Complimentary: given free as a gift, a courtesy or for publicity purposes
For Christmas, The Girl and I were each given a very peculiar gift.
From my mother.
To Mavis… Love Mom
To The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird… Love Granny
This is reason #1 why I don’t post pictures of my family.
“They just keep putting new stuff out everyday. They way I see it, I PAID FOR THAT whether I use it or not. So of course I’m going to take it.” Mom
“If I can’t use it, I’ll find someone else who can.”
It helps that they’re from different restaurants, right?
Sugar in the raw.
You’d be nuts to walk past a hotel tray left outside a stranger’s door and not swoop up any unopened bottles. Right? 
If only I cared about my nails.
I don’t even want to know.
My stash.
The Girls’.
It was kind of like trading Halloween candy after trick-or-treating. But not.
My Mom. No one could ever accuse her of not taking a “complimentary item.”
~Mavis
P.S. Everything we received in our gift boxes will be used, donated, or recycled in some clever way. No worries. None of it will go to waste. 😉
P.P.S. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever received as a gift?
Donna says
Do we have the same Mom? Maybe it’s an older Mom thing?? Well at least she keeps gift giving interesting.
Liz says
I once received a mason jar full of dirt from a close friend for christmas. When I opened it I thought “What in the world?” Until the friend told me it was from the property his parents owned where we, and many friends, all hung out together as teenagers. To me that made it the perfect gift.
Donna says
That’s a clever gift.
Anita Burns says
LMAO!!! THanks for this. It brightened my day.
Tamara says
I love your mom!
Stories about my grandmother, who I dearly loved (plus she raised me) would make your mom seem an amateur in comparison. The younger generations know NOTHING about recycling and making do compared with your mom and my grandmother!
Ann says
I just laughed and laughed! Thank you – you just reminded me of my Gran. She ‘collected’ this kind of stuff on the regular. Family can be strange, but they are awesome, too.
Maria says
My mother once gave me a compact with broken powder and a broken mirror in a very dark skin tone because she knew I liked stuff like that. Like what I can’t imagine. I threw it in the trash. It was obviously used and was dirty and smelled funny. Your gifts are a lot of fun
cindy says
That is so funny! We all have that someone in our family that you just have to say Oh my! That is what make life so interesting. Years down the road you and your daughter will have a great laugh when you remember what you got that Christmas. Making memories I say
Joanna says
That’s fantastic! I have a dip pen and those little honey jars are great for holding just enough ink.
April H. from Ohio says
I love that you’re wearing your winter coat in the house. Who needs to turn up the heat when you can put on more clothes?
Leslie says
This. Is. Awesome. There is SO MUCH stuff there! She must travel a lot.
When I had a job that kept me in hotels all the time, I was able to supply our house with toilet paper for the four years I worked there, and for two additional years. My coworker saw my bag full of rolls one day and said “that’s a great idea!” and rushed back into her room.
Donna in Pensacola says
My husband thinks I’m nuts for taking the soaps, little bottles and coffee packs from our motel rooms when we travel. I donate them to the local homeless shelter when I get a bagful. I’m also guilty of taking the little jam and honey packets from restaurants, but those I use.
Jenny says
Weirdest thing I ever received was a dried stuffed toad that had been shellacked and nailed to a stand with an wooden accordion nailed to its front feet. I was 8 years old and got that as a Christmas present.
As far as the complimentary items, I collect them for the Ronald McDonald House and when we stay there, we take them down. Now everyone who knows us collects them for us.
Leslie says
I remember seeing those toads! I think my sister had one.
Gigi says
I gave my uncle a shellacked piranha that picked up for him in Brazil. He loves it and was heart broken when some kids broke into his office and stole it.
MK says
My grandmother once gave me a lawn gnome. When I was twelve. Because, you know, it’s funny.
Huh?!
Jenny says
Dying!!! I love your mom, can she adopt me?! This is the best present ever!!
Alicia says
Your local homeless shelter or DV shelter might be thrilled to take much of that off your hands! Small-sized toiletries are perfect for people who are not staying long or who don’t want a lot of weight to tote around. Meals on Wheels might want the single-portion condiments, but I sometimes hold onto some of them for work lunches ore picnicking or tucking some jams into a basket of quick-breads for a friend.
Cheri says
Strangest gift I’ve ever received was a skinned squirrel from a boyfriend. I had no words–totally baffled.
Ellen in Clackamas says
Oh Jenny…I also received a stuffed, shellacked toad from a very dear friend. She had seen them in a little village shop in Mexico and knew I liked to collect frogs (mine are mostly ceramic though!) so she made a special trip to find it for me. When I opened it “Oh, My” was all I could say. Its the thought that counts…right????
