What do you do with unwanted gifts?

Sunny

Sunny

SF VIP
Location
Maryland
This is always a thorny problem for me. Most of the gifts I get for Xmas, birthdays, etc. are lovely and welcome. Some are things that I just really do not need or want. But since they are usually from my children and grandkids, it would be awkward to just give them away to somebody else. Most are not the kind of items that charitable organizations are looking for, so donating them seems kind of silly. I try to make use of
everything, but I find that the older I get, the less "stuff" I need or want.

Any ideas about this?
 

Would you feel comfortable enough explaining to your children and grandchildren that although you more than appreciate their thoughtful gifts that as you get older you really don't require too much? How about them taking you out to a nice lunch or dinner instead, a movie/show, something along those lines?
 
I received a book I already have purchased. I thanked my daughter and did not mention that I had just bought it. I will regift to a friend that wants a copy.
 

As soon as I open my gifts, if I am fortunate to get any (especially the cheapo grab bag items), I immediately start thinking of who I can re-gift to or who's grab bag it will go in next year). I have little use for something that isn't cat-related, or I can't eat or fold up and put in my wallet. I drop a few hints to those who might happen to be considering me on their gift list. Mayhaps that is why I received hardly anything this year, but I just can't bear the thought of someone wasting money on a gift for me I don't appreciate. To me, it seems we are getting into dollar store gifting.
 
If you don't want to upset your children by
getting rid of any new presents, then give
away some of the older ones that you didn't
like, that way might be easier to explain that
you maybe needed to make room, if you are
asked where they are.

Mike.
 
My daughter asked us in advance this year if we would be offended if she gave a us a gift voucher from our choice of large department store ..she was so relived when we said Oak .....but we don’t really want or need anything ...but she insisted ..hubby spent his $100 on extra bits he’d been wanting for easy charging of our tablets when we go away each winter for a month
I haven’t spent mine yet but I will more than likely buy a new every day handbag
 
Cindy, yeah, I have already told them that. Probably not loud enough? I'd much rather be given tickets to events (baseball games, concerts, even movie theatres) or be taken out to a nice restaurant. If I can find a tactful
way of telling them that, I'll try again. Maybe when it's off season, like the middle of March, when it's not near any gift-giving time?
 
Sunny, that's strange, I wonder why they have not listened to your requests, since they are going to get you something anyway. Some people give gifts they themselves would want instead of what the person receiving that gift would want. Go figure:rolleyes:. I do hope you are successful the second go-around :)
 
We have a very good American friend who tends to give us very good gifts - probably in return for many small favours over the year. We like Single malt Scotch whisky, so she mistakenly thinks we like all spirits. Wrong! We can't stand Bourbon or vodka. Guess what we tend to get for presents? I also received a birthday cake that was so sweet and so loaded with vodka that it was a fire hazard. I just couldn't eat it.

I really need a VERY diplomatic way to tell her.
 
I ask for Amazon gift cards, only, these days. I then keep them next to my computer so I can use them for online purchases I may need/want. I have far too much junk in my house, now, and it greatly bothers me that I have accumulated so much over the years. Funny thing, though: Everyone who stops by always comments how neat and orderly my place is. I guess I see clutter where they see order. If I get presents I have no use for, they go right to Goodwill. I was puzzled by the poster who wrote that most of the gifts he/she gets are not the kind charitable organizations are looking for. I was unaware that these places have some kind of agenda. In visiting them, I see everything imaginable, and some that are not!
 
Capt Lightning said:
We have a very good American friend who tends to give us very good gifts - probably in return for many small favours over the year. We like Single malt Scotch whisky, so she mistakenly thinks we like all spirits. Wrong! We can't stand Bourbon or vodka. Guess what we tend to get for presents? I also received a birthday cake that was so sweet and so loaded with vodka that it was a fire hazard. I just couldn't eat it.

I really need a VERY diplomatic way to tell her.
Click to expand...
\

How about, "Hi, we stick to drinking straight Scotch. Any other spirits we get, we never drink." (Maybe your cultural norms dictate greater tact. I prefer to tell it like it is.)
 
treeguy64 said:
I ask for Amazon gift cards, only, these days. I then keep them next to my computer so I can use them for online purchases I may need/want. I have far too much junk in my house, now, and it greatly bothers me that I have accumulated so much over the years. Funny thing, though: Everyone who stops by always comments how neat and orderly my place is. I guess I see clutter where they see order. If I get presents I have no use for, they go right to Goodwill. I was puzzled by the poster who wrote that most of the gifts he/she gets are not the kind charitable organizations are looking for. I was unaware that these places have some kind of agenda. In visiting them, I see everything imaginable, and some that are not!
Click to expand...
I get Amazon Cards also,you can redeem to your account and your purchases can be deducted from purchases as you wish. They control your balance and you get every penny..
 
My sister gave me some perfume for Christmas one year. I didn't use it and about 2 or 3 years later I had a rummage sale and put it out . My sis just happened to come over that day and looked through my stuff and saw the bottle and said "Oh, you must not have liked the perfume I gave you for Christmas" ......
..... I was just praying the earth would open up and swallow me ~~~~ :(:(:(
 
The Amazon gift cards sound like a good idea. I'll suggest that to them. I did get one gift that I love, from my son (he asked what I'd like, and I told him). It's a nice, warm knitted hat with a pom-pom on top. It's lined with some warm material, so it really is warm, very welcome right now.
 
