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“I Thought It Was A Joke”: 42 People Share The Absolute Worst Xmas Gifts They’ve Ever Received
The holiday season is about many things. Spending quality time with loved ones, eating cozy meals around the fireplace, watching your favorite seasonal films, and enjoying a break from work can all make this time feel extra special. But another way many of us choose to show love and appreciation for others during the holiday season is by giving gifts.
There’s no need to spend an exorbitant amount of money on Christmas presents, as a homemade yet heartfelt gift might mean even more than something expensive. But apparently, a present that clearly didn’t take any thought can be even more insulting than receiving nothing. Below, you'll find a list that Bored Panda has compiled from around the internet of the most disappointing Christmas gifts people have ever received. Enjoy scrolling through these shocking stories, and be sure to upvote the ones that would have inspired you to turn into a grinch!
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#1
My husband once gifted me a bicycle ....I was 8 months pregnant and had recently fallen and cracked my tailbone.
My mom regularly gifted me Reeses-themed sweets and things with cinnamon, like scented candles, etc. While they could be great for the right person, I'm highly allergic to both cinnamon and peanut butter.
I'm now divorced and no contact with both parties.
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 3 weeks ago
This entry was in a list posted 2 says ago. It's currently in the number one spot.
Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago
My bet is she's narcissistic, the candle thing is a typical narc move.
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Roland C. 3 weeks ago
Depending on where you live, kids who got a new bicycle for Christmas usually had to wait till spring to use it, so I can give a hubby a pass. The bike is there when she gets better. No justification for mom's bizarre behavior, though.
Michael Largey 3 weeks ago
If bike riding is for the spring, he could have saved the bike as Mother's Day present and given something more timely for Christmas.
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#2
When I was 21 my mum wanted a new jewellery box. She asked if I wanted a new jewellery box. I said no, because I don't wear jewellery. She bought "me" a huge wooden jewellery box for Christmas and then threw in "if you don't want it, I'll have it" when I said "we already talked about this". I took it because she always does this, and I wanted to [deprive] of the thing she clearly bought for herself. I never used it, and donated it 2 years later.
LizzieBoredom 3 weeks ago
Here's how I stopped awful relatives from ruining every Christmas: I outlived them.
Jaya 3 weeks ago
Wow that is really weird, how would someone not realize how ridiculous it is? And how incredibly transparent. I don't get this mom.
Mobey Drunk 3 weeks ago
I say use it for a different purpose. Just because it's made for jewelry doesn't mean it can't be useful for other things.
Fransanchez 3 weeks ago
My ex used to do this, only he will not say the "if you're not going to use it" line, he will just use it.....so, the Xmas he got me(he?) an iPad, I made it my new years resolution to use it
Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago
Yup, had a sister who played that game. Then I discovered *returns* and she stopped doing it.
#3
My brother gave me a hand turkey that he drew minutes earlier for Christmas. This would have been ok if he was 5 or something... He was 21 years old. I framed it and gifted it back to him the next year.
WindySwede 3 weeks ago
I guess he put his hand on paper, Draw around it. Then said it was a turkey?
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Elaine Chestnutt 1 week ago
You are nicer than me. I would have Elmers glued it on a piece of cardboard. That didnt fit.
Robert T 3 weeks ago (edited)
Hand turkey as opposed to an automated one? Hand-DRAWN. *eyeroll*
Bex 3 weeks ago
no, it's the kind of turkey drawn when you trace the shape of your hand. Like a kid does in preschool.
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#4
My brother-in-law is a pretentious and spoiled prick from a wealthy family. He was snobby, so I didn't like him at all. He didn't like me either. So, one Christmas, we accidentally got each other the same present. Ugly $2.00 clearance sweaters from KMart.
QuincyForrest 3 weeks ago
"Sending hateful wishes your way. Have a miserable holiday and a decrepit New Year."
brie sansotta 2 weeks ago
I loved the KMart clearance items. Too bad there are no more KMarts here.
#5
A bar set with very nice glasses from someone who knows I quit drinking after 30 years of alcohol, fatty liver disease diagnosis. It was my mom. My family just cannot process the idea of not consuming liquor every day.
brittany 3 weeks ago
fair. we did secret santa at work and were told to list a few things to give people ideas, one of the things i listed was my favorite fandom character and i said even if you only get me stickers with their face on it, thats fine. got my gift and they didnt have a single thing from my list on it. i looked and made sure before i handed the list to them that nothing i listed was over 4-5 dollars. the limit was 45-50 dollars. and the one fandom character they did give me, was one i do not like at all. and no the one i listed doesnt look anything at all like the one they got me so its not like they saw one and thought it must be the same. i think im just going to sell or re-gift it bc most of the stuff they got me outside of the loose candy i wont use or keep.
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UnclePanda 3 weeks ago
Any time you part from a group connected by something, especially a vice, they view it as judgement on them. It is, but only from their perspective because of their own fears.
