Recently, I am having an aversion towards gifts that my family members give. Here’s why:
they give me gifts which are rather useless to me. I don’t get to use them on a day to day basis and the best part is that I can’t even afford to refuse them. the best part is that they tend to say that it is a waste of money purchasing these gifts for me . Even worse, they’ll probably forget that the they gifted me with that item.
U’ll probably know, how scarce space is in Singapore. With these gifts just piling up, my living space is getting rather messy. So I was thinking if it was a good idea to sell those gifts away to some charity organisation. Well ,the question now goes to whether it will be seen as rude thing to do. Any advice guys?
It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the gifts you receive, and honestly, that makes perfect sense. The intention behind gifting is meant to be thoughtful and meaningful, yet when the gifts don’t align with your needs, they can end up becoming more of a burden than a joy. It’s even tougher when you feel obliged to accept them while knowing they might be forgotten by the very people who gave them to you. That sense of wastefulness can be frustrating, especially when space is at such a premium in Singapore.
Your idea of donating or selling these gifts to a charity organization is a great way to ensure they find value elsewhere. Items that serve no purpose in your life may end up being incredibly meaningful for someone else in need. However, it’s understandable to worry about whether your family might see this as rude. The key is approaching it with tact—perhaps letting them know how much you appreciate their kindness but gently suggesting that more practical or experience-based gifts would be a better fit in the future. Sometimes, people don’t realize the impact of their choices until it’s communicated clearly.
At the end of the day, your living space should feel comfortable and functional for you. If holding on to these gifts is causing stress, then finding a way to repurpose them is absolutely reasonable. If you approach the situation with honesty and gratitude, there’s a good chance your family will respect your perspective. And if they don’t, remember that your peace of mind is valuable too. It’s okay to prioritize what truly brings you joy and utility in your home.
I understand your frustrations about receiving gifts that you might not be able to appreciate! It might feel like you are not being “seen” by your loved ones. The meaning of gifts is to show our appreciation towards someone and to make them happy.
Perhaps to address the root of this frustration and aversion towards gifts, you can try communicating with your loved ones! Try telling them nicely and explaining to them why the gifts they are giving you are not useful to you. Together, i think it would be helpful to come up with a way to communicate what yall would like as gifts or during special events! That way, you can both show appreciation towards them in a way that they know how to appreciate, and vice versa.
Next, donating your gifts do seem like a great idea to bring joy to others. Out of respect, perhaps you can first communicate why you want to donate the items with the original gifter.
It totally makes sense why you’re feeling this way. Being given things you don’t need or use, especially when space is tight, can feel more like a burden than a gift. And it’s especially frustrating when the givers themselves say it’s a waste, yet still expect you to keep them out of politeness. Wanting to donate those items isn’t rude, it’s actually thoughtful. You’re giving those things a second life with someone who might really need or appreciate them. If you’re worried about how your family might react, try communicating with them and maybe frame it more as “letting things go to make space” rather than “getting rid of your gifts.” You’re not being ungrateful, you’re just being realistic and trying to keep your space livable and meaningful.
Thank you for sharing. I do agree with others that giving/selling them away is in no way a rude thing to do. Someone will find the items useful
If i gave someone a gift that it is not useful to him/her, i would feel better if he/she gets rid of it (rather than piling up in their home and creating clutter).
. Even worse, they’ll probably forget that the they gifted me with that item.
