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.