Sarah McManus 2 weeks ago
Every year me + hubby always got gifted alcohol by his boss. He worked in a pub and they knew neither of us drank at home. Made me really angry every year which I suspect is why I suspect they did it 🤷🏻♀️😠
LakotaWolf (she/her) 3 weeks ago
As a former áddict, I can say that the LAST thing an áddict wants to be around is ANYTHING that daily/constantly reminds them of their áddiction. It's not like OP is going to fall off the wagon just from using bar/cocktail/alcoholic-drink glasses for soda or water, but the concept is that OP probably doesn't even want to LOOK at bar glasses.
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Barong 1 week ago
I find the most enjoyment I get from wine collecting and having alcoholic beverages isn’t drinking but sharing with guests at dinner parties. My son loved the non-alcoholic virgin colada’s I made and served in a tiki mug with a slice of pineapple and a little cocktail umbrella. Having proper glassware like having appropriate serving ware, utensils, and dishes is a nice touch. As for me personally, I don’t like being drunk but I do drink occasionally and enjoy having it in the appropriate drink ware just as I prefer my coffee drinks and smoothies in the appropriate drink ware.
Deson Bowenford 3 weeks ago
Are they from Wisconsin? I'[m sure that you can find a nice home for them there.
#6
I was in a Secret Santa gift exchange at work. We did 4 days of little, inexpensive gifts. I received NOTHING but an insincere apology on the last day from the person who was supposed to be my Secret Santa. It kinda [hurt] because it was my first Christmas away from home, and my family punished me for not coming home for the holiday by ignoring my existence for a few days. Not a gift, not a card, not a phone call.
Fire Singer 3 weeks ago
Yeah I stopped doing secret Santa at an old job I worked because even though I filled out one of those "likes and dislikes" sheets my secret Santa managed to get me basically everything I marked in the dislike section. I don't know if they misunderstood or thought it was funny or what, but that was the straw that broke the camels back on secret Santa for me.
Martin 3 weeks ago
This is why at my place of work we stopped doing Secret Santa as some people didn't bother paying roughly £5.00 insisting that they'd forgotten, yet somehow they'd remembered to pay for their coffee in Starbucks next door.
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
Secret Santa needs to be voluntary. People can’t be expected to take part. If someone goes out of their way to sign and then ‘forgets’ that’s a whole other level of cruel power play.
Load More Replies... Robin Roper 2 weeks ago
Some families do not deserve their decent family members. As for the work place Secret Santa, I'd go straight to HR and tell them I plan to never participate in any such office "fun" again.
Jane Doe-Doe 3 weeks ago
Oh wow, I would dis own them, if they could be so heartless then they don’t deserve you
#7
My cousin lost her hair during cancer treatment, and still, her parents got her hair products for her birthday.
Roland C. 3 weeks ago
I'll be generous and say maybe the parents thought it would lift her spirits by implying her hair will grow back?
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
That’s what I was thinking “the minute we see some fuzz we’re going to pamper the heck out of your gorgeous hair"
Load More Replies... Kitty Litter 3 weeks ago
Or maybe the parents did their research and knew that her hair was going to grow back in differently than it previously was and thought ahead. For example I used to have brown, medium thick, straight hair. Went through chemo and it came back in with way more red, curly and thicker. It's common that this occurs as chemo screws with your body in many ways. Parents may have known that this was a likely outcome.
Panda Cat 2 weeks ago
I haven’t lost my hair but I lost my dislike of ice in beverages. I also can’t handle cold things, like when I’m looking for something in the freezer. One of the chemo d***s has a chrome based compound that usually takes away people’s ability to tolerate cold beverages but is usually temporary.
brie sansotta 2 weeks ago
Keep hope alive. Hair will come back - at first frazzled and curly, then as normal straight, or normal wavy, etc.
#8
When my wife and I first got married, her parents hated me. One year, they got me a woman's sweater. It was very obviously a woman's sweater, too. The next Christmas I wore it over, and my MIL asked my wife why I was wearing a woman's sweater.
Betsy S 3 weeks ago
I'd wear it all year round whenever I'm near them (except on hot summer days of course). It would be a great conversation piece on a camping trip or sitting around the firepit at home.
Load More Replies... Mobey Drunk 3 weeks ago
K**l them with kindness. "I thought you made the mistake when you gave it to me. I was trying to be nice and that I appreciated the effort." Not much pisses off an ahole more than not only not getting a rise, but but being shown respect in return.
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
That’s funny. My personal habit is that if I’m given something to wear (clothes or jewellery) is to thank the person and **immediately** put it on. They’ll see me wearing it all day. Or if it came by post be sure to wear it and draw attention to it the next time I see them. Then they’re happy and if I don’t like it I can pass it on. But the idea of doing that immediately, and with joy, with a passive aggressive present is too delicious. The giver cannot hope to win if that’s your jolly response.