Mimi says
I. Am. Dying!!!! Those pictures plus your comments have me laughing hysterically! This is just too funny!
Norma says
Did you rub off on her or did she rub off on you! Ha 🙂
Practical is Practical right?
Deborah says
My mother-in -law worked in the insurance industry and would go to conventions and seminars, always bring home so many “goodie-bags” of advertising pens, pads of paper, hotel shampoo, etc. I know she felt like she was “giving” us something, but honestly it was mostly a bunch of junk that I threw out (or gave to the homeless shelter) later when she had left.
What feels right to me with regards to hotel/restaurant “complimentary items” is that I take what I need. I can’t see that it is an “all you can take” buffet opportunity.
How is toilet paper a complimentary item? Everybody needs it, and let’s hope that we all try to leave some for the next person, and then they leave some for you!
verna says
I work at a small motel and every time I go in the bathroom and the extra roll of TP is gone I just roll my eyes. I understand taking the soap/ shampoo. The motels actually want you to take those items because of the advertising on them. But the TP it is there as a courtesy so you can do your business and not worry about running out. Also, just a thought maybe room prices would be a little less if the business didn’t have to spend extra $ on things that are being excessively taken.
Cheryl says
Boy do I agree with this. It is one thing to take an extra shampoo or conditioner bottle but toilet paper, sugar, coffee, and all the jelly on the table is stealing to me. No wonder prices are so high. Cheryl
Tiffany F says
I too had a grandmother like that! If there was ANYTHING left on the restaurant table she would keep it. If we were with her she was often sneaking the last roll or pack of crackers into our pockets. She was certain we’d “want that later” 🙂
I received a wedding gift from another older lady who would go shopping around her own house when she needed a gift; I received a candy dish that had shards of hard candy still stuck to the bottom.
Laurie says
OMG, I laughed so hard. Hubs looked at me and wanted to know what I was laughing about. I showed him the pictures and he cracked up too. His comment was, “well, maybe her mom is doing Christmas on less than a hundred dollars”. I would donate most of the stash to the local women’s crisis shelter. I save up free cosmetics samples I receive and at the end give them to the shelter. They love them.
Trish says
I love your Mom, she is right; you know? I used to stock my Dad’s Splenda thanks to Starbucks! I would just take a couple packets when I was there buying a drink (and my co-workers would too) He never ran out! just as long as she is not taking it all at once, then it looks suspicious! Thanks for the laugh!
Denise says
Wow, that’s great! I always take the complimentary items from hotels, but I don’t think I stay in as fancy of hotels as your mom does…I love the Trump spa items!
The strangest thing I (we) every received as a Christmas present were monogrammed towels that had been hanging in my husband’s grandmother’s house for years…I guess she thought it “worked” because we had the same last name!
Sherle says
The weirdest, but one I truly loved, was a load of horse manure for the garden. There was another man helping my hubby get and deliver it and he was quite baffled that anyone, much less a woman would be delighted with a load of horse poo.
Kathy G says
Your mom and I would be best friends.
I have people collect the mini ketchup bottles for me, they’re great for diy gifts!
My family and friends are used to me “collecting ” stuff where ever we go!
Lace Faerie says
Can’t think of an odd Christmas gift at the moment. But I once asked for an excercise bike for my birthday. The UPS man that delivered it to a nine month pregnant me thought my husband must have a death wish! Haha
My Dad is forever swiping Splenda packets, I keep reminding him that I bought him a Costco box and he needs to use another 995 packets before he’d run out! i tell him, keep snitching them, we are going to bury you with all those packets to keep you warm!
Elly says
When I got married I received a gift from an eccentric great uncle that was “wrapped” in a cardboard box and tied with bailing twine. Inside were many miscellaneous items he had collected from his home and barn including half used balls of yarn and needles that had belonged to his late wife. The highlight was a tattered pamphlet instructing women on how to be good housewives circa 1950. I wish I had taken a picture. We laughed until we cried. I should also mention that none of the items had sentimental value as my great aunt died when I was a young child. It was pretty much just trash. The clincher is that he was a pretty wealthy man. I will say that it is one of the only gifts that I received at my wedding that I actually remember 12 years later 🙂
Cass says
My grandmother used to take all the “sweet and low” from the table at EVERY restaurant she went to. Now I have no problem with taking a few items (and I mean a FEW) if you need them while on the road, but she took them home “just in case someone comes and uses it”. When she died she had TWO gallon ziplocs full of sweet and low. NO ONE used it. What a waste. I am sure all your items will be used….look at it this way….your mom was thinking of you and your daughter all the time, as she gathered items for your gift. 🙂
Libby says
Omg your mom is amazing! I once asked my grandma to grab a few extra ketchup packets for the kiddos lunches from a restaurant and when she came out she opened her purse and had 80! Haha I almost died of laughter.
