# Your most worthless Christmas gift (this year.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 27, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700 "2009-12-27T12:56:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/121 "2009-12-30T11:18:43Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > This year, we got our cards on time (and they were signed. Must have been courtesy of his new wife). Unfortunately, each one contained cards to Applebees. > > I ate at Applebees once in my life. Nearly 10 years ago. I just don’t get it at all. If he absolutely had to get us cards for restaurants, why Applebees? Why not, say, Red Lobster? (A restaurant we’ve actually eaten at together). I’ll probably never use these and I’m really, really sad that the $50 I was counting on based on the past 10 years is gone. I would really rather he not bother at all. I mean, if he really doesn’t give a fuck, why can’t we just be adults about it and drop the pretense? > > Maybe I’ll just use the card to get drunk. There are websites where you can trade your unwanted gift cards for someone else’s, and the amounts are verified and all that. When I am more awake, I can look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/122 "2009-12-30T13:28:15Z")
My sister gave me a huge, framed, panoramic photograph of the whole of the main street of [Tobermory](http://www.tobermory.co.uk), Isle of Mull, Scotland. Not much wrong with that, you might think. For nine years I had a second home on that main street. I had to sign it over to my alcoholic husband when we separated two years ago. A year later he drank himself to death and was found in that second home. Despite those circumstances, I still desperately wanted to hang on to what had been my precious second home, but his family sold it against my wishes and I didn’t get a penny. So, on Christmas Day I pull off the wrapping paper on this lovely panoramic photo with that building slap bang in the middle. The much-loved property that I had to lose. The room where my _husband died._ My sister was surprised when my reaction was to immediately burst into tears. She even got quite huffy and told me to stop using phrases like “rubbing salt into the wound” because it was only making her feel worse. I love my sister to bits and I’m sure she thought I’d like it, but… _what was she thinking??!_ ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/123 "2009-12-30T14:07:09Z")
Ouch, **Scougs**. What was she thinking, indeed?!! > [@lorene](#): > > There are websites where you can trade your unwanted gift cards for someone else’s, and the amounts are verified and all that. When I am more awake, I can look it up. OK, so you can sell your gift card [here](http://www.plasticjungle.com/pjweb/), [here](http://www.giftcardrescue.com/), exchange them [here](http://www.swapagift.com/)—WARNING—sites have ads, and I also cannot endorse any of them. Just passing info along. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/124 "2009-12-30T15:10:51Z")
> [@Scougs](#): > > My sister was surprised when my reaction was to immediately burst into tears. She even got quite huffy and told me to stop using phrases like “rubbing salt into the wound” because it was only making her feel worse. Making **her** feel worse? Christ. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/125 "2009-12-30T15:10:56Z")
My WTF? gift was a stocking stuffer. Five rolls of Life Savers. Now, there’s nothing wrong with Life Savers, other than that I don’t generally eat one roll per year, let alone five, but these were special candy! There was a contest that I might be able to win! Only problem was that the contest ended in mid-2005, so I had been given nearly five year old candy. And worse, it was soft. The rolls were almost as soft as marshmallows, so they’d either absorbed a whole lot of humidity over the years or had been left to get wet. Ewww… Out of morbid curiosity, I bent one roll until the wrapper snapped, revealing this ugly purple-gray goo. Hey Sis, next time you want to give me a chance to win a contest, just buy a couple quick-pick tickets for the Powerball. Just make it this week’s drawing, OK? ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/126 "2009-12-30T15:53:27Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > No complaints on the Christmas gifts this year. > > However, when we got married, we got something fantastic from one of my husband’s more religious relatives: a Jesus suncatcher. My father-in-law let loose with a “what \*is \*that?” After which, my husband held it up prominently and declared, “Don’t you recognize your Saviour?” > > It was hysterical. Hee - my in-laws gave us this hideous placque with a poem obviously written by a cracked-out 12-year-old about how “marriage takes 3,” and to “make HIM the head of our household.” Me being me, I blurted out, “Wow, God’s quite a perv, isn’t he?” They didn’t find that nearly the riot that DH and I did. ---