#9
My uncle gave me soap and a razor as a Christmas present when I was 13. Not the best message from my weird uncle to a young girl starting puberty.
Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago
I remember the year my aunt put her foot down about my uncle gifting his neices fancy underwear....and we were all maybe 12 and 13 at the time.
Grumpy old man 3 weeks ago
TBF, when my oldest niece started hers, rather than have that talk, I gave her a copy of Our Bodies Our Selves which is the closest thing to 🐈 owners manual and let her figure it out. Both of my sister's exes are the worst fathers, and I pick up the slack
Load More Replies... #10
I had mentioned to my uncle one year that I wished I could grow a beard like his. Come Christmas time, my uncle hands me the present he got me. I unwrap it and what do you know...It's his beard in a Ziploc bag.
#11
My stepdad's dad and his much younger wife always give us used presents at Christmas.
One year, I got a tube of body wash (already a cop out), only to find some crusted product on the squeezy hole.
Another year (13 at the time), I got a pair of Aldi women’s lacy underwear with the size scribbled out (they were XL). The woman came over to me after the present time and said, "I got them for myself, but they were too big, I just blacked that out so you didn’t feel embarrassed".
I’d rather not get anything than have to say thank you for that.
Bewitched One 2 weeks ago
Is Aldi something rose outside of the US? Cause Everytime I see something like this talking about Aldi I’m confused. In the US it’s a grocery store… lol
Emilu 2 weeks ago
In Australia it's a grocery store as well, but they have random stuff sometimes like TVs, snow gear, etc, so it wouldn't be totally out of the norm for them to sell undies.
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Aleksandra Pe 3 weeks ago
I don’t get the context here. A stepdad’s wife shouldn’t be the girl’s mom???
#12
My sister gave me library books for Christmas and told me I would need to return them or renew them in two days.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 3 weeks ago
If it were my family that had done this, I'd definitely check the name that the books were checked out under, as my sister would probably pretend she was me to get a new library card under my name XD
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Sarah Suelzle 3 weeks ago
No it's really not. Only if it was some sort of inside joke between them AND/OR she actually got her a real gift.
Load More Replies... #13
Recovering from gambling, thankfully, I managed to kick the habit before it totally ruined my life. This year, I got a bunch of lottery scratch-off cards. Had my wife do the honors with them, and the joke is on my family, they actually won a decent amount of money. Nothing life-changing, but will definitely pay for some bills we knew were on the way.
Yes, they knew about my problems. They still have gotten me Texas hold-em poker sets when those were en vogue, and other gambling-related stuff over the years. Despite my continued insistence they not, and pointing out that some of these would be like giving a recovering alcoholic a gift card to the liquor store.
Jaya 3 weeks ago (edited)
You should only be allowed to give lottery tickets to an ex-gambling addíct if it includes a coupon that says "If this gets you addícted again and you get so far in debt that you become homeless, you can come live at my house for a year". 🙄 Seriously though... what the f*ck are people thinking? Do they also give people a half-filled gun to play russian roulette with for their birthday? Why give someone something that can completely ruin their life? Who needs enemies with family like this?
Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago
There are reasons some people go no contact, hello?
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago
Many people have no idea how vulnerable a*******n is.These idiots do.
SPQRBob 3 weeks ago
So now we are hiding the word 'аddісtіоn'? BP, please!
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Savannah greenleaf 2 weeks ago
This is just as bad as giving a recovering alcoholic booze for a gift
#14
One Christmas, as my wife and I visited her dad and step-mom, I was amazed at the gifts bestowed upon her younger half sisters by her folks: new MacBooks and iPhones were among the presents under the tree. As we were leaving, they handed us a gift, which we opened when we got home. What treasure awaited us?
A decorative tin from Costco containing flavored popcorn, which had expired two years prior.
JB 3 weeks ago
For those wondering, you can hold a mirror up to this with the question, "I want to understand this clearly, you got X and Y new MacBooks and iPhones, and we got expired popcorn - do I have that right?" Be quiet until they respond. You could them may have hit them with an "it seems like...." statement (good because you can back out with a "I'm not saying that's how it *is*, that's how it '*seems*") or just say nothing and let the realisation hit them. Your not going anything but playing back what just happened and pointing out what they did. They won't like what they see.
Anne Edwards 2 weeks ago
The gift they were given is the best gift possible. The knowledge that they are not wanted. They no longer need to waste their valuable time at Christmas with a visit or at any other time really.
DennyS (denzoren) 3 weeks ago
Sounds like my grandfather and his grandkids vs us (different wife).
#15
My boss regifted me a book that she’d never read. I had given it to her last year for Christmas.
JL 3 weeks ago
And write a personalized dedication on the inside of the cover.
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brie sansotta 2 weeks ago
Embarrassed to say that I do that every once in awhile! With so many relatives, I forget who gave me the five dollar special from Walmart - and gift it back!