Jennifer says
One year for Christmas my Mother gave each of her 12 Grandchildren a “free” gift she had gotten from sending in box tops and can labels. It was a hoot. She loved it when she got a gift that was a great deal. For her 90th birthday my son gave her a patio table umbrella he picked up on the side of the road (he got 3 that day) and she was thrilled. When I was small there was a drawer in the kitchen full of can labels, kool-aid packets and cereal box tops. We were ready to go when anything was offered. She also won quite a few things, including a freezer, writing jingles for contests and making up recipes.
Deborah from FL says
Jingle contests… That is so cool! She was clearly both wise and generous. 🙂
MerryMouse says
Wow. Just wow. I think it shows a lack of feeling and honesty to visit a place of business and just take everything that isn’t nailed down. Evidently not many of the readers here have ever run their own businesses. This is stealing. Plain and simple. I used to cater for a place and the regular “diners” would walk off with handfuls of creamer and sugar packets and whole bottles of juice. If you did that at a grocery store you would be arrested. How does ripping off the restaurant make it okay? I, for one, do not find this funny at all. Sorry if my attitude isn’t typical in these comments, but, seriously, folks–think about what you are allowing in to your heart with this kind of dismissal of bad behavior. Wow.
shari harniss says
Totally agree. Sad, really. Not funny. Not quirky. Not cute. Just sad and wrong.
Jenn in Indiana says
I really don’t agree. Most all of that stuff would be trashed after you check out of rooms, which is an absolute waste. At least Mavis will make sure it is put to good use. This reminds me of when my grandma worked in a hospital. She would bring home stuff all the time that when housekeeping would clean rooms, they had to pitch. Like never used shampoos, unwrapped toilet paper and never opened baby formula. That is why you pay $30.00 for a bandaid at hospitals. People are just way to afraid of germs today.
Karin says
I’m with ya Jenn. So much of that stuff just gets thrown away. My father managed motels for years and all personal items were tossed by housekeeping. I guess they felt it was safer to throw it away in case someone had tampered with it in any way. There were people that stole towels and even bedding (!!), but the personal items were there to be used. Nothing is really “complimentary”, at the end of the day its all figured into the price of the room/meal/coffee whether you use it or not.
Laura Z says
Wow. It would never occur to me to steal toilet paper, tissues, or the towels (or robes, or pillows, or sheets….)! Those are for everyone to use.
I would also never steal condiments or sugar packets off of a restaurant table.
That seems strange to me… if we are given too many ketchup packs or something at a fast food place, we might take those home rather than throw them away, but restaurants aren’t there for us to stock our kitchens. It would be thriftier not to eat out and just buy a dang container of mustard!
My daughter and I do travel a lot with my husband while he attends conferences. I read an article that said that most hotels do not recycle the little bottles of shampoo and toiletries that are left when a guest leaves, so I always take those with us and use them up at home and recycle the bottles, and I might take the complimentary tea bags to be used on the long drive home. I would also feel comfortable keeping any individual sized condiments that are on MY OWN room service trays that would be otherwise be chucked in the trash. But who knows what sorts of creepy crawlies might be on another guest’s tray in the hall. EEEK!
When I was five, my grandmother (who was quite poor) used to send me giant manilla envelopes filled with beautiful images she cut from magazines — flowers, kittens, churches, fruits, butterflies, etc. It was a strange gift, but I really loved receiving those pockets full of beauty, and would make collages from them.
Brianna says
Looks like you got some sugar packets for your survival kit and several other practical items to add. Perhaps you could repurpose some into “gifts” for the Girl’s college dorm friends. If your mother was 3, I would take her back to Chipolte or the hotel and make her return what she took with a sincere apology. I did that with my daughter at the grocery store one day and she hasn’t done it since.
Sue says
I once was given a firewood splitting maul for my birthday. It was from my boyfriend and it was just what I wanted. We lived very rurally and there were no shopping centers around, so we joked that “for my birthday he took me maul (mall) shopping.”
Mary P says
My mother and grandmother (both veterans of the Depression) rubbed off on me so that I collect complimentary stuff (not sugar packets…yet). I save up toiletries to donate to homeless shelters. Emptying the little soy sauce packets into the big bottle just proves my level of insanity!
bobbi dougherty says
i love this! And BTW, your mom can send ME stuff anytime she wants!!! I love free stuff! lololol
Deborah says
Interesting responses to this subject…Either it’s stealing or funny.
