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I'm surprised at some of the replies here.
Honestly, I don't think i've ever recieved a gift that I didn't like or appreciate. IMO, the fact that someone spent their money, time, or what have you on me is the gift in itself. I just like when people think of me, no matter the price or even if it's something I really like.
I see what you're saying, and I do agree to a point, but...Quote:
Originally Posted by Kfamr
I posted about Justin's grandmothers making us things and although I do appreciate that they gave me something they made, I know they didn't put any thought into it. They both know I don't keep knicknack around my house and I know they didn't make it with me in mind anyway. Justin's one grandmother has a whole ceramic shop full of things that all look the same, she just goes through and grabs things to give to us, never giving it any thought. How many years can she give out ceramic ducks to almost everyone in the family. I don't need them to spend any money on me, but a little thought wouldn't hurt. One of them doesn't even take the time to learn how to correctly spell my name.
Kay, you are lucky to have people who actually put THOUGHT into gifts. Its a sad fact that most people DO NOT. I spend hours planning, thinking, searching for the perfect gifts for someone. I don't just walk into WalMart the day before and snatch something up and wrap it. Many of the gifts people are complaining about are often ones you pick up, and wrap in red for a girl, green for a boy, and just hand them out without knowing which boy or girl is receiving them. It hurts even more when its a loved one who should know you better. Most of the gifts mentioned are the type of gifts that people buy to do secret santa stuff in the office where you give $5 gifts every day til the final day. Socks? come on.... I love fun socks, but not as my main gift from grandma!
I remember the year I wanted a Cabbage Patch doll way back in 1982. Man, I wanted one so bad I could only think of Cabbage Patch dolls. I had overheard mom on the phone with my aunt saying she had gotten me one. So Christmas arrived, and I was soooo excited thinking about what my doll looked like. and Aunt Janet showed up with a small box for me. In it were gold earrings. What?!?!? I was devastated. I cried and hid in my room all night. My aunt had SOLD my Cabbage Patch doll for 3 times what she paid and bought me gold earrings instead. OMG, I didn't WANT gold, the ONLY thing in the world I wanted that year was a Cabbage Patch doll.
I understand my aunt's intentions NOW - she had thouht she got me a really great gift. But she was thinking about what SHE'D have wanted, not what a 10 year old would have wanted. Now, I'd LOVE to have someone give me gold earrings.
So now when I buy gifts, I try to think like the person I'm buying for. Sure, I might think a cactus is a great gift (;)) but will my reciever? My brother constantly gives mom vaccuums and kitchen gadgets -- she HATES that stuff. She's rather he spent the $100 on a nice portrait of the babies for the livingroom. Most often when a gift is deemed lousy, it is because its either inappropriate for the receiver or wrong for the relationship between the giver and receiver.
That's why I said SOME replies here. Some of the gifts said in replies sound like nice gifts to me. The only one that I read (didn't read all of them) that I wouldn't like to recieve is the dead ants. :eek:
My mom is finally starting to get better. But for years she would get me things such as skirts, pantyhose, very feminine shirts. I know it's because she wishes that I didn't dress so boyish, but really just because she buys them doesn't mean I'm going to wear them! After years of me telling her that I always return what she buys me she finally started giving my gift cards to clothing stores. However she will often include pictures of very feminine outfits that she thinks I should buy with the card!
I also forgot that many years ago when they first came out my mom bought both me and my sister George Forman grills. My sister and I both looked at each other and laughed so hard. Then we both complained about how we were going to have to lug the silly thing back to our homes (parents live in texas and we both live in different states). I'm glad I never tossed it out because years later when I finally learned how to cook my Forman grill became my favorite kitchen appliance.
I can't think of any "worst" presents. I've always been easy . . . not very picky . . . I mean, it's not like I'm paying for it. Even when people ask me what I want, I usually say, Surprise Me!
Well, actually I can think of one . . .
My birthday this past year . . . my in-laws forgot it until the last minute . . . ran to the mall and got me a 20 dollar gift set from Bath & Body Works, in my least fav scent. I'm not stupid. I know they forgot. I think I ended up giving it to my mom. And I guess it just ruined it all knowing that they'd forgot. And then you have to also consider that they bought my brother in law (their son-in-law) a new wardrobe for his birthday . . . and he hadn't even married into the family yet! *geesh*
Honestly, I can't think of anything...when I was a kid, however, I use to get upset when someone gave me dolls. I never liked dolls. However, the person I got them from wasn;t someone I knew so great, so I wouldn't say it was a bad gift cause most girls would have loved it.
I like anything I know people put thought into getting me.
It makes me sad when I spend a lot of time on a gift, go over to their house and they have other peoples gifts up (which are similar..but better) on display, but not mine. I don't really CARE, but it kinda hurts my feelings cause I spent so much time making it...so I really appreciate any gifts, especially if someone made it or put a lot of effort into it. No matter what it is.
One of my grandma's friends always used to get me dolls, even though i hate them! AAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH! If she was still here today then she'd still get me one even though i'm 13! She was a nice lady though:rolleyes:
This thread makes me sad because it does bring back memories of some very disappointing gifts. For many years when I was single, the only person who gave me a gift was my mother. It was always something particularly unsuitable and I had a hunch she might have received it as a *freebie* from opening up a bank account. One year it was a fondu cookbook. I didn't cook and didn't entertain and didn't have a fondu pot (not that I wanted one). What made me the most sad was that this was from my mother! Of course that also made me an unappreciative daughter. I would always tell her ahead of time that I didn't want anything for Christmas, yet she insisted on sending me these type of gifts. Another thing that bothered me was the sheer waste. Here were things that I didn't want and couldn't use and the money she paid in postage would have been a better gift. I could have used that.