LakotaWolf (she/her) 3 weeks ago
No one normal "deserves" having the same gift given back to them the next year. If the book is a swing and a miss with the boss, the boss should have donated it and actually gotten OP a real gift and not just something that had been sitting around her house for a year.
Load More Replies... #16
From my sister-in-law, a nice pen with her initials engraved on it. I mean, I know you re-gift, Susan, but at least check that it wasn't personalized for you before you send it to someone else.
JL 3 weeks ago
If you're going to stoop to regifting, at least find someone with the SAME initials.
Nicole Weymann 3 weeks ago
In this special case I'd just re-regift it to SIL. She obviously can't be bothered to make any effort. I'd make sure to show her the engraving, too.
Load More Replies... #17
I gave my girlfriend $300+ in jewelry, she gave me $10 cleaning supplies, and said “I know you like to clean, so here”.
Fire Singer 3 weeks ago
I'm not big on you have to spend the same amount for a gift to mean just as much...but this clearly reads "I don't care".
SPQRBob 3 weeks ago
It seems like it was becoming quite the chore for the girlfriend.
Load More Replies... Bewitched One 2 weeks ago (edited)
And that was the day the girlfriend learned the difference between liking things to be clean, and actually liking to clean… after she got dumped? Yea?
#18
I watched a friend's sister gift her an already scratched off scratch off ticket for he birthday. When asked why, she replied, "Well, I didn't want to give it up if you won a bunch of money." I laughed out loud, and when I got an icy stare, I realized she was serious.
#19
My ex-mother-in-law gave me a used, broken tape dispenser for Christmas one year. My kids even remember this. Another year, she gave me a very oversized, deep purple sweater. Dragged my now ex-husband and made him wait in line to return/exchange it. Waited over an hour in line to find out it was a clearance item and only worth $1.75. Even he was a bit taken back at the time.
Meanwhile, sisters in law would get $100 gift cards, luxury items, and actual items off their lists we gave her for ideas. The woman is an awful human being, not because of her poor gifting of said items. Those are just minuscule examples of her poor demeanor.
Kid Murray 3 weeks ago
Why is it always the mother in law? Why do so many women go insane when their kid marries?
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
It’s quite possible men do too, but they are much more unlikely to be responsible for buying presents.
Load More Replies... Jaya 3 weeks ago
In other countries, do stores not show the price on the receipt? Or can you return it without a receipt?
Sandella 3 weeks ago
In the UK, we have gift receipts. Which allow you to return for the purchased amount, but it doesn't say the amount itself on the receipt
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago
No you don't, she's a jealous narcissistic b***h who does this deliberately.
Load More Replies... #20
The time I realized my ex-MIL hated me. She told me all the things the family wanted for Christmas, and I spent about a hundred dollars on everyone individually. I woke up Christmas morning to see all the presents already opened, and breakfast was eaten. One present was under the tree for me: a dog mug. I'm a cat person.
Also, I was involved with the family/with her son for 5 years.
GalPalAl 3 weeks ago
Instead of gifting her a lump of coal, you should have put used cat litter in her shoes, p**p and all
Betsy S 3 weeks ago
Soak the shoes in dog pee. Every time she goes out walking, every dog for miles will want to come and pee on her shoes.
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David 3 weeks ago
in the comments the woman said she ended up divorcing her husband bc he sided with his mother.
#21
One year, my mom got mad at me for not cleaning up my toys, so she took them all away. For Christmas, she gave them back to me and nothing else. My sister got a new bike.
Touhou Youyoumu 3 weeks ago (edited)
My favourite Christmas present. British Airways travel magazine for kids, but wait all the activities were all filled in already. What a Christmas that was, gotta love foster care.
KatWitch57 3 weeks ago
I was about 8yrs when my mum and eldest brother did this to me. They laughed as I unwrapped each and every pencil, crayon etc. 60yrs later I still can't summon enthusiasm for parcels and packages.
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
What a cruel and traumatic experience. I’m so sorry. Knowing that the people who are supposed to love you the most wanting to cause you that much hurt and humiliation is just dreadful.
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#22
My Dad gave me earrings several years in a row.
I don't have pierced ears.
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 3 weeks ago
Another repeat from the article two days ago, currently #19.
#23
My mom gave me her high school diploma one year for Christmas when I was 24.
Jaya 3 weeks ago
I think OP´s mom is a dog or a toddler. They're always handing you completely random things 🙂
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Kelly Scott 3 weeks ago (edited)
My mom gave each of us three kids copies of all the pictures in her wedding book. I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do with them, so I tossed them. I left home at 17 and my parents never once, ever visited me afterwards so I knew they'd never know. The other thing both my mom and my grandma did was to separately send me enlarged color pictures of each of them in a frame. Like, why? A little ego there? As far as I know, neither one had any pics of me and had never asked me for any and I didn't like either my mom or my grandma enough to want pictures of them in my house. So I kept the frames and tossed the pictures.
