What do you do when you get a gift from a loved on that you DON'T like?

reiny, I completely understand where you are coming from. This is one of the reasons my husband and I usually don't exchange gifts. I realize that I am hard to shop for, and there is just not all that much that I want. If my husband does wind up getting me something I am not excited about I usually tell him (away from anyone else) that I REALLY appreciate him thinking about me, but the item is just not something that I would use. Then I suggest that we take it back to the store together and find something that I do like or use the money to go do something together such as dinner, coffee, bagels, etc. I hope that lessens the impact of the hurt on him. I know that he tries, but I really do have very little I wish to spend money on. Talk to your husband and ask him what would help the next time to not hurt his feelings so much. Of course he gets a hurt look in his eyes. He wants to please you.

All I can say is first off, how rude of you, you don't even care that you hurt his feelings, and secondly, I'm thinking he needs to pay a little bit closer attention to what you say. I have received gifts that I didn't like, not from my s/o, but other family members. The gift just screamed 'don't know what you like, don't care, here's a gift', for those I simply find out where it was bought and exchange it for something I do like. As for gifts from my s/o, he listens and pays attention, even when I think he isn't, and this was only our 3rd Christmas together. He bought me slippers, mittens, and earmuffs this past Valentine's Day, one because I came from the south, and dang it gets cold up here! lol The slippers, were the wrong size, too big, so he just gave me the receipt and I went and got the right size. I go barefoot most of the time, but I love this, lined with lambs wool. This Christmas, he bought me a new camera, because at some point in the past 3 years, I seemed to have mentioned that I used to love photography and had won some competitions with some of my pictures, however, I honestly don't remember ever mentioning that! Even if he bought me something that I really didn't like, I couldn't be that rude to him, to hurt his feelings when he went out and picked out something he obviously thought I would like. Of course, I guess I really don't have to worry about that, he knows my likes and dislikes, and I know his.

Ok, you won't like this answer but since you insist on being honest and not pretending, then I am going to be honest. Gifts are not about the item they are about the thought, hence the saying "It's the thought that counts". He thought to buy you a gift, like it or not, he did a good thing. You can return practically anything to practically any store, even without a reciept as long as you return in the original packaging unused. You've worn the slippers so there no returning them. Here's a hint to stretch them to your feet. Get them wet and weart them. Ok, it will be a bit uncomfortable at first but this will usually work. I have put on slipper sox while wet and worn until they dry and they conformed to my feet and I loved them. Of course when they are needing washed again you will have to wear while wet again. Not sopping wet, just towel squeezed and put them on. As for the headband. Do you not like it as it is or do you not like headbands period? If you don't like how it looks change it. Get out ribbon or glue and glitter or yarn and crochet over it. Use your imagination. (Can you think of a reason why he bought it? Have you been complaining about hair in your face? Is he wanting you to grow your hair longer or pull it out of your eyes?) Many won't agree with this but I say if you don't like it wear it atleast once for him and then if it happens to get lost or broken, oh well, it happens. I know honesty is the best policy but sometimes being tactful and appreciative is best. My bet is after this he may never buy you anything ever again. I know my hubby wouldn't. We learned a long time ago to go easy on each other when it comes to likes and dislikes. Such as I like comedy sometimes and he prefers scifi all of the time. If he wants to buy a scifi I get to buy a comedy. We are both happy. (And yes that has everything to do with this subject.) I hope you will try my ideas with the slippers and if they still won't work for you atleast he will know you tried, which will make him feel appreciated. Next holiday be sure to give him a wish list even if you both agree not to exchange gifts.

I feel you are hurting your husband by not accepting the gift and you are hurting his feelings. I was taught it's not the gift it's the thought. I know you did not like the slippers but could you have said "Honey these are not my size" and left it at that and not tried to streatch them out. I would never assume a slipper would streatch out. I have to give you credit for trying the slippers. The headband you could put in the bathroom and never find a time that is right to wear it or take it back and exchange it one day when he is not around. My husband is use to be a bad gift giver. one year he bought me a sweat suit two sizes to big so I could "Grow" into it. This year he bought me a few items I needed for my home office. It was considerated but should have been given as a gift because I use them for work? Oh well when I opened up my box from him and found an box of push pins for by bulliten board I had to laugh.. You might ask your hubby for a gift certificate next year so this won't happen again. When you open it up you can say "OH honey just want I wanted how did you know." I am sorry you got bad slippers that you cannot return and an ugly headband.

My mom is usually the one that gets me gifts that I really don't like, but I don't say anything. It's the thought that counts, and I know she don't have much money, just like I don't have much money.

it happened to me once,in the first Christmas with my wife.she gave me something i dont really like.but i thank her first and accepted the gift but after a few days i have to tell her the things i like and the things i dont like.that way she realized that her gift for me was one thing that i dont like but i know i didnt hurt her feelings since i have explained it to her clearly after Christmas.after that she never fails to amaze me every Christmas with her gifts for me and so my gifts for her also since i ask first what she wanted for Christmas before i buy a gift for her.

Funny that he should have got you stuff that you said you didn't want! I'd probably make a face too if it was my husband who got me stuff I didn't like or need. He probably didn't understand what you said? Did you try shouting in his ear? My husband learnt his lesson early on. lol..he doesn't get me anything now and I'm okay with that too. I've always told him to get me what I like or else not bother getting me anything. And he's quite happy that way coz he doesn't have to spend money on me. But I don't really tell anyone that I don't like what they have got me. I just shove it in some cupboard and give it away in a year or two.

When love was new and good for my partner and I, I remember our first Christmas gifting. It was horribly funny! I have always been a "girly" woman and I have always been a "perspirating" woman (do not get me heavy sweaters or lined sweats). I opened my first package and it contained a pink striped Polo Shirt (I have never worn a polo shirt in my life!), it was tucked neatly into a Pink plaid flannel shirt. I was told with a very pleased smile that they were bought as a set and meant to be worn that way. "Holy Crap" was what I was thinking. Okay, pink was a great choice; but other than that, this combination was meant for a lumber jack! Oh, well, there was another box to unwrap! I opened the package (J.C. Penny's wrapped them and the gift wrapping was very pretty). Inside was the idential gift as the first box but instead of pink it was baby blue! I smiled graciously and said appropriate thank yous. I did wear both of the "sets" to work one time so I could be seen wearing and appreciating them. I then washed them and told the little white lie that they had shrunk because I didn't read the label correctly. The following year, around August, I suggested we go shopping together. I also let her know the purpose of this shopping trip. I told her that I was going to be mindful of everything she was looking at. If she hesitated at any particular item and picked it up I would mentally jot that down and she should do the same with me. I also informed her that this was a very good way to remember what each of us really liked when it came time to gift each other. This method has served us well for 25 years. I have never received anything that I don't like and I have never gone wrong in purchasing for her. Perhaps you can try something like this. It couldn't do any harm and it would surely save you some frustration. ~Donna

He is obviously trying hard to please you. Why not suggest he take you along when buying your gifts so you can make sure he gets the right color and size.

I rarely get a gift from anybody, so when I get I just accept it and keep it with me no matter whether I like it or not. At least there's someone woh gives me gifts, that is how I see it when I get a gift. Happy new year.=)

First of all - I thank the giver of the gift. After that: I "recycle" the gift - and give it, as a gift, to somebody else!