13 People Whose Frugal Gifts Deserve a Story

A gift says a lot about the giver. You can see at once how the person feels about you, and it’s not even about money. The gift can say whether the giver knows your tastes or preferences and is ready to make an effort to please you. Giving gifts is like an art, and alas, many people are deaf to it.

• Our CEO was very excited to tell us all that we could expect a “thank you” from the company to be delivered to us. Thought it might be a bottle of something nice, a little hamper or even just some vouchers. Waited with bated breath for about 3 weeks and then got a knock one day.
  Couldn’t contain my excitement and eagerly opened the box to be presented with a solitary biscuit with some fancy icing on it saying “You’re a star!” It definitely took the proverbial! © Dwcskrogger / Reddit

• I had some interesting relatives. They were my husband’s parents, he was their only child, and my daughter was their only granddaughter. Grandpa just came back from a business trip to the UAE. My then little daughter was waiting for her grandpa with presents.
  Of course, they didn’t come to their granddaughter empty-handed. They brought her a small packet of saltine crackers in the nearest shop. © Tatiana Krivenko
• A rubber Hulk Hogan figurine glued to a very effeminate toy horse. An elderly friend of the family gave it to me and wouldn’t stop mentioning how “they are supposed to look like that; that’s how it came from the store” even though I didn’t voice any doubts. © The_Brain*** / Reddit
• My aunt gave me expired chocolate. It was also evident that it had melted completely and resolidified. When I noticed, I went up to her with, “Oh, this chocolate is so good, you have to try it!” She was hesitant to eat it.
  When she looked at me, I just had a smile on my face, “It’s the best chocolate ever!” And then I watched her slowly bring it to her mouth and try to eat it. She quickly walked to the kitchen immediately afterwards. I think I’ve only seen her once since that moment almost 9 years ago. © SquatChick315 / Reddit

• When I was young, my boyfriend gave me a plastic flower, saying that it wouldn’t wilt. When I accidentally hit my head on the locker door, he gave me a construction helmet. He was a big original. © Tatyana Eslam
• My boyfriend gave me a nice necklace. After some time, we got married and started living with his parents.
  And one day at home I put on this necklace to go out with my husband. And suddenly I hear the surprised voice of my mother-in-law, “Oh, my necklace! I’ve been looking for it everywhere.” I was totally embarrassed. © Marina Mayskaya
• I started dating a guy. It was the first date. I liked him. We went for a walk, and at the railway station decided to visit a perfume store to kill some time. We smelled different perfumes and then left. He went back to his town.
  Then it was Valentine’s Day. He calls, “I was passing through your city and agreed at the station café that they will give you a gift from me.” Well, I think, what a great guy! Apparently we had visited the perfumery for a reason.
  I take a taxi and rush to the station, all in anticipation. I pick up the present. And there is a chocolate bar. © Elena Skvortsova

• My husband gave me a present and said it was from Tati. I call my acquaintance, thank her, and she leniently accepts the words of gratitude. Imagine my surprise when another Tati, a colleague, called me and asked if I liked the gift. I decided to embarrass that rascal.
  I called her again and asked her where she had bought this cute thing. I said that we wanted to buy the same thing for our accountant in the office. And she replied, “Oh, my husband bought it. I’ll ask him and call you back.”
  To make it clear to everyone, this is the director of a shopping mall, she always pretends to be the most virtuous person in the world. © Svetlana Tatar
• When I was young, my female friend gave me a perfume for my birthday. It was called “Watercolor.” It was a symbolic name — we both studied at art school at the time. But somehow I lost this perfume quickly.
  Then one day I saw it at her house. I was surprised, of course. And somehow our friendship came to naught. © Zhanna Lisovskaya
• My boyfriend couldn’t stop talking about an expensive surprise he had prepared for me. So, we are sitting in a café with friends, the guys give their girlfriends presents. And mine came empty-handed.
  So he says, “When’s your day off? I’ll book a massage at the spa hotel for you.” I asked him what the name of the hotel was. He replied, “I forgot.” Spoiler: I never went to any spa.

• I was very friendly with a colleague. So, for her anniversary, I gave her a nice perfume and a set of beautiful lingerie (I knew her size). She liked everything.
  That year I turned 25, and I, of course, expected also a good gift from her. And she had many opportunities: she often went abroad with her husband. I received 6 glasses as a gift. © Daria Dobroskok
• Last Christmas, my husband randomly went to a jeweler and bought me these god awful amethyst earrings that looked like Barbie fake jewelry. I was shocked at first and said they are just not me, and I’m not sure where I’d wear them. He said it’s fine to return.
  For the price, I couldn’t justify keeping them and maybe wearing them once or twice because I felt like I had too. I returned them and just booked a hotel at a local ski resort for us that winter. It was much better than the earrings! © JDRL320 / Reddit
• The husband worked overseas. Their manager used to come here. A smart and nice person, so I thought.
  On my birthday, she gives me a present. It’s a beautiful velvet box in the shape of a heart. With a bow. I thanked her, opened the box, and there was a dishwashing sponge.
  As a polite person, I thank her cordially and look at the sponge with admiration, trying to imitate the delight of a tribal person at the sight of a plastic button. And she explains to me very contentedly that one side is harder and the other is softer, and how you can do the dishes with it.
  That’s the gift I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was about 10 years ago. © Valentina Kurtenoka

And here are stories about the most shocking Christmas gifts.