And why didn't you sell your books back yourself BEFORE... I always sold mine back right away... especially if I paid for them myself. When my parents used to buy them, that'd make the top of the list before returning home.

how did they get the card from you, assuming you sold your own books back like a normal student?

Yes this is definitely an FYL because they tried to pass it off as a gift. It would have been perfectly fine had they not gotten you a thing. I hate it when people try and pass things off as a gift just so they can "check that little box on their list" that says "I've done my part" or "I'm a good person". The bright side -> at least it wasn't a birthday card filled with coupons. An empty card would have been great. The coupons just cheapened the whole thing. I still thanked her and told her I was grateful, of course.

One year for my birthday, my parents bought me a $100 gift certificate to the supermarket. Then they took it and went shopping with it.

Only thing that makes it a FML is that it was passed off as a gift as #13 states. Honestly, though. So what. Times are tough. Just be happy you have a family that loves you, and the money to go to college.

The recession is tough on everybody..

How did they get the card?

Sounds like a great opportunity to re-gift!!

#10 you're just an ungrateful loser. Don't go ranting just because your parents didn't love you, but most people here had parents who changed their diapers, took them to school, helped them in their homework, gave them lunch money, and took them out to Baseball games

seriously, (insert name of person who put this here). even if it is a refund, college books are expensive. so its like u got a year's worth free (also im getting sick of these "i got a stupid gift for my birthday" fmls)