Revenge of the slippers is approaching........

@gemini_rose (16264)
October 4, 2008 7:56am CST
Dear sister. SO I will explain to you what I am on about. For the past three years, hubby and I have lovingly choosen gifts for his sister and her boyfriend. We really sit and think about what to get them, think about what they would like and buy gifts that will make them feel happy on christmas day. Every christmas for the past three years we have opened our gifts of a pair of slippers and a box of small chocs to share. OK so I sound ungrateful and ungracious, but you know what, it hurts, because we both know that there is no thought put into the gift.Hubby does not even wear slippers! Now we love her dearly, but she seems to have got into the habit of buying us this same gift, and we both have about 3 pairs of slippers brand new, never worn that are stuffed in the wardrobe and so with the pair we had last year we plotted. We decided to give them a taste of their own medicine, instead of the thoughtful lovely gifts as usual we are going to give them slippers, and a box of chocs to share just to see how they like it HA HA. I have even found the perfect pairs of slippers for them and will buy them next week!! Do you ever get the same gift year after year from people? What is the worst gift you have ever had of anyone at anytime? What is the best gift you have ever received? Does it hurt your feelings if you think that someone has not put any thought into their choice of gift for you?
5 people like this
12 responses
@tessah (6617)
• United States
4 Oct 08
yeah.. it bothers me. being a token reciever isnt a position i like to be in, and id rather get absolutely nothing from the person than a thoughtless "HAD TO BE BOUGHT FOR" gift. i streamlined my gift list of all of the "expected" gifts and no longer buy for anyone other than those i truly cherish and care for. really.. what is the point in blowing money that could be put to better use on a gift for a person you never see or hear from otherwise just to pretend to be in the spirit of giving because it is "traditional" ? id much prefer to spend a bit more on those who are important in my life, and not have to put up with the presence of people who only show up with their hands out for a brightly wrapped present.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Oct 08
That is exactly it, exactly the feeling that I get, "had to be bought for". I actually felt overwhelmingly upset last christmas, and like I say I am not selfish or ungrateful, but realising for the third year that we had slippers was horrible. I chose her gift, I had chosen a beautiful bracelet, made out of silver with her birthstone in and it was beautiful and I was so pleased with it. I never even received a thank you. That hurt too, still does if I am honest. So this year I am getting revenge but also putting the money I save towards something else, or someone else.
2 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Oct 08
yes, although I dont see it as vengeance in a horrible way, more in a bit of a fun way. I would never go out of my way to hurt her.
1 person likes this
@tessah (6617)
• United States
4 Oct 08
sweetheart.. is christmas really sposed to provide an opportunity for vengeance?
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
4 Oct 08
Thankfully, I don't have anything that bad, but my husband has people we buy gifts for and don't get anything in exchange. This year we are severely cutting back who we buy for. Of course, I will be in charge, makes life oh so easier!
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Oct 08
We have cut down this year too, it is such a lot of money each year.
2 people like this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
4 Oct 08
Christmas is out of control in my opinion. For my entire family: mom, dad, aunt, brother, sis-in-law and my nephew I rarely spend more than $100. I spend about $50 on my son $50 on my hubby. Now on his side he has: 4 sisters, 1 brother, a niece, and 2 sets of parents to buy for. This rule is that if they don't live here - with the exception of his 2 sisters who are under 10 - they aren't getting anything! That cuts down on at least 3 people I am not buying for. I am debating whether or not to get anything for his other sister and his brother, they never get us anything.
2 people like this
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
4 Oct 08
lol just give her back one of the slippers she gave you be a regifter hehhhheee an yes my brothers wife alsways got me a cookie tin by the way i can't eat them because I am a diabetic
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Oct 08
thats not a bad idea, do you know I think I might have a box full of gifts in the cupboard that I have not been able to make use of, maybe I should go and dig them out. I would hate to receive cookies and not be able to eat them.
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
5 Oct 08
Hi Gemini, Well the worst gift I ever received was a baby pink pashmina, and I look awful in baby pink and as I am a jeas and sweatshirt person not at all me whatever the colour. I gave it straight back to my mate and said baby pink suits you better thanks but no thanks, one of the things she loves about me is my honesty and this is what she got, I told her when she bought it she was having one of her blonde moments and that she was loving it but for herself really, she laughed and agreed but our friendship is like that. The best was a CD car stereo system for my new car as I missed not having music and the previous owner took the system out before they sold. It wasn't for a birthday or Christmas or anything just a gift from an ex as he knew it would make a difference. I would love to be a fly on the wall when they open slippers and chocs this year LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
@gemini_rose (16264)
5 Oct 08
Pink is a pretty hard colour to wear, I love pink but it does not look good on me, especially now my hair is red. Yes it will be funny for them to get slippers!
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Sometimes it is hard for some to be creative. So they think "safe" instead. I think its time for you to regift the slippers back to them along with a box of chocolates. I can't think of any gift that was really horrible. I look at the income and the life the people lead and understand that what they are giving is what they can afford. So, I just smile graciously and say thank you. No one person has ever given me the same gift year after year. That's just sad. It would hurt my feelings to think that not much thought was put into a gift.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Oct 08
It is hurtful to get the same gift, and to feel no thought has gone into it. Especially when I have spent so much time agonising over something personal for the person in return. Oh well maybe this year will be different, watch her get me something really nice now cos I am getting her slippers! I would feel SO guilty then!!
