COMMENTS

36 responses to “Open Thread Update: Worst Holiday Gifts”

1. Heart shaped pink post-it notes!

   Reply to Arlene

2. Well, this year he gave me SHEETS!!!

   Reply to Susan

3. My sister went to a ‘worthless gift’ exchange party. Her gift to the person that chose her number was a picture of her ex-husband. It was the perfect way to get rid of a worthless person!

   Reply to Gayle

4. “A note to men: do not ever and I mean ever, give your SO household tools, machines or equipment.” I’m in a same-sex relationship so maybe I’m missing something, but with enough communication this could be exactly the right gift. I’ve wanted a Dremel for years. And I would be thrilled with the right gardening tool, such as a holster for my favorite pruning shears. And Santa is welcome to bring me a Roomba or anything other fancy equipment that can make cleaning easier. Just ask, Santa!

   Reply to K.G. Schneider

   1. I am not the late Elizabeth Taylor but I announced to my small office that I was desperately trying to lose some weight. What did the “Secret Santa” get me? A huge box of Godiva truffles! Second worst gift: an enormous royal blue ELVIS LAMP (from an ex).

      Reply to Kathryn Nocerino

5. A guy I was dating gave me a small stuffed animal . It was cute but when I read the tag it was a dog toy

   Reply to TC Higgins

   1. TC Higgins! Ha! That’s funny! But I have actually given dog toys to my grandchild, because they are so cute and sturdy and well-made. The kids don’t know the difference.

      Reply to Connie Aigner

6. My ex husband gave me a blouse from a petite dress shop 579. I am5’9” at the time I wore a size14. Excuses offered went from the sales girl made a mistake to I needed to loose weight because I could and would look great in that size. I later discovered I received the wrong gift the blouse was intended for someone else.

   Reply to Lee

7. I can’t remember getting a weird gift myself but a lady I know did! In 2018, for Christmas, her boss of 17 years gave her a $10.00 Tim Horton’s card and a box of orange Jello powder. That’s it. No card and he never gave her a gift ever before or after apart from that. She quit during the 18th year. Merry Christmas everyone!

   Reply to Mona Lisa

8. I was about 27 and the man I absolutely loved and who was living with me, gave me a plastic Alien figure that was about 2 feet long. I won’t tell you what he said but it still hurts to think about it. It went into the trash so quick! He followed shortly afterwards.

   Reply to Vendetta Y

9. I once received a gift from a boyfriend and in the box was a page from a Victoria’s secret catalogue with a note saying you would look good in this!!! so all he was after was sex and I moved on after xmas.

   Reply to Fran

10. Flannel pajamas from K-mart (they were on sale). I have never worn PGs in our 40 year relationship.

    Reply to Susan

    1. My ex-husband, now deceased and no I didn’t do it, purchased flannel pjs for me on aChristmas Eve and wrapped them in our car before coming into the house. Earlier is the month I had run across a beautiful gold chain and locket that I thought was going to be my gift. Our marriage didn’t last too much longer.

       Reply to Cassie Elliston

       1. You made me laugh out loud, girl!!!! “No, I didn’t do it!!” OMG!!!

11. 25 or 30 years ago my Dad gave my Mom a trash compactor. She was not thrilled. Now, several decades later, Mom is gone but the trash compactor is still working!

    Reply to Anne Hawk

12. I got a set of barbells — minimum weight 100 lbs. He got (from “Santa”) a weight bench …hmmm

    Reply to Jean

    1. Jean, that is hilarious! Thanks for sharing!

       Reply to Virge

13. My brother and I have had a decades-long understanding for gifts: we tell each other exactly what we want. Sometimes there’s choice involved — e.g. last year, I wanted a waterproof backpack for a hiking trip in Costa Rica, and I left the decision of which one to him. He ended up not being able to decide, so he sent me three! Or it might be very specific — he wanted a cycling shirt in a specific color, and he sent me the link. We enjoy the gift giving, knowing we got it right every time!

