Gifts no one wants
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| Tue, 11-16-2004 - 5:06pm |
I was watching TV as I was typing my last question, and an ad for a store was on. The people in the ad were exchanging holiday gifts, and one of the people in the ad got a big red dish of some sort and sort of looked like she was faking that she liked it........so I started thinking about those holiday gifts we don't really like....I'm sure it has happened to all of us!
Well, what gift are you afraid of getting this year? What would you do if you did get it?
This question relates to debt in that sometimes certain gifts may cost us in time or household space or even money when we get them, and we know how valuable these things are.
For example, are you afraid of some well meaning relative giving you a dog that you can't afford right now, but they think your kids want it? Would you be upset to get a large object like a ping-pong table you have no room for?
What do you NOT want to see with a big red bow on it this year?
Littlesbigs

That would be any thing my SIL would pick for me. She and I don't get along, are civil at holidays and I swear she goes out of her way to get me the most hideious things to annoy me. Thankfully this year, we aren't exchanging gifts. Not only is it two fewer people to spend on gifts, but I don't have to fake liking something.
Kellie
I would have a heart attack if someone gave me a dog. I don't even like dogs! LOL Luckily, no one in my family would do such a thing.
Frankly, I could do without gifts at all this year. And I wish people wouldn't give my children so much junk--especially cheap plastic junk that is broken in a few weeks anyway but that they don't want to give up and so it just clutters their space. I especially despise "educational," battery-powered junk.
On the flip side, I always admired my dad because he is the best gift-receiver I've ever known. One year I got him ear muffs and my mom, in an effort to show me that he would love them, pointed them out in a catalog a few days before Christmas and he said he hated them and spent a full fifteen minutes making fun of men who wear ear muffs. Of course I was mortified and covered my eyes while he opened his gift Christmas morning, and effused about how he could return them etc. etc. But you know what? He wore them every morning for at least a year on his morning run. When I've asked him about it, he has said that he never sees a gift for the thing that it is, but for the intent behind it, and if someone thinks well enough of him to get him a gift, then he will love the gift. I've always admired, and aspired to, that attitude.
So, although I'm far from angelic in that respect, I do try to always see the beautiful intent behind a gift and love it regardless of whether I would choose it for myself.
To take the other side again, though, for years I kept asking for slippers from various family members whenever they would ask what I wanted, and for years I kept getting those silly "slipper socks" that get wet and cold the moment you step in a spill in the kitchen or step outside the door to pick up the newspaper, and that weren't any warmer than an ordinary pair of socks anyway. Every year, I would smile graciously and thank the giver and then curse myself that I hadn't asked someone with more sense for the coveted slippers (don't ask why I didn't just buy myself a pair--just silly, I guess). Finally, though, my husband, having watched my saga, bought me L.L. Bean's "Wicked Good" slippers ($50!! I don't even spend that much on day shoes! LOL). They live up to their billing!! They *are* wicked good. I've worn them three winters running, and they're still as good as new (weathered, but comfy and warm). Worth every penny. And I hope never to see another pair of slipper socks in my stocking! LOL
Good question.
Heather
Well, dh and I don't get much in gifts anymore, it's usually the kids.
What would I least like to see? More 'useful' stuff to take up space in the house. Everyone is pretty good about not doing that to me, though. When I'm asked, I tell them I want things that can be used up, like, say, chocolate! Or a gift card to WalMart that I can use to get groceries and gas. Or, one of my favorites, a Barnes and Noble gift card.
However, I already know what I'm getting at DH's Brother/Sister Christmas party, and although I didn't know I needed a new polar fleece handtied blanket for our bed, I do realize that it was a gift from the heart and will treat it as such.
I used to think that getting someone a store gift certificate meant that I didn't take enough time to think about what they wanted. Since DH and I have been in school, I have reversed my thinking. We tell everyone to tell us where they want their gift cards to, because that's what they're getting-and everyone thinks that's pretty cool.
Lisa
I would feel grateful for receiving any well-meaning gift from anyone, but I honestly don't *wish* for:
any scented items in scents I don't enjoy (happens sometimes), or any scented bath items that will dry my skin.
anything decorative that will clutter my house because I have spent the last 6 months DE-cluttering, LOL!
candy or anything made with sugar because I am a low-carber.
I would probably end up regifting, donating, selling, or yard sale-ing any of the above.
I know people who think GC are tacky and not a real gift....I'm like PLEASE...get me GC's...I promise, I won't think it's not a real gift, tacky or anything thing else....I will truly appreciate it.
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
I pretty much agree with all of the posts. I like to give gc's too. (And receive them!;))
My dh and I get into it every year because we agree on not buying each other gifts (We just buy ourselves stuff and then say "This is my Christmas present from you! Ha!)
But each and every year he will get me something expensive (ON THE CHARGE CARD!) and I get mad and take it back. I know I'm being a scrooge, but he knows how obsessed I am with paying off the cc!!! For instance, one year I received a $25 bra and matching $14 underwear!??!! They were just plain black cotton- but a famous name brand. Took them back.
Last year he was going to surprise me a $200 (on the cc) heart gold bracelet. I caught on ahead of time and told him I didn't want it/couldn't afford it.
#1 - I don't like very much jewelry. #2 I don't like hearts. #3 I don't like gold. Most importantly -he charged it! I told him I was sending it back and he was not too happy. He made me out to be the grinch in front of his whole family on Christmas.
And to make matters worse, his mom was the one who picked it out!!
She doesn't understand that gifts (jewelry) are not important to me, I just want to pay off my debt to build my house!!!!
I cheat too and get DH a little something - but only a DVD, a CD, or shirt, just a few things to open up.
DH said I'm never getting anything ever again. :) We'll see what happens this year.
Kara
Being divorced with no kids, I don't really get a lot of presents. Cash and gift certificates work great for me. I don't anticipate having anything to open Christmas day, and have long since stopped caring. In fact the only thing I like about Christmas is a day off, and not sure I'll even get that with it being on a Saturday. That's the best gift Christmas can give me.
The gifts I never wanted were the joint gifts I would get with my exH. One year we were given a drill from his mother. His mother had lent him so much money, I was surprised we got anything. The drill was pretty useless considering he was not a man to fix things in the home, he would just pay someone to do anything like that. I wanted to use the drill, but not in the way intended :-)heehee
Then my old boyfriend always got me cuddly toys, I'm an adult! Once for Valentines was cute, but then it was every holiday. Gag!!! I don't even want them now, so I might donate them to a charity this year for kids. I have never done anything with them, and I believe I left the tags.