okay, lets be honest...there are some christmas gifts we don't want to receive
By Sweetchariot
@Sweetchariot (1718)
United States
November 26, 2009 12:23pm CST
I realize that this time of year is all about giving to those you love, family and friends. Some of us rack our brain during the 4 weeks prior to Christmas to know what we need to purchase for each individual, something meaningful, something you know they are going to like. And there are others who just pick up the more common of gifts, the gifts that populate all the stores such as candles, lotion, ties for men, etc. They don't rack their brain like some of us do.
Then comes Christmas day, and you find that the person you have spent loads of time on, to find that perfect gift, has given you something that took no extra thought in. Sometimes you even receive a gift that you have no idea what you will do with it, the gift that you know will be put in a closet or on a shelf for the another person you want to give a gift to. Sometimes you just want to say to someone...'don't waste your money, I would rather we spend more time together, than buying something I already have plenty of, and don't need.'
One year, I think I got 10 candles, for my home. I love candles, but enough is enough...
Some will say, it was the thought that counts....COME ON! What thought was put into stopping into a local corner store, and picking up a candle. When I purchase a gift, I want it to be unique for that individual. It's not how much I spend, it's the thought that was put into it. Likewise, don't spend alot of money on me, only to see the gift stored away the rest of the year.
What gifts have you received that you wanted to give back (but never did)? What was the worse thing you've received?
1 person likes this
20 responses
@becdmd (704)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
I laugh out loud with your post...I'm sorry but I didn't mean it...I just found it funny when you received a lot of candles for your home because they know that you love candles that's why they gave it to you
. I remember the worst gift that I received was a foul smelling perfume....up to now I never used it and I wish I could give it to someone but I were not able to because I don't want to spoil their expectation lol!
. I remember the worst gift that I received was a foul smelling perfume....up to now I never used it and I wish I could give it to someone but I were not able to because I don't want to spoil their expectation lol!
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Yup 11 candles...I guess it's the easiest gift to buy since they are sold all over. Fortunately it taught me not to spend so much time on purchasing gifts for others. This year, I will buy them all a candle! lol
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
lol...Great idea...just too bad the giver had to spend the money just to see it on EBAY! lol
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
27 Nov 09
perfumes.
unless it's something they truly know i use,i wish they wouldn't bother.
i've had people give me stuff i'm allergic to,and my aunt one year gave me one that smelled so bad i used it to keep raccoons out of my garbage..and it worked.
ugh..please no "smelly" gifts..which includes candles.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Priceless! At least the perfume was good for something!
@corrycrystal (1775)
• Malaysia
27 Nov 09
A pen! Every one received something special during last year's Christmas exchanged gifts at my previous workplace, but I got a pen. I gave my brother a pen before because he is a journalist and it was a very nice pen with some extra, but what I received was a normal ball pen! 
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
That is priceless...I would've used it, by writing that person a note every day, telling them how much you appreciate the gift that you could actually use.
Or you could've said, "Would you believe I lost the pen that you bought me, I must have left it on someone's desk by accident. So I can I borrow yours?"
@munchiez117 (539)
• United States
26 Nov 09
i dont like the clothes i get a lot of the time so since most of my reletives dont know what i like they just get me black shirts which i awlays wear very rare they get me anything else
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
26 Nov 09
So, you never have to buy another black shirt in your life time, because you get plenty from them? lol... You should make a list of what you want and pass it around your family members, so this Christmas they won't be wasting their money on something you already have.
I wish I had done that along time ago, instead of looking at things in my house, that I don't need.
@munchiez117 (539)
• United States
27 Nov 09
well i like black shirts and stuff so i always dont mind more black shirts i always wear them and stuff so they are not useless.
besides the new ones replace the ones that are old and dont fir me anymore
@olisaur (1922)
• United States
26 Nov 09
ugh. I always get gifts that I neither want nor need.
I'm kind of a black sheep in my family- I like hard rock, tattoos and fashion. Every year I get really preppy clothes from my parents and god-family. They don;t necessarily shun me for my style, but they do try to lead me toward things they want me to be.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
26 Nov 09
lolol...I think I used to do that when my son was young...I always bought him clothes that I thought he would look good in...but then when he got older, I realized that he never wanted to wear them, and would litterally ask me to return them to the store. I eventually gave up on trying to make him into what I wanted him to be.