We do not exchange gifts any more. No kids or grandkids. But when I have gotten unwanted stuff, I usually save it for a while, and then re-gift or donate.
 
Capt Lightning said:
We have a very good American friend who tends to give us very good gifts - probably in return for many small favours over the year. We like Single malt Scotch whisky, so she mistakenly thinks we like all spirits. Wrong! We can't stand Bourbon or vodka. Guess what we tend to get for presents? I also received a birthday cake that was so sweet and so loaded with vodka that it was a fire hazard. I just couldn't eat it.

I really need a VERY diplomatic way to tell her.
Click to expand...

I'm so there

We use the lessor spirits for antiseptics, pouring on cuts/scrapes


Neighbor down the path has a still
200 proof
s/be called 200 POOF!!! (purty freaking volatile)

anyway, we'll never need shots... tetanus shots

'I really need a VERY diplomatic way to tell her'
Why?
It's a gift
yours now
 
Since we moved to our cabin in the sticks, we been offered and even given things by our well meaning friends and relatives
These are mostly the cutesy crud seen in gift shops
Ceramic creatures, bears, gnomes, chippies
One ceramic bear was almost life size
The dear, well meaning sister in law (with more money than perception) thought it would fit nicely in the outhouse
With me???
Well, mr brittle bear had an accident on the way to the second hand store and, after several thwacks with the ball peen, is now assigned to filling nicely in between bricks in the garden path

Thing is, I consider it somewhat selfish (blatantly stoopid) for folks to think their taste is mine and we live in some sorta Disney fantasy land and can’t wait to adorn our haven with forest creatures of porcelain pottery

So, when they ask what I need
‘Shop towels’
Never have enough
…well
I do now

Bottom line, somebody gives me sumpm
It’s then mine
Not theirs for viewing when they visit

And if they’re crass enough to ask where the earthenware bear is???
I’ll show ‘em
 
My friends and what little family I have left have a policy of no gifts. I've got all the "stuff" I need, and if there's something I want or need, I'd rather pick it out for myself. Not being grinches, just being practical.
 
Gary, how can you have a 200 proof spirit? In the UK, 100 proof equates to 57% alcohol. My favourite malt is Glenfarclas 105 - that's about 59% ABV. 200 proof would be 114% alcohol and NASA would probably use it for rocket fuel!!
 
Good argument for giving gift cards which, personally, I love. Sunny, if your kids and Grandkids aren't understanding your lack of space/use for certain things, I see nothing wrong with regifting.
 
This year I got what I asked for in gift cards. One daughter got me a $100.00 card to Kroger, sister got me $100.00 card to Walmart, a friend got me a $100.00 gift card to Walmart and my brother gave me a $100.00 MC. We have a great Walmart here that I love but don't go but once a month. Their groceries are cheaper than Kroger, have a great deli and even a McDonalds if I want to splurge. I don't go real often as I don't need that much but do like to go there for potting soil, etc and tomato plants as they carry the heirloom plants. They are a little further from me and Krogers is only a few blocks away. So I was pleased to get my gift cards. More will be coming for birthday in a few days.
 
On reading over this thread, I realize I probably sound like an ungrateful curmudgeon. I really do appreciate the thought behind their gifts, and in all fairness, they are giving me things that don't take up a lot of room. But I
will try, before the next gift-giving occasion (probably Mother's Day) to remind them that I'd rather have gifts of their time, or gift cards for entertainment, etc.

I think this is true of most of us as we get older. Everybody in our society complains that they have too much "stuff," No matter how many times you downsize, the stuff keeps creeping up on you. It takes a real effort to keep it down to a manageable amount.

And please, no more gift baskets of fattening sweets!
 
Capt Lightning said:
Gary, how can you have a 200 proof spirit? In the UK, 100 proof equates to 57% alcohol. My favourite malt is Glenfarclas 105 - that's about 59% ABV. 200 proof would be 114% alcohol and NASA would probably use it for rocket fuel!!
Click to expand...

'NASA would probably use it for rocket fuel!'

exactly

'how can you have a 200 proof spirit?'

I was not in a position to argue with the ol' coot
gasping for air and water at the same time is a convincing argument
 
terry123 said:
This year I got what I asked for in gift cards. One daughter got me a $100.00 card to Kroger, sister got me $100.00 card to Walmart, a friend got me a $100.00 gift card to Walmart and my brother gave me a $100.00 MC. We have a great Walmart here that I love but don't go but once a month. Their groceries are cheaper than Kroger, have a great deli and even a McDonalds if I want to splurge. I don't go real often as I don't need that much but do like to go there for potting soil, etc and tomato plants as they carry the heirloom plants. They are a little further from me and Krogers is only a few blocks away. So I was pleased to get my gift cards. More will be coming for birthday in a few days.
Click to expand...
The only problem I have with gift cards is you don't get every penny or change back!! If I have say $1 left on the card as I go through the checkout, I give the card to the next person behind me rather than carry that stupid card in my wallet for a month!! That's why I prefer Amazon gift cards..
 

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