Ralph Vanloton 1 week ago
Burn it in front of her! I see your malicious BS and I raise the stakes!! Heh heh heh...
#24
Not me, but my mom. Of all 6 grandkids (my mom and her 5 siblings), my great-grandma absolutely hated my mom in particular, even in early childhood. My mom looked, and I guess had a personality most similar to my grandma, and my great-grandma HATED my grandma.
One year for Christmas, my great-grandma got presents for all the kids except my mom. This made my grandma furious, obviously. After they had a screaming match about it. My great-grandma picked up a magazine and cut out some pictures of models. She gave them to my mom and called them "paper dolls".
Crissy Newbury 1 week ago
I can understand not everyone can choose their family, but to hate your kids and grandkids??
The Other Guest 3 weeks ago
Technically, yes, but not very good ones. You want a good, stiff paper so that the dolls don't easily rip or droop when played with. Magazine paper is a poor choice.
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#25
True story. I was storing some boxes of things I didn't want anymore in a shed at my boyfriend's house. I was going to put it all in a yard sale eventually. I went to his parents' house for their family Christmas later that year. Every person who opened a gift from him were items from my yard sale stuff. To say I was humiliated would be an understatement.
Zoe Vokes 3 weeks ago
Why was OP humiliated? They were gifts from boyfriend and he was the one who did it. I could understand being upset, annoyed or angry at the boyfriend but surely nobody knew or thought the presents were anything to do with OP?
Jaya 3 weeks ago
Obviously he should have asked her permission. If he had, then this would actually have been a great idea. She doesn't have to do the yard sale, he has a whole box to choose presents from and doesn't have to go to the store, the environment doesn't suffer under needlessly produced extra stuff.
Tyranamar Seuss 2 weeks ago
Yes, just what everyone wants. Old yard sale stuff. Great idea! /s
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 2 weeks ago
I presume that as of that Christmas the boyfriend was part of the collection of things the OP didn't want anymore.
Lee Gilliland 3 weeks ago (edited)
HUMILIATED? Call the cops in the name of Christ Everlasting! They effing STOLE you stuff!
#26
My grandparents gave my parents a framed picture of a random little boy, and nobody knows who it is. (No, it’s not the one that came with the frame).
#27
My aunt (retired teacher) was visiting over Christmas. She spent Christmas Day with us. My wife and I spent $50 on a gift basket for her. It had mugs, cheeses, crackers, spreads, teas, and other assorted stuff.
The next day, we went to visit my grandfather (my aunt's dad). She was there as well. When my grandfather opened his gift, lo and behold, it was the gift basket with about 1/3rd of the stuff removed. So she kept what she liked and regifted the basket to her father in front of my wife and me. This also means she didn't spend one cent on her father for Christmas. My wife and I were both looking at each other with our jaws dropped, but we were too polite to say anything.
Michael Largey 3 weeks ago
Tacky, even though when you say "retired teacher" you're often saying "someone without a lot of spending money".
Ralph Vanloton 1 week ago
The 'Teachers Retirement System' in Michigan allocates plenty of retirement funds.
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#28
This guy I dated in college got me a framed photo of himself for Christmas. I thought it was a joke. It was very much not.
Fire Singer 3 weeks ago
Ok, I get why this isn't a GREAT gift, but I need more info. If they were in college maybe he didn't have a lot of money to get a "good" gift. One year I gave my husband pictures of my in like a collage because we didn't have a lot of money. He loved it. So, I need more info before I can say this was a bad gift versus the gift receiver just wanted something "better".
Petra Schaap 3 weeks ago
i would LOVE that if my BF did that. But hey we've been together for almost 30 years and like to give silly s**t.
#29
My sister got a book from my grandmother titled “Proper Etiquette.” She proceeded to tell her in front of the whole family that “She’ll be more likely to make the boys stay after reading it!” My sister just smiled and carried on.
Michael Largey 3 weeks ago
Yep, if a woman just has good etiquette, she'll have packs of men howling at her door step.
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
The last thing young men want is a rebellious, whisky drinking, swearing, bad girl.
Load More Replies... Jaya 3 weeks ago
Yeah, I don't think my etiquette is why ugly people like me have trouble getting a partner, lol
Emilu 3 weeks ago
When you see foul people on reality shows (I've been watching My 600lb Life for example), get partners and marry, I can assure you that etiquette is not the problem in getting a partner. (Please note: I am not calling anyone foul because they're obese; they're foul because of their personality -- see eg. Maja and Steven Assanti).
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#30
A mug with my name spelled wrong from a family member who has known me my entire life.
Nicole Weymann 3 weeks ago
A box of chocolates filled with a variety of alcohols from my aunt. I don't drink, ever, and never have (matter of taste). She's known me for all my life. I'm also the designated driver at every family gathering for precisely that reason.
