Nothing wrong with secretly regifting some of those to friends
At least they are thoughtful gifts relevant to you. I get gift cards or socks that took zero effort.
I always get some useless trinket and the line “you’re just so hard to shop for”
My (step?)mother in law is really hard to shop for. I always feel like I have no idea what to get her. She doesn’t want for anything, she’s pretty frugal/non-materialistic, doesn’t really have any hobbies, is kinda boring, etc.
I do my best but always wonder if she’s venting online like you (she isn’t for sure).
If people buy you shitty gifts and say that, give them a better wishlist or clear guidance.
I have literally told them things I would be happy with… I’ve been very specific about some things too. For example, I tend to be hard on jeans so anytime gift giving comes up I will tell people that I will be happy with new jeans and specify my size.
I know I tend towards nonmaterialistic and people seem to hate buying practical gifts but that’s honestly what I would prefer. I have also said on multiple occasions that if they really can’t find anything, I will be extremely happy with a simple bottle of vodka or anything penguin related… Yet somehow I never get useless penguin trinkets.
Comfort items. Nice slippers, snuggie, robe etc…
Anything that makes lounging on the couch is fair game.
High quality bedding can be appropriate depending on relationship level.
Pro tip, work your gift idea into a conversation with them by complaining about your similar item. They will tell you if they love/hate their thing.
Bonus tip, once they start complaining about their thing take note of what they don’t like about it and solve their problems.
Listening to complaints is the real core of thoughtful gift giving.
Family talking: “what does Garry like these days?”
Family talking: “hmm. I don’t really know.”
Family talking: “he kind of goes to work a bit but he doesn’t do much else.”
Family talking: “silent thinking”
Family talking: “Alcohol?”
Family talking: “yes! That’s what Garry does, i mean that’s what Garry is, I mean that’s WHO Garry is. An alcoholic. Garry the alcoholic.”
Alllllllllllllllllllllllllcoholism
Everyone thinks I’m an alcoholic? I’ll show them!
In fact, I was always the biggest alcoholic in my family, addicted to Jägermeister but I had to choose between continuing to drink and dying or stopping. Well, I’m here now writing this post
I had a severe alcohol problem but I hid it quite well, high functioning (most of the time, the other time I was hiding behind things like depression, anxiety, burnouts,…). So I got so much alcohol and alcohol related gifts as presents always. Then I finally started to cut down on drinking until I eventually stopped. But since no one really knew why I did that, they continued with the gifts. Even when I was pregnant and had a baby, I wasn’t invited to drink but it was assumed I would pick it up again soon, so… More alcohol.
I just moved and my new landlord gave me a bottle of champagne. Though he even knew I am still breastfeeding (a great excuse to not drink) but “well a glass can’t hurt on Christmas”.
Congratulations! How long have you been sober? I’ll be up to six years in a few months. Wewt! Keep it up!
Since the end of 2019, it was difficult in the beginning but now is everything fine
I can even attend parties without giving into temptation