**Author:** ![Hadrian\_s\_Wall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hadrian\_s\_Wall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hadrian_s_Wall)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/127 "2009-12-30T16:16:46Z")
I received a card from both of the parents. It reads, “Merry Christmas! I gave you the miracle of life.” and a line from dad, “and I helped.” ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/128 "2009-12-30T16:54:41Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > My WTF? gift was a stocking stuffer. Five rolls of Life Savers. > > Now, there’s nothing wrong with Life Savers, other than that I don’t generally eat one roll per year, let alone five, but these were special candy! There was a contest that I might be able to win! > > Only problem was that the contest ended in mid-2005, so I had been given nearly five year old candy. And worse, it was soft. The rolls were almost as soft as marshmallows, so they’d either absorbed a whole lot of humidity over the years or had been left to get wet. Ewww… Out of morbid curiosity, I bent one roll until the wrapper snapped, revealing this ugly purple-gray goo. > > Hey Sis, next time you want to give me a chance to win a contest, just buy a couple quick-pick tickets for the Powerball. Just make it this week’s drawing, OK? That’s what happens when they buy presents at a gas station Christmas eve. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/129 "2009-12-30T17:28:11Z")
The apple cinnamon oil burner scent thingy that my nieces gave me. Oy, the smell is revolting. Too strong. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/130 "2009-12-30T17:31:14Z")
My mom-in-law always sends us little cards saying that she donated to a charity on our behalf. Now, I don’t have any problem with her not sending us an actual gift. The less crap around our house, the better. And I certainly don’t have a problem with her donating to charity. But I am really not a fan of the whole “donate to a charity and then send someone else a card informing them that that was their gift” thing. I mean, it’s not really much of a gift, is it? I’d rather just get a Christmas card and a phone call from her. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/131 "2009-12-30T17:40:33Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I wish I got a snuggie this year. I’m always cold, and it’s difficult to cuddle under a blanket and type on my laptop at the same time. > > Anyway, my dad always gets each of a us a gift card to Wal mart. He sends it in an unsigned card and it usually arrives 3 days after Christmas. It’s evident that he just barely cares, but at least a Wal Mart card is _useful_. Especially this time of year. I can make $50 stretch a long way at Wal Mart. This year, we got our cards on time (and they were signed. Must have been courtesy of his new wife). Unfortunately, each one contained cards to Applebees. > > I ate at Applebees once in my life. Nearly 10 years ago. I just don’t get it at all. If he absolutely had to get us cards for restaurants, why Applebees? Why not, say, Red Lobster? (A restaurant we’ve actually eaten at together). I’ll probably never use these and I’m really, really sad that the $50 I was counting on based on the past 10 years is gone. I would really rather he not bother at all. I mean, if he really doesn’t give a fuck, why can’t we just be adults about it and drop the pretense? > > Maybe I’ll just use the card to get drunk. I’LL take your Applebees card! I LOVE Applebees! I’ll trade you my loathesome Snuggie AND one of my many useless Christmas present cookbooks - how about “The Great Wings Book” by Hugh Carpenter - full of exotic recipes for cooking chicken wings, retails at $16.95. I’ll even include one of the dozen bottles of hot sauce that came with it. I much prefer Red Lobster, myself. But it’s so expensive now, a typical gift card of, say, $25, would just about cover the price of two drinks and an appetizer. It wouldn’t even make a dent in the cost of the main course. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/132 "2009-12-30T17:43:53Z")
They’re not totally without a use, but…my cheapo friend P. went to the 99 cents store last year, bought a three-pack of kitchen sponges, put each one into a Baggie, kept one for herself and then gave one each to our friend L. and me. P. thought they were “cute.” KITCHEN SPONGES, fergoodnessake! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/133 "2009-12-30T17:47:30Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I much prefer Red Lobster, myself. But it’s so expensive now, a typical gift card of, say, $25, would just about cover the price of two drinks and an appetizer. It wouldn’t even make a dent in the cost of the main course. I kind of wish you could go to Red Lobster and just order the biscuits… ---