I also understand the Black sheep label...I too was the black sheep; I had only one sister, and I always called her the perfect daughter, because she acted and dressed just like my mom and dad wanted her to. I, on the other hand, wore a completely different fashion, and some of my relatives would drive by me without waving because I think they were embarrassed. lol...didn't bother me. My mom and Dad finally came around, and realized I wasn't a bad kid, just was a little rebellious.
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Yea, I also love rock things. *high five* but unlike you I also like preppy things too. Surprisingly my parents were pretty okay when I started dressing in skulls and dark colors, etc. pbbly cuz i still liked some preppy things. Yes, families will do that.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
Fruitcake would be on top of the list of gifts I don't want to receive for Christmas. Next would be scented candles. I still have spillovers from gifts dating 2001 and I haven't used them yet. Next would be small figurines that would only collect dust, and also picture frames.
I prefer giving cash so that the recipient can buy what he or she wants and not be miserable with a gift that is unappreciated. They say that money gifts are bad because it shows that you did not exert extra effort. But for me, it more practical than giving gifts that may be re-wrapped and given away as recycled gifts. Worst case scenario is that the recycled unwanted gift comes back to you
.
.@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Believe it or not...I actually like fruitcake...but I certainly wouldn't want to get it as a gift. I love candles, but not 11 of them in one year...that's definitely a cop out. Figurines...Oh, my! They would be at the Salvation Army the next day.
While cash may be the easiest way to go for the young people/teens, I find that they love to shop after Christmas and purchase their own things with the money given them...however, when it comes to other adults, I think it's rather dumb. I give you $25.00 cash, and you give me $25.00 cash...we may as well have kept our own money. Same thing for gift certificates...If I get one for a local restaurant to give you, and you give me one from another one...it would've made more sense to keep the money, and go out to eat together at some resturant. Time together makes more sense than giving for the sake of giving, and ending up with the same darn thing.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
27 Nov 09
In times like these, I just say to myself that the essence of Christmas is not on material things.....(yawn)
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
You are absolutely right...so why rack your brain on trying to buy that perfect gift, or wasting your money on something just for the fact that you feel forced to buy a gift.
Instead, appreciate what Christmas is all about, and stop with the materialism.
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
You said it. Every year, I also receive a lot of Christmas gifts that I don't really like. I also have an inkling that some of those gifts were just re-wrapped then they gave it to me. Every year, there are two people who give me the lamest Christmas gifts. These two people are my aunt and a friend. I never even get excited when I receive my gifts from them anymore because I know I won't like their gift. They are also known to be really thrifty. They always give me stuff that I can never and would not dare use. Sometimes, I just want to tell them to give me money or just a gift certificate.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
I would settle for nothing actually. I wouldn't want to tell someone that I didn't like their gift - after all it would be heartless to do that - but I'd tell your friend that you could not afford to give her one, and she shouldn't give you one either. At least you can get out of that one. But the Aunt?....You may have to suffer thru her gifts every year.
@habbeysax (77)
• United States
27 Nov 09
A gift is synonymous to a saying 'a begger must not be a chooser'. Gift item may suit your present wants and may not. It's the act of predicting what you need or like.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
I would rather they save their money, then spending it on something that I can't use or wouldn't put out in my house. They may need that money for a rainy day, don't throw it away uselessly. I don't need gifts to know that someone cares for me.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
27 Nov 09
I'm happy with every present I receive because is the intention that counts, but I admit myself that some presents make my face change from a smile to a "wtf" face.
For example... when someone in your family decides to give you underwear as a present. Underwear is something very personal, and is one of the last things you want to receive from a member of your family :(
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
lolol..."WTF" face...I try so hard not to have that kind of face when I open a gift, because I don't want to seem unappreciated, but some people's idea of a gift is way out of my thought pattern. It shocks me everytime. Better to save their money.
@lizbenetua (637)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
Although it's been said that the thought counts behind the gift, there are gifts I don't want to receive like picture frames, photo albums, address books, autograph books. When I was a kid, we have the exchange gifts. I got three measly face towels, in shades of brown maroon and dark blue. Bummer. That really sucks for a kid especially when you gave a nice gift.It's utterly generic. It's like they didn't put their heart into it when they bought that gift.You should think of how the person would react when he or she receives the gift. Like that person went to the nearest sale rack to find those towels. For me the best gifts are either handmade or cooked, or baked. although a really nice expensive gift would be really cool too once in a while.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
"It's utterly generic. It's like they didn't put their heart into it when they bought that gift.You should think of how the person would react when he or she receives the gift."