I already commented and gave my thoughts and opinion on this yesterday,
but I really was curious to see if there were additional comments, and
which opinion did they support. Wondering, Mavis, if you have an additional thoughts after reading the responses to the “gifts”?
Mavis Butterfield says
I think life would be pretty dull if we all believed the same thing.
Laura Z says
And it strikes me from your blog posts that your mother is a really caring and kind woman …. not a criminal! I bet that each time she gets coffee with a sweetener package or a burrito served with too many napkins, she just saves them rather than throwing them out. It’s good to see people careful with “disposable” items. I like, too, how the items she saved for your daughter seem suitable for a broke college student….. like a giant box of repurposed stocking stuffers.
CM says
This is AWESOME!!!! An elderly woman my mother used to help out once gave me a big back of paper napkins that she had saved for me. When she handed it to me she said, “some of them haven’t even been used!”
Earlene says
Weirdest gift I ever got was a vent hood fan for over the stove from the hub , he said I mentioned it one time, go figure, I went out and bought some cheap bling after he installed it! Insert happy face!!!! My mother used to do the same thing, but from restaurants, extra sugar packets, jelly, honey, you name it! Funny!!
Leslie says
I’m surprised that it seems like toilet paper is such a hot button item! I guess in my mind, since that was the only thing I kept, and I know how much those rolls cost, it wasn’t a big deal. Funny how everyone sees everything so differently.
Cindy says
Coupons for stuff we don’t use and a box of misc. dishes (some broke) from a yard sale.
Lisa L says
Hysterical! I love your mother! I have to, sheepishly, admit I have taken an unopened jam jar off a room service tray. Who doesn’t like free jam?
Nicole M says
My sister in law gave me $50 worth of coupons for my birthday one year. Some were even out of date and all were for things we don’t use or eat.
My mom and I do take the little empty bottles of syrup from cracker barrel. We reuse them for hot pepper vinegar. their great for putting out on tables when having dinners that are large groups.
suzanne says
i LOVE it – it will be my mission in 2016 to collect these complimentary items and gift them to my family members!!!!
AshleyAshley says
I moved cross county and my mom and I made a road trip of moving. I didn’t realize it but she had kept every bar of soap, shampoo, and conditioner along the way. I didn’t buy soap for quite a long time once I got to my final destination. It was a fun surprise.
Now that I’m ‘Mom’ I will take bars of soap or bottles of conditioner when I use but dont finish them. I dont take toilet paper or unopened bottles of things though.
Helen in meridian says
I received an ironing board delivered to the bridal suite at 1:00 am from my sis and sil. Also received a giant brass fly that was an ash tray.
Wynne says
Thanks for posting this, Mavis–what a good discussion. I’m more on the “don’t” side but it’s good to hear everyone’s thoughts. It’s especially helpful to know what people who work in hotels and restaurants expect. Do they expect the item to be used by the next customer too–e.g. the TP, or the 20 sugar packets on the table? But if they’re tossing things, sure, why not repurpose them?
Jennifer Meyer says
From working at holiday inn I can tell everyone that is so mad about the toilet paper that rooms that are on the holder are tossed if they appear slightly less than half full for aesthetic purposes. I suppose maybe partially due sanitary reasons too, but is it any less sanitary than any other public bathroom? We never bought toilet paper while I worked there because I couldn’t bring myself to throw away perfectly good stuff.
Jennifer Meyer says
Rolls*
D'Anna says
My dad has been bringing me gallon sized Ziplocs of hospitality items for years…some really fancy stuff in them actually. This last week I realized one bathroom cabinet was stuffed full so I donated several gallon bags full of the items I can’t possibly use quickly (lotion/shampoo/conditioner) to a gal that will make hygiene packs for her homeless outreach. FYI you can fit about 30 little hotel lotions in a gallon bag 🙂
lilton says
Oh my, what a gift! Kinda puts some of the unusual items our family has received into perspective. I have to admit, though, that I, too, am a taker. The toiletry items I either use or donate to the several 4-H camps I help with for campers who have forgotten or couldn’t afford such supplies. And the coffee packets I take home to my composter because we don’t drink coffee, but the grounds make a nice, nutrient rich compost addition. However, I also take our peanut shells home from restaurants that have complimentary peanuts [like 5 Guys] to our composter because I can’t stand to see anything that can still be used go to waste and my yard doesn’t have enough leaves to add the brown matter my composter needs.
Mavis, please do keep sharing your quirky stories. After observing several packrat tendencies in my family, I’m honestly a bit surprised I haven’t received a gift like this!