**Author:** ![StoutHearted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@StoutHearted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoutHearted)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/134 "2009-12-30T18:05:21Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > My mom-in-law always sends us little cards saying that she donated to a charity on our behalf. Now, I don’t have any problem with her not sending us an actual gift. The less crap around our house, the better. And I certainly don’t have a problem with her donating to charity. But I am really not a fan of the whole “donate to a charity and then send someone else a card informing them that that was their gift” thing. I mean, it’s not really much of a gift, is it? I’d rather just get a Christmas card and a phone call from her. I did this for my one friend, but the charity was for her baby daughter, who has epidermolysis bullosa, and the funds go towards her care. Plus, we don’t normally exchange gifts, so this was just something I did out of the blue, figuring the holidays was as good a time as any to contribute. I think the charity gift is OK for people who are heavily invovled in them. But if people are going to use it in lieu of a gift, it would probably be best to give to the charity for themselves, and give the intended recipient a phone call, card, and/or well wishes instead. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/135 "2009-12-30T18:07:06Z")
> [@StoutHearted](#): > > I did this for my one friend, but the charity was for her baby daughter, who has epidermolysis bullosa, and the funds go towards her care. Plus, we don’t normally exchange gifts, so this was just something I did out of the blue, figuring the holidays was as good a time as any to contribute. I think the charity gift is OK for people who are heavily invovled in them. But if people are going to use it in lieu of a gift, it would probably be best to give to the charity for themselves, and give the intended recipient a phone call, card, and/or well wishes instead. Yeah, your situation is a bit different; ditto for donating to a charity in lieu of flowers for someone who has died, or whatever. But in this case, it’s not even a charity that we picked out. It’s a perfectly good charity but it’s definitely one of my MIL’s pet causes and a place that she would likely donate to anyway, regardless of Christmas giftage. Just seems like, “Hey, look how charitable I am!” instead of an actual thoughtful gift. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/136 "2009-12-30T18:24:36Z")
I got a nun doll. It is beautiful, well made, complete with rosary/crucifix/all the fixins. It probably cost a small fortune. I am a male atheist. The giver (my brother) is also a male atheist. Great conversation piece! ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/137 "2009-12-30T18:46:38Z")
I was lucky enough not to receive anything useless this year. Well, I did get a Monk snow globe from my Dad, and snow globes are by definition useless, but I like it. I have a lot of random trinkets sitting on top of my computer at work, and that fit right in. What I wonder though, is why all the hate for the Applebee’s gift cards? Send 'em my way! I got a $20 one from my uncle, used it just now for a burger and a few beers, which are now serving to make the rest of my work day more palatable. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/138 "2009-12-30T19:28:27Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > They’re not totally without a use, but…my cheapo friend P. went to the 99 cents store last year, bought a three-pack of kitchen sponges, put each one into a Baggie, kept one for herself and then gave one each to our friend L. and me. P. thought they were “cute.” > > KITCHEN SPONGES, fergoodnessake! Here’s the warning on the original package. Attention: No marine life was killed to make this product. At least it was a new sponge not all stinky and dirty. It was a gifted unused right? The baggie wasn’t because it was wet I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/139 "2009-12-30T19:53:17Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > OK, I think I am just unclear on the concept. I thought it was just a candle-shaped thing that lights up, but perhaps it is actually cooler than I think. I’m not really a candle person, but I can see why my mom would think that an electric one would be safer than a flamed one, what with 2 smallish children about. Sorry about that I figured my post would be confusing without links but I was lazy and didn’t include them. So here are the links. The ones I have are like this: [http://www.windycitynovelties.com/15619p/battery-operated-candles.html](http://www.windycitynovelties.com/15619p/battery-operated-candles.html) The site doesn’t actually say but in the ones I have the yellow bit around the outside, my are lanvender scented so they are light purple, is actual good smelly wax with an led “flame” that flickers and is battery operated. So you get the smell and the light of a candle without the fire to burn the house down. Now these are what I am assuming you were talking about: [http://www.windycitynovelties.com/15448p/fabulous-fake-candlestick-led-candlestick.html?ProdRec=Yes](http://www.windycitynovelties.com/15448p/fabulous-fake-candlestick-led-candlestick.html?ProdRec=Yes) and they are Ok I guess if you are going for a specific look or style to a room. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700/140 "2009-12-30T21:12:34Z")
I got a useless gift today from one of the doctors here. It’s a beverage warmer – basically a hot plate that you can set a mug on. It’s actually pretty nice. But I can’t use it at work, because I only drink things from paper cups, and we have a little issue with electrical outlets. And I can’t use it at home, because I have a huge issue with outlets – I can keep a beverage warm as long as I don’t need lights. But I appreciate the thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-worthless-christmas-gift-this-year/522700.md?page=8)