Oh, god. I just got a cat, like, five months ago. Since then, you would not believe the amount of cat-themed junk I have accumulated. I’m not a cat person! I’m definately not a cat-mug-or-poster person!
And anything my half-brother and his family are going to force on me. Have I ever worn one of those ugly sweaters? I think I actually left last year’s snowglobe at my parents’ house, where we opened presents. And I got really cool games for the kids this year, too, and what will I get in return? Urgh, it’s just too revolting to imagine.
Could be worse, though - they usually give my mom bath crap. Bath crap gives her yeast infections. ::eek::
I was expecting to hear a wallet. Women buy them like there the perfect gift, but they dont realize the defferences. It’s in your pants pocket all the time and it has to look, feel, and function right. It has to be the right style. Don’t get a department head a construction wallet, and for God’s sake a primadona wallet for a construction man. Then the fold has to be right for your pants cut and fit. The bi-fold is thinest, but the tri-fold isn’t as long. It’s give and take as to the benefit of one over the other and a personel choice for an item that’s going to ride on your hip all day. You have to know the correct color, texture, and kind of leather that your man want’s or it’s as bad as him buying you shoes girls. The compartments need to be alligned in the correct way too. I prefer the card slots cut lengthwise, so when the dollar pocket is up, the cards are readable and pull straight up. Others prefer the slots running the height of the wallet, so they know the cards won’t slip out, since the fold keeps them in. You need to know if the man is into security chains or not too. The man that uses these is often into motorcycle riding, but not always. The chained wallet goes perfect with a retractable key chain. So don’t by your guy a wallet, unless you want it put into the sock drawer and left there.
I attend Christmas at the home of my former boss, his wife, and their four kids. They have piles of loot like I’ve never seen before, and certain way more than I got as a kid. I am something of their “fifth child” so they are nice enough to include me in the giftgiving. So I get a modest pile of items which I, against all instinct, start to get excited about.
You see, she works at a retirement home for rich people and when they don’t want something anymore they put it in a common area and it’s sold to help fund the less rich residents’ rent. And that’s where my gifts come from. Is it rude of me to want new things as gifts?
Well, I was paying attention, too, but after the double-take, I thought, “Ohhhhhh, he’s a Saturday night kind of guy! (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) And his ex-girlfriend was cool with it? Awesome!” Then again, you did say ex-girlfriend, so maybe she wasn’t all *that * cool with it, huh?
Nah, man, really, I got that you meant lip balm. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, either.)
I always get $250 total from my parents and grandma combined. I am particularly happy this year that I don’t get gift cards from them since I have to have my brakes serviced and their cash means I don’t have to dip into savings.
No more small appliances. I’ve got the Fry Daddy and a heated hostess tray and a salad shooter and a hand held blender that have hardly been used but they take up way too much cabinet space.
No more robes or slippers, please. I’m not 12 so I’m not outgrowing them or wearing them out at a record pace.
No knicky-knacky stuff that just collects dust.
No prepackaged samplings of food or beverages with mugs or trays or whatever. Last year’s gift in that category was all chili-related. I don’t eat chili. I have never eaten chili, or salsa, or anything remotely spicy like that - you haven’t figured that out in the 23 years I’ve been your inlaw??
Fortunately, my husband’s side of the family agreed this year that we’d do a fun $10 bad Santa exchange and forego any other gifting, except for the kids. That way we don’t have to pretend to like the crap we agonized over picking because really none of us need any more crap.
Bath sets, bath beads, and bath salts. Nothing says “I know so little about you that I can’t even figure out where to buy a gift certificate” more than those.
Stuff from the Dollar Store, unless it’s hilarious.
Mostly I will still enjoy the gifts but those are the things that end up being used. A lot of gifts aren’t what I want, but hey, it’s a gift. An employee got me a Perkins muffin basket one year. I never really got presents (very high turnover environment) so I was just impressed she bothered. (For my employees, I had no budget and was low paid, but I liked giving out candy or treats.)
Anything gasoline powered - like for the yard. They require storing gas, they may or may not start, they break often, and they’re heavy. My yard is small enough so that I have a push mower - better exercise anyway.
And nothing in the category of things I’m two years behind in doing. It just makes me more depressed.
Yes, I recently moved into my first house. (A little over a year ago)
No, that does not mean I’m effin’ Bob Vila. Enough with the sanders, jigsaws, circular saws, putty knives, surgical masks, drills, drill bit sets, bath and tub refinishing epoxy, a vise, and whatever the latest Black and Decker crack happens to be this year (electronic laser distance detector!).
Then there’s the tools that they assumed I didn’t already have - screwdrivers, hammers, nails and screws, tape measure, wrenches…uh, I didn’t move from an old folks home, people - I actually did use normal tools for my previous rental house.
Clothes. Don’t buy me clothes since I change sizes over the course of the year and each stores sizes run differently anyway. Gift cards are nice, and my family generally knows that if I need something (suits for work, a new vacuum cleaner, etc) they should all get me gift cards to the SAME store so I have at least a couple hundred dollars to work with when making my selections.
Also, I haven’t worn make up more than a handful of times since I was 12. Do not buy me make up thinking that the reason I don’t wear it is that I just don’t have the right kind/color/etc. I will never use it! I hate it, don’t buy it for me just cause I am a girl.
Ornaments. “Your first Christmas Together.” That’s was great if this were 1995, but we’ve had several dozen since the wedding. Oh, I get it. We lived(d) in San Francisco(d) so it’s a Trolley ornament! ::feigns delight::
Seriously, I don’t need any more garish, religious, geographical, horrifying, FUCKING tree ornaments.
[sub]Did I mention that I just decorated my tree again and saw these ornaments again?[/sub]
I would much, much rather get a single, “legit” CD off my wishlist than three burnt ones.
Apparently one of my brothers has issues understanding why his sis who dropped out of a PhD when her advisor stealed her research would dislike burnt CDs. Or why I think that if someone is asking me for a gift that’s 50€ and his wife for something that’s over 100, I think the two of them together should be able and willing to shell 20 (most of the stuff I ask for is old enough to be discounted).
And his ex-girlfriend was cool with it? Awesome!” Then again, you did say ex-girlfriend, so maybe she wasn’t all *that * cool with it, huh? 
(most of the stuff I ask for is old enough to be discounted).