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
This sounds like one of those gifts where they spotted the range of mugs with different names on and thought something like ‘great, we can do all the grandkids at once” then went along the shelf finding the ones they needed “this isn’t the correct spelling” “oh, it’ll do"
Crissy Newbury 1 week ago
My husband’s gift from his work’s secret Santa… a huge green spider made from gelatine. He’s vegan.
#31
The relative gave his wife a gym membership for Christmas after she put on weight. Tears and violence.
Fire Singer 3 weeks ago
Yikes...this, like cleaning supplies or live animals, are only ever gifts given if specifically asked for.
#32
I keep getting kitchen appliances every year, despite making it very well known that I don't have a square inch of countertop space to spare in my kitchen.
Spittnimage 3 weeks ago
I told my ex not to get me a cedar chest (saw him looking at one in a furniture store) for a gift because I hate the smell of cedar. Guess what I got for Christmas.
brie sansotta 2 weeks ago
You think THAT'S bad? I have cats - for want of knowing what else to get me, people give me cat placques, cat pictures, cat figurines, cat toys. All get donated.
#33
My in-laws usually give us a gift card to my favorite restaurants (a group with a seafood place, an Italian place, a BBQ place, etc) and a note that they'll babysit the kids so we can have a date night. I look forward to it every year.
This year, they gave us a certificate to go to a religious couples retreat. We are not at all religious.
Michael Largey 3 weeks ago
A relative once gave us a gift card to a restaurant chain, not knowing that the closest franchise was three hours away.
#34
My mother has given me the same cheap boxed crystal chess set 3 times for Christmas over the last 12 years.
I have no idea why, but apparently she keeps buying them every time Target or Macy's puts them out on display at Christmas.
3muddypaws 2 weeks ago
I hope OP sells them and buys themselves something better with the money.
#35
Sister and her husband gave everyone a sweatshirt with a print of their wedding picture on it for CHRISTMAS.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 1 week ago
I wouldn't even wear clothes with a pic of my OWN wedding on it (and ours had an underground lake, and standing stones and wild and windy moorland and everything)
DennyS (denzoren) 3 weeks ago
Was this the year of the wedding...then...eh, if it was after...then yikes.
#36
My office was absolutely positive that she was pregnant. She wasn’t. They all got her a car seat. She laughed it off like a pro, and has a niece on the way that she needed a seat for.
Jaya 3 weeks ago
Ouch! I hope they though it because she wasn't drinking alcohol at the last office party, and not because she gained weight or something, because that would be so painful for her!
Kelly Scott 3 weeks ago (edited)
Newsflash: for other people to think a woman is pregnant, all she has to be is female. When I was working, I couldn't have a headache, or the flu (and toss my cookies) or want to sit down instead of stand, gain a couple pounds, not want to drink, or even get a new top that fit differently, when everyone and his uncle told me - not asked - told me I must be pregnant. I told them over and over I wasn't having kids, I'd have an abortion, I'd jump off a building first. The only thing that finally shut them all up was when I said, "Good. I can get $40,000 for a newborn on the black market." After that they left me alone until the next new person was hired and the c**p would start all over again.
Load More Replies... Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
What a bizarre Secret Santa present, even if she was pregnant. Firstly, how fücking much is the price limit for gifts at that work place?? Secondly, did they not think she might already have that covered? And thirdly Secret Santa presents should be about the receiver and for them personally. Little treats for them. Not a functional object for someone else.
#37
I got a gift card to Burger King while working at Burger King from a manager who drew my name for Secret Santa. It was literally useless because none of us actually paid for food in the first place.
#38
My step-mother bought me a shirt that said, "blondes have more fun." I have always been a brunette.
#39
I towel with another family member's name on it.
Nota Robot 3 weeks ago
Seems like an honest mistake while wrapping. I'd be interested what the relative got 👀
#40
I asked for a Ring doorbell and received the cheap version that is a "decoy" ring doorbell. It doesn't function in anyway except hang out by the door. Next year I'm buying what I want for myself and wrapping it up and putting it under the tree.
Nota Robot 3 weeks ago
I like it! Make it a nice, seemingly thoughtful gift that costs a lot of money and watch the carnage when everyone gets jealous.
#41
A shoe size measuring tool. Like a full-on metal one that you’d see at a shoe store.
DennyS (denzoren) 3 weeks ago
This was a gift in Bob's Burgers...I think Tina got it...from the episode with Chet.
Michael Largey 3 weeks ago
Well, if you've got a foot f****h but are also obsessive-compulsive, ...
#42
A guy I knew in college wanted to get his girlfriend something he knew she'd use, so he looked in her bathroom, saw what kind of shampoo she used, and bought her 10 bottles of it!
He was really sweet and was actually trying to get a good gift, but the execution was poorly done. The gift was not appreciated way he thought it would be.