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
4 Oct 08
My in laws are like that. Part of it is that they don't have a lot of money to spend, but every christmas hubby and I get hats, mittens, scarves, and sweaters. Neither of us wear them. My in laws have never once seen either of us wear a hat or gloves or scarves... yet they keep buying them. They've even bought underwear for hubby!! A few years ago we told them not to bother buying us anything, just to use the extra money to get the kids more gifts. We thought that was a polite way of saying we didn't like their gifts, lol. Well they didn't listen. They still buy us gifts that we hate, and to be honest, the children are always disappointed in the gifts as well. To make matters worse, they don't even wrap the gifts. They use gift bags and hand them to the kids. Half of the fun is unwrapping a gift...so that's also disappointing.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Oct 08
I would rather they spent the extra bit of money on our kids instead too. I think if I give them a taste of their own medicine then maybe they will understand! I hope!
2 people like this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
8 Oct 08
[i]Hi gemini, When it is close to me of course, i will be offended for not even thinking that are my likes..LOL! ANyway, worst gift ever? hmmm....I guess receiving slipper too, I had it with a friend before and I don't like slippers really...I will just have one slipper in the house and that is what I will use until it's destroyed and when someone will give that to me,I will not appreciate it..LOL! Anyway, never experienced to receive same products or gifts always...It's always different every year, best gift I had...talking about material thing is my birthstone from hubby which i really love and like a lot! LOL![/i]
• United States
5 Oct 08
You know what, I would take it one step further. I would repackage the slippers that she gave you guys, seeing as how they're going unworn, and just buy the chocs instead. I mean why waste good money on more slippers, when you've got perfectly good, brand new ones you're not wearing. The worst gift I've ever gotten was last year at Christmas. We did a Secret Santa type thing since no one had much money, and my brother pulled my name. I do appreciate it, because I know he is a college student and has very little money, but what he gave me is ridiculous. He gave me a Cheesecake Factory Gift card, with $10 and change on it. You see, it did have $50 on it when it was given to him, but he took his girlfriend out with it, and gave it to me with the change!!! The worst part, I don't even go to the CheeseCake Factory!!!!
@gemini_rose (16264)
5 Oct 08
Yeah that is a bad gift!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Oct 08
hi gemini rose yes we used to get home made divinity fudge every year from an Aunt in Nebraska and it would be so hard you would almost break a tooth trying to eat it.The best gift I ever got was a small bottle of Evening In Paris stuck into my uniform pocket by a shy fellow worker who six weeks later married me. Idid not have the heart to tell him I did not like Evening In Paris but I did like the gift that came from his heart so I used it a lot in that six weeks. we both worked in St Lukes hospital.the worst gift I ever got was an expensive bottle of colgne that I had spent a lot of time finding and buying for a friend the christmas before as her friends said that was her favorite, I got it back wrapped in the same wrappings and with the same Holly sticker on it that I had put on it. I felt really hurt as the thing had cost a lotthat i really didnt have. so I did use it as I had originally paid for it.lol.
@gemini_rose (16264)
5 Oct 08
That was a very sweet story and you used the perfume even though you did not like it. I do not think that I have ever had a gift back that I have given someone else before though that would be pretty hurtful.
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
6 Oct 08
Wow, they couldn't even get you a gift card or something instead? At least that would have been something they would know you could use. I have relatives and friends like this. When you get this kind of a gift it hurts because it feels like a gift they "have" to give so they just do it without any caring or thought. Sad and rude in my opinion. I am very hard to buy for and for years I got gifts I pretended to like and put up with everyone paying no attention to what I wanted (this was when we made lists so when we exchanged we would have something for the other people to get us, and they still got me bleh things)! I finally just told everyone, every time I saw them, hey I don't need a gift, but if you get me something PLEASE just get a gift card, because I am so hard to buy for! It sort of worked. I really like you idea! I hope they get the point and take it in the spirit in which it is given!
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
5 Oct 08
i have experienced that many times. there are some people in my life who would just give me gifts, the cheapest gifts. and because i will tell them beforehand that i don't want expensive cause i don't want them to bother spending a lot for a give they will give me. anyways, that is why they will just buy a very cheap items. which i don't mind. i am just thankful. but sometimes i will feel good if some body will actually going to buy something they worked hard for. something a little expensive. not just because of the price but because it will just mean how important i am to them. but sadly people now just want to save a lot of money and they don't care much on how the other people will feel with the gifts that they are going to give.
@gemini_rose (16264)
5 Oct 08
I always think it is the thought that counts with a present I never go by a price but just the fact that someone has put thought into something and has bought it with me in their mind.
• United States
6 Oct 08
I think gift giving can be fun for the children, but most adults can get what they want when they want and shopping for adults gets to be a pain. I probably sound like a Scrooge to some people, but I know our family Christmases have become so much more pleasant since we stopped giving gifts to each other. That's probably because no one in my family likes to shop. I can't think of a worst gift, but my most favorite was a stuffed lion I got when I was six years old.