Most thoughtful: after living on my own for several years, I returned to grad school and was going to live in a dorm. Of all my family, only my brother-in-law's mother realized that I probably didn't have any useful dorm room stuff anymore, so for Christmas she gave me a set of desk organizing supplies - pen holder, paper tray, etc.

Least thoughtful - all my immediate relatives the same year who gave me a lot of blank looks and said "you've been on your own for so long we couldn't think of anything you might want" even though they also knew I was moving across the country to live in a dorm room and had sold/given away pretty much everything I owned except the clothes on my back and a box to ship them.

Anonymous wrote:Most thoughtful: DH secretly flew my best friend in to town one year to celebrate my birthday.

Least thoughtful: ILs frequently give me alcohol related gifts (I don't drink, and neither do they, but there is alcoholism in my family which they are very judgmental about so this is truly a "loaded" gift). Also, when I got my Master's degree they gave me a beautifully framed copy of my DH's Bachelor's degree diploma for us to hang in our house. Especially weird because I went to the same undergraduate school and don't have my diploma framed or on display.

Wow, your ILs sound like dicks.

On my wedding weekend, one good friend gave me a book she'd read about love, marriage, commitment and loss (it was a memoir) and her presentation made it clear she'd put a lot of thought into it.

Least thoughtful? For my first birthday together with my now DH, he got me a box of tea and a planner for the following year. Uhhh...

He's gotten better. Incrementally.

Most thoughtful: For my engagement, my MIL gave me her mother's engagement ring -- so beautiful.

Least thoughtful -- When I lost 50 lbs, a friend gave me a box of chocolates.

Years ago I complimented my boss on a blouse she was wearing, saying I wish I had one just like it. Next meeting there was a beautifully gift-wrapped box with the identical blouse inside for me. Never forgot that gesture. The blouse wasn't anything fancy or expensive, but her gesture and the way of delivering it was impeccable.

Worst gift (same office): Chia pet in a gift exchange that wasn't meant to be a gag gift exchange.

Most thoughtful: DH secretly flew my best friend in to town one year to celebrate my birthday.

Least thoughtful: ILs frequently give me alcohol related gifts (I don't drink, and neither do they, but there is alcoholism in my family which they are very judgmental about so this is truly a "loaded" gift). Also, when I got my Master's degree they gave me a beautifully framed copy of my DH's Bachelor's degree diploma for us to hang in our house. Especially weird because I went to the same undergraduate school and don't have my diploma framed or on display.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Least thoughtful: aunt and uncle who are multi millionaire got us a chips and dip bowl off registry for out wedding.

Why is that not thoughtful? You wanted it, you registered for it, they got it for you.

Yes, I also want to know why this gift wasn't thoughtful.

Just because they are multi-millionaires, it doesn't mean they have to buy everything single item off the registry for you. Or the most expensive item.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most thoughtful was from my 10 yo DD for fathers day in 2012. Days before major surgery, she gave me a mug that said "I can't imagine life without my Daddy". Actually made me cry.

Least thoughtful? Well, for my 45th birthday, my wife gave me a bottle of shampoo. Generic shampoo.

Shut up!! Really? Shampoo? Oh, that's sad.

Oh, my. What on earth did you do to deserve a gift like that? Maybe a little passive aggressiveness coming out in the wife?

Wait, was the shampoo your only gift? Are you still married?

Anonymous wrote:Most thoughtful was from my 10 yo DD for fathers day in 2012. Days before major surgery, she gave me a mug that said "I can't imagine life without my Daddy". Actually made me cry.

Least thoughtful? Well, for my 45th birthday, my wife gave me a bottle of shampoo. Generic shampoo.

Shut up!! Really? Shampoo? Oh, that's sad.

Most thoughtful: when my husband and I were first dating and didn't have a lot of money, I had a really old car. I was embarrassed because it was missing a hubcap but couldn't afford the $75 for a new hubcap (it needed a special kind). For my birthday he hunted down the special hubcap and put it on my car. The hubcap had a little bow on it.

Least thoughtful: my brother once gave me scrap of paper with "iou" for Christmas because he had forgotten it was coming up. We were in our 30s.

Anonymous wrote:Least thoughtful: aunt and uncle who are multi millionaire got us a chips and dip bowl off registry for out wedding.

Why is that not thoughtful? You wanted it, you registered for it, they got it for you.

Thoughtless: My female boss gave me and my coworker each a bottle of eye makeup remover.

Thoughtful: My ex gave me a very nicely framed concert poster that was designed by a friend of his. This was years after we had broken up (we're still friends). An artist friend also gave me a framed drawing of hers for my baby shower. Apparently I like getting unique artwork.

I got a 12 pack of Sprite in a Secret Santa where we drew names, so the 12 pack was purchased for me. I guess it was thoughtful. The person said they noticed I drink Sprite.

Most thoughtful was from my 10 yo DD for fathers day in 2012. Days before major surgery, she gave me a mug that said "I can't imagine life without my Daddy". Actually made me cry.

Least thoughtful? Well, for my 45th birthday, my wife gave me a bottle of shampoo. Generic shampoo.

One of the most thoughtful was a roll-top desk that my mother bought for me when I graduated college. She stained it herself, letting me pick out the stain color. Now I never use it because I can't keep my computer on it, so it stores stuff and is a sentimental object.

Least thoughtful: for the holidays one year a family member of my husband's gave me a Hello Kitty picture frame. I was 42. The box was damaged. She had a 10-year-old daughter. It was clearly a regift. I'm not some cool, stylish type that is into pop culture; there is nothing about me that suggests I'm interested in Hello Kitty!