    Reply to Joan Price

    1. Now that’s smart thinking, Joan! I”m surprised you didn’t react to the genius who asked his SO for a sex act. I lost touch with the gal who got this suggestion but I can tell you the relationship didn’t last…

       Reply to Virge

14. My ex husband gave me three things for our first Christmas

    A guitar … I didn’t play nor did I want to but he did
    Pierced earrings…I didn’t have pierced ears
    A teenagers perfume

    Note….My ex

    Reply to Katherine Mills

    1. Wow, Katherine….for the first Christmas together you’d think there’d be at least a minimum of effort.

       Reply to Virge

15. So, in general, I agree with what you are saying, but if the recipient asks for a kitchen tool, then it is not inappropriate. Case in point, this Christmas I asked for non-stick fry pans, and a deep dish glass pie dish. I think such gifts are risky if you are in a newer relationship, but after 42 years of marriage, I appreciate functional gifts. I do not need what my mother used to call “dust collectors.” No figurines, small decorative boxes, and the like! Know your recipient!

    Reply to Patti

    1. I agree. I love Bennington Pottery baking pans but they are expensive. I am thrilled when I get a new piece to add to my collection.

       Reply to Shirley

16. I disagree about getting a gift card or cash especially for teenage or young adult grandchildren. they love cash so that they can buy exactly what they want. As an 82 year old grandmother, I always buy them a book, but leave the rest to them via cash ior gift cards. They love it.
    I personally love receiving my annual gift cards to Trader Joes and Nordstroms. Happy dance.

    Reply to Christina Martel

    1. I agree. There is such a vast array of gift cards available. At 69, I would rather receive a gift card to just about anything, to some cute thing that is going to require some type of maintenance. Even tho I might love it, I don’t want to clean it!

       Reply to Vendetta Y

17. Some gifts need to be numbered. I bought my sister in law a large decorative pot for an outdoor plant. I thought I’d save her the trouble of having to buy potting soil. On Christmas morning she opened the wrapped package containing the soil first! Her kids talked for years about “when Aunt Dorothy gave Mom dirt for Christmas!”

    Reply to Dorothy Todd

    1. what a cute story! Thanks for sharing!!

       Reply to Virge

18. I once got a basket of long-expired Trader Joe’s items.

    Reply to Stacy

    1. You deserve a hug for that. I hope the person who gave such a cheap/thoughtless gift wasn’t someone close to you.

       Reply to Virge

19. I’m one of those odd-ball women who LOVES hardware store gifts. The two best I ever got were a 6′ aluminum ladder and a pitchfork. Now that I’m older I only want a thoughtful gesture or homemade cookies….stuff that goes away. I’m also not offended by gift cards, and I’m pretty sure younger people would rather have gift cards.

    Reply to Lauren

    1. An aluminum ladder and a pitchfork? How the heck did they wrap those things so it would look like a surprise????

       Reply to Virge

20. My husband and I married on August 6 and for our first Christmas gave me an electric floor cleaner/polisher. I was crushed but never told him. I was 21 years old. Yes, we’re divorced.

    Reply to Cheryl

    1. He gave you a tool to make you a better housemaid??

       This habit would stop in a year if women who got such gifts from their husbands would gift their husbands the following year with….a vibrator.

       Reply to Virge

    2. I do not celebrate Christmas. At a white elephant party at work, I opened my package to find a Christmas tree skirt. I had to ask what it was because I had no idea! Thank goodness someone traded for it…

       Reply to Barbara

21. My husband gave me a large composter! He ordered it online and was very secretive when it arrived. He spent time assembling it and was so proud when he gave it to me. I am a recycler/composter/adapter re-user but I did not want a composter for Christmas or my birthday or our anniversary. Things have gotten better since then but it is the source for good laughs at parties.

    Reply to Susan Stevens

    1. If you have a picture of it I’ll try to see if we can post it. It’s wonderful that you are both able to laugh at it later on.

       Reply to Virge