Sara Frazer 3 weeks ago
The chick is wearing socks with shoes in which you'd typically go without socks, and the guy is without socks in shoes I definitely would wear with socks...this is bothering me more than it should
Roxy222uk 3 weeks ago
Yeah, I would definitely remain polite but distant if they moved in next door.
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Maren Villadsen 3 weeks ago
I think it was a really sweet though he had, he tried is best. Showes he really did care about getting her something use full
Julie S 3 weeks ago
I very rarely get the same shampoo twice I usually get bored of it about half way through the bottle.
Panda Cat 2 weeks ago
Me neither. My sister bought a dozen or more bottles of conditioner that was, I think, discontinued. I cannot imagine how rancid they were by the time she was halfway through them.
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Lukas (he/him, it/its) 3 weeks ago
The third entry on this list that was in the article two days ago. #27 currently.
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What do you think ?
Katja Katze 3 weeks ago
My ex-sister-in-law, the one with the highest salary in the family, bought discounted items at discount stores all year long. Random stuff. These were our Christmas presents. One thing in particular sticks in my mind: a 30 meter long blue outdoor string of lights. We lived in a 1.5 room apartment without a balcony or garden. Most of the things were so terrible that we simply threw them away. For me, gifts mean making someone happy. Without bringing joy, it is not gift.
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 3 weeks ago
At least three of these were in the article published 2 days ago on this exact subject- I checked. At least five more I swear were in that same article, but they were gone when I checked. (I'm good at recalling when I've read something before, and I know a few of them I went and read the replies on Reddit to.)
Marnie 3 weeks ago
Some of these of much worse than this, but for my secret Santa with my very large family, I got a stapler and a box of Oreos. I'm a cookie monster and the only cookies I really dislike are Oreos and anything with lemon. I myself had spent $75 on a CD walkman for my niece. I was quite poor at the time and that $75 was a LOT of money for me. I'm still pissed. I never exchanged gifts with my family again (except for my son and parents).
Jnausicaa 1 week ago (edited)
Yah. Similar here. My ex wife's family was large and they had a Secret Santa every year but it had to be good gifts. You could do your spouse and children but a Secret Santa every year and it would not be anyone you had for the last two years. But every year I had to get one for my FIL as well as the Secret Santa,. Turns out he secretly (to me anyway) did not like me and she thought this would placate him. I also (I'm an MD) refused to diagnose or treat any family members. (I am a paediatric oncologist). I told them I would only treat them if they made an appointment and came into the office. This behaviour ended when one of them came to me with a pain in her wrist and I said that it looks like the radiation or chemo would not work and I would have to amputate. She screamed when I put on gloves and picked up a big 10" chef''s knife. Present wife and fam are great people and I thank my lucky stars every day and night.
Load More Replies...
Missy 90 1 week ago
I got 3 second hand tea towels. I was 17. She even left the price tags on, 5p. My sister and cousin each got a Walkman. I'd spent £100 on gifts for the family, mother, stepdad, 3 siblings and cousin. It might not sound a lot but at 17 it was. After I opened my present and realised that's all I'd gotten I left. Walked 6 miles home in the rain while crying. I lived in a group home.
Jnausicaa 1 week ago
On a Saturday before Christmas when I was four, my mother was baking cookies and making fudge and other stuff to give as Christmas presents. We were poor. We lived in the "Projects" of the city. My brother and I were hungry. It was afternoon and we had not eaten breakfast. But she had consumed at least 4 cans of beer. And she was a mean drunk. I asked if we could have some food. She said not today. My brother started crying and she finally tossed us each a 1/4 piece of fudge. I was not ready and dropped it. I put it on the counter and and asked for another. She got mad and took my index finger and a very big knife and after she had done her work said, "Eat this." I spent Christmas in the hospital and was rescued by CPS before New Year's. They did not believe my mother's story and eventually rescued my brother. It was believed his seizures were the result of injures she inflicted on him.
Panda Cat 2 weeks ago
When I was 3 or 4 my parents gave me avocado green Sears Kenmore electric scissors. I have no idea why or what they thought I’d do with them. Mostly, I’d occasionally use them to cut up random pieces of paper. I’ve been sewing since I was a little kid and never once used them to cut patterns. They were corded and the blades were really short so they wouldn’t have worked well at all.
Chicxulub 3 weeks ago
Wow! When exactly did receiving a gift become an entitlement? I agree that some examples above aré not the most thoughtful, but complaining about a gift seems pretty shallow.
