FFFC - Gift Edition

theholmanherd

Shamelessly copying from a similar post on TTGP.

Confess...what was the worst gift you got (and what do you plan on doing with it )?

If you didn't celebrate a holiday yesterday, tell us about the worst gift from your most recent celebrated holiday or birthday and what you did with it.

cateyes543

We got $300 from H's family...no I am not saying the gift is bad. His mom and gramma told us last night that we should not "mess with God and nature" by seeking IF treatment and to stop before it is too late. So my confession-that money will be paying for our first cycle.

theholmanherd

cateyes543 said:

We got $300 from H's family...no I am not saying the gift is bad. His mom and gramma told us last night that we should not "mess with God and nature" by seeking IF treatment and to stop before it is too late. So my confession-that money will be paying for our first cycle.

And when the treatment works, be sure to mention that to them

SND1231

My father-in-law is really struggling financially and DH and I didn't expect any gifts. But he brought one by the house and it was a huge mountain cat blanket. I know it was a huge sacrifice for him so I faked that I was really happy and excited about it but to be honest it will go in a closet until I have some kind of donation drive where I can get rid of it.

BunnyBerry

I have a convoluted confession...my parents gave us a very large check for Christmas, with a letter saying "we hope this will go toward paying down Bunny's student loan [which has a higher interest rate than our mortgage], but you and Mr. Bunny choose what you feel is best."

When I opened and read the letter aloud, I skimmed through it so DH wouldn't quite understand it all and then when he asked about using it for IVF, I told him my parents said it is for my loan only.

Basically, I would also muuuch rather use it for IF treatment and/or at least keep it in the bank while we struggle through starting a family while DH is a F/T student. But, I know my parents are not 100% comfortable with the idea of IVF and I want to respect the sincere wishes of their generous gift. Also, I did the math and their gift more than doubles itself by preventing interest and cutting down payments by 7 years - sounded like such a wise investment, and we were not expecting to have this anyway.

So maybe I will regret this later when we are broke with a baby and/or benched while saving up for IVF or FETs. But it feels like the wrong/right thing to do. 

theholmanherd

This isn't my story, but when I was a gemologist working in jewelry sales, a customer of mine bought his wife the same necklace 3 years in a row. He told me 'I guess I just know what I like'. I helped him track down matching earrings after the first repeat and the ring the next year.

BunnyBerry

@theholmanherd Whoa, are you sure those were all for his "wife"? Fascinating.

Remylove1011

I didn't get anything too bad, but poor MH got one. My grandmother gave him a giant cookie tin filled with un-cracked hazelnuts. She knows that he loves Nutella and assumed he would like these (she got us a nut-cracker last year). MH has since discovered he does not like hazelnuts. Poor guy. 

Gizmo36

For the most part, I really liked and will use just about everything that I got.  I'm pretty easy to please with gifts, but my MIL's boyfriend gave us a gift card to a movie theater that is almost an hour away.  There are a bunch of theaters in the city where we live, but none from this chain.  The closest one is about 35 miles away.  He lives in the same city we do, so I'm not sure why he wouldn't have just got us a gift card to the chain that has two local theaters.  

I have no idea what we're going to do with it.

theholmanherd

kariann12 said:

BunnyBerry said:

@theholmanherd Whoa, are you sure those were all for his "wife"? Fascinating.

This. And did he know he bought the same one three times? Why would you give your wife 3 of the same necklace? Sooo many questions come to mind.

No, he legitimately forgot. He would come in with his wife after New Year's to exchange. I have sordid stories of other customers though. One customer very obviously had a mail order bride. One guy came in to purchase two of the same necklace, just in two different sizes (1ct and 1/2ct). He did not hide the fact that the larger one was for his wife and the smaller for his mistress. I even had one customer (the holidays bring out the weird ones) that had never been to a mall before. He asked me like a zillion questions about how they work. Jewelry was by far the best job I ever had. Such great stories. I also have lots lf amazingly romantic stories too. Such a great way to see a diverse cross-section of humanity.

cateyes543

@BlueFairy5‌- your comment made literally LOL...in front of MIL...best ever.

@theholmanherd‌-best stories ever! They should make the jewelry store business into a reality show!

AnnaClaire256

My MIL is seriously the world's WORST gift giver. This year she got me this hideous apron/shirt to wear while I'm cooking. I am referring to it as the "lunch lady vest"...it's like 8 sizes too big and makes me look about 9 months pregnant (I wish!). Seriously, DH got in it with me and it still snapped!! She says she thought I might wear it when I'm "just lounging around the house"...lawd help me!

She also has given me the same EXACT cookbook 4 years in a row! Anyone in need of some Pioneer Woman recipes?? I know where you can find them!

AnnaClaire256

@Rumbera28‌ I could go on for DAYS about the stuff I've gotten from her.

juneroses

@AnnaClaire256‌ - the pioneer woman cookbook made me laugh....just wait until she discovers her "holidays" book - you could have an 8 year streak! 

My 87 year old grandmother gives a generous check each year, along with a gift to unwrap. This year she got my husband and I a life- sized printed tabby cat pillow. I opened it up and didn't know at first if they were all mocking me (I may talk a lot about my fur baby - not everyone in my family understands, and none of them know our struggle with IF). Turns out it was serious, and bless her heart she was so excited about it. 

DHnamed it Mr Carruthers on the spot. I dropped it on the couch when I got home & one cat tried to sniff it's nose, while our other cat arched his back until his fur puffed out, afraid. 

 The pillow is now in the closet.

mshandlebar

Hehe! So much hilarity!

@AnnaClaire256‌ - that picture is priceless!

@juneroses‌ - so sorry your kitty and Mr. Carruthers didn't get along

@wazzu08‌ - the world market smorgasbord is the traditional gift from FIL. It wouldn't be so bad if he remembered we are vegan.

The winner this year was an Episode 1 puzzle. I love Star Wars with all my heart, but Episode 1 is a travesty. MILs for the win!

TTCBabyJ

AnnaClaire256 said:

My MIL is seriously the world's WORST gift giver. This year she got me this hideous apron/shirt to wear while I'm cooking. I am referring to it as the "lunch lady vest"...it's like 8 sizes too big and makes me look about 9 months pregnant (I wish!). Seriously, DH got in it with me and it still snapped!! She says she thought I might wear it when I'm "just lounging around the house"...lawd help me!

She also has given me the same EXACT cookbook 4 years in a row! Anyone in need of some Pioneer Woman recipes?? I know where you can find them!

Oh wow! Please tell me she made this..I just couldn't imagine someone actually buying this...I love the lunch lady vest comment. lol!

meredithcarole

This thread is making me happy my family is big into gift cards.

babeRN101

@Buttmonkey34‌ , how hideous! I would have a hard time faking a gracious face opening those jammies