle made one for us that says "The Henderson's" but it's the thought that counts. And the effort and skill he used in making it.

Reminds me of my husband overhearing a conversation: "Do you think Bill would like this sweater?" "I dunno, I've never seen him wear anything like that.". "Well, f#*k him! It's the thought that counts!"

It’s in case anyone was confused about whose block of wood it was. It’s clearly yours.

Bc you are THE Henderson!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband gave me a custom family name sign. The problem is its grammatically incorrect. Our last name ends in s and he didn't make it plural. So the sign says (for example) "The Jones" instead of "The Joneses" or "The Jones Family" I don't honestly know what to do with it.

This one made me laugh out loud!