Exactly! I agree with you completely. Why would someone think a kid would enjoy getting face towels..lol I know that the following year, I would not spend the time thinking that seriously on what to buy that person...they would either get back the face towels, or I would buy new ones..lol..put a note inside, "loved the ones you gave me last year, thought I would get you some this year!" lol
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
OOH, sad...in your case that is probably all they could afford.
@Khelcie (1)
• Canada
27 Nov 09
Last year one of the gifts I received from a friend of mine was a Milk Calendar that they give out every year in the local newspaper for free. I actually did make a comment when I opened that gift and said "wow you spent alot on that one.!" I hope I do better this year from him. LOL
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
WOW! Priceless!
I can't believe they had the gall to give you that! Great answer! I wish I had the guts to say that! lol
@savypat (20216)
• United States
26 Nov 09
I received from my step mom a silver tea set which was so cheap and badly made it was a joke, I don't know if it was a last minute deal or whether she really felt I wouldn't know cheap when I saw it. Or maybe it was dig at me which she loved to do. But every time she visited she made sure to ask how we liked it. I had to polish the hideous thing and make sure it was visible. Then I grew up and wasn't afraid of what she thought of me and told her I gave it to goodwill which I did.
But that was the worse thing I ever received.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
26 Nov 09
lol...A silver tea set...OMG...it's been ages since I have seen one of those. I think the worst thing I got was a set of doilies that a cousin made for all the women relatives. Doilies!! I haven't used doilies in centuries. Supposedly she made them, so we were all supposed to be very grateful for her kindness and time that she spent on them, but I would've like to have said that her time was wasted. If you're going to make a gift or buy a gift, I believe you should know the person enough and know what they like, before you go ahead with it.
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Well I received a HSM2 album last xmas n i was like ehhhh...cuz I don't like that kind of music, especially since the 2nd one was the worst one. And then I also got ugly out of fashion clothes from my grandma (u know how they are) but i pretended i liked it. n i think once she also gave me some toy as if it was for a little girl.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
... You would think that people would ask what we like or what we are into before spending their money. It's really like throwing it away. Too bad!
@danitykane (3183)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
lol.. when I was younger I used to get a "wallet". Like during exchange gifts, raffles, etc.. There is one time that I received four wallets during Christmas day. Different kinds of it, I got the leather, metal coin purse and a weave thing that looked like purse (it was indeed a wallet)..hahaha. I don't want to receive a wallet again. Haha! Though, I received a wallet that I really like which was two years ago and it was a "lacoste" wallet purse...uhmmm, not bad.. I love it! I don't know why I often get it...the thing is, I only have few monies to fill 'em up! haha.
Happy Lotting!
when I was younger I used to get a "wallet". Like during exchange gifts, raffles, etc.. There is one time that I received four wallets during Christmas day. Different kinds of it, I got the leather, metal coin purse and a weave thing that looked like purse (it was indeed a wallet)..hahaha. I don't want to receive a wallet again. Haha! Though, I received a wallet that I really like which was two years ago and it was a "lacoste" wallet purse...uhmmm, not bad.. I love it! I don't know why I often get it...the thing is, I only have few monies to fill 'em up! haha.
Happy Lotting! 
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
"One year, I think I got 10 candles, for my home. I love candles, but enough is enough...
Some will say, it was the thought that counts....COME ON! What thought was put into stopping into a local corner store, and picking up a candle."
LOL this is the funniest thing i a came across today LOL.
@Dianiss25 (15)
• Mexico
27 Nov 09
Is right sometimes we said on a conversation: "Oh, I love lipsticks..." and the next that ypu know is that in christmas you get like thounsands of lipsticks, yera after year... like Sweerchariot sayd, they don't take time to think on other thing... ok one year is acceptable, but eveery year... its dissapointing.. by not said sad....
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
27 Nov 09
You're right...we don't say anything because we don't want to hurt their feelings. But we should give them a hint anyway, by buying them the same thing next year...lol
@pmbhuntress09 (1608)
• United States
27 Nov 09
The worst thing that I ever received was a fruit cake. I don't like them never have and I have to say that I wasn't at all happy with it. My husband usually buys me stuff for the house that way I use it. So most of my presents are things I will keep.