Nicole Weymann 3 weeks ago (edited)
Out of 40+ entries there are maybe 10 that I might excuse with "nice thought, poor exécútion" (the shampoo bottles spring to mind, and maybe the misspelled mug), but most of them have malicious or callous undertones. A woman's sweater for a man - and the givers keep making comments when it's actually worn? A regifted pen with the giver's initials? A *plundered* gift basket right in front of the people you got it from - and nothing else? Two year old popcorn, when siblings got iPads and smartphones? A free airline kids magazine, with activities already filled out? An already scratched off losing lottery ticket (not as a joke)? And the "I got my own gift back" posts are somewhat disheartening, too. (edit for the galaxy that obscured the original "éxecútion")
Load More Replies... Katja Katze 3 weeks ago
My ex-sister-in-law, the one with the highest salary in the family, bought discounted items at discount stores all year long. Random stuff. These were our Christmas presents. One thing in particular sticks in my mind: a 30 meter long blue outdoor string of lights. We lived in a 1.5 room apartment without a balcony or garden. Most of the things were so terrible that we simply threw them away. For me, gifts mean making someone happy. Without bringing joy, it is not gift.
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 3 weeks ago
At least three of these were in the article published 2 days ago on this exact subject- I checked. At least five more I swear were in that same article, but they were gone when I checked. (I'm good at recalling when I've read something before, and I know a few of them I went and read the replies on Reddit to.)
Marnie 3 weeks ago
Some of these of much worse than this, but for my secret Santa with my very large family, I got a stapler and a box of Oreos. I'm a cookie monster and the only cookies I really dislike are Oreos and anything with lemon. I myself had spent $75 on a CD walkman for my niece. I was quite poor at the time and that $75 was a LOT of money for me. I'm still pissed. I never exchanged gifts with my family again (except for my son and parents).
Jnausicaa 1 week ago (edited)
Yah. Similar here. My ex wife's family was large and they had a Secret Santa every year but it had to be good gifts. You could do your spouse and children but a Secret Santa every year and it would not be anyone you had for the last two years. But every year I had to get one for my FIL as well as the Secret Santa,. Turns out he secretly (to me anyway) did not like me and she thought this would placate him. I also (I'm an MD) refused to diagnose or treat any family members. (I am a paediatric oncologist). I told them I would only treat them if they made an appointment and came into the office. This behaviour ended when one of them came to me with a pain in her wrist and I said that it looks like the radiation or chemo would not work and I would have to amputate. She screamed when I put on gloves and picked up a big 10" chef''s knife. Present wife and fam are great people and I thank my lucky stars every day and night.
Load More Replies... Missy 90 1 week ago
I got 3 second hand tea towels. I was 17. She even left the price tags on, 5p. My sister and cousin each got a Walkman. I'd spent £100 on gifts for the family, mother, stepdad, 3 siblings and cousin. It might not sound a lot but at 17 it was. After I opened my present and realised that's all I'd gotten I left. Walked 6 miles home in the rain while crying. I lived in a group home.
Jnausicaa 1 week ago
On a Saturday before Christmas when I was four, my mother was baking cookies and making fudge and other stuff to give as Christmas presents. We were poor. We lived in the "Projects" of the city. My brother and I were hungry. It was afternoon and we had not eaten breakfast. But she had consumed at least 4 cans of beer. And she was a mean drunk. I asked if we could have some food. She said not today. My brother started crying and she finally tossed us each a 1/4 piece of fudge. I was not ready and dropped it. I put it on the counter and and asked for another. She got mad and took my index finger and a very big knife and after she had done her work said, "Eat this." I spent Christmas in the hospital and was rescued by CPS before New Year's. They did not believe my mother's story and eventually rescued my brother. It was believed his seizures were the result of injures she inflicted on him.
Panda Cat 2 weeks ago
When I was 3 or 4 my parents gave me avocado green Sears Kenmore electric scissors. I have no idea why or what they thought I’d do with them. Mostly, I’d occasionally use them to cut up random pieces of paper. I’ve been sewing since I was a little kid and never once used them to cut patterns. They were corded and the blades were really short so they wouldn’t have worked well at all.
Chicxulub 3 weeks ago
Wow! When exactly did receiving a gift become an entitlement? I agree that some examples above aré not the most thoughtful, but complaining about a gift seems pretty shallow.
Nicole Weymann 3 weeks ago (edited)
Out of 40+ entries there are maybe 10 that I might excuse with "nice thought, poor exécútion" (the shampoo bottles spring to mind, and maybe the misspelled mug), but most of them have malicious or callous undertones. A woman's sweater for a man - and the givers keep making comments when it's actually worn? A regifted pen with the giver's initials? A *plundered* gift basket right in front of the people you got it from - and nothing else? Two year old popcorn, when siblings got iPads and smartphones? A free airline kids magazine, with activities already filled out? An already scratched off losing lottery ticket (not as a joke)? And the "I got my own gift back" posts are somewhat disheartening, too. (edit for the galaxy that obscured the original "éxecútion")
Load More Replies... You May Like 46 Gifts That Were More Insult Than Present 61 Of The Most Interesting Things People Received As Gifts 79 Clever And Creative Ways People Have Wrapped Christmas Presents
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