So far, although I’m with Saladdin on not accepting requesting large gifts (like a house deposit), not accepting gifts brings its own strings. You can’t live you life in a completely independent fashion, never accepting help and remain completely normal and sane.
In my family, refusing to accept Christmas presents would be the same as refusing to become one of us, rebuffing offered friendship, and would not generally be acceptable behaviour. A gift like that is a token of friendship and appreciation. The polite thing to do is accept it graciously. If it comes with other strings, then that’s a different matter.
To be honest, it sounds like Saladdin has a chip on his shoulder about having to grow up too soon and he comes across much like a petulant teenager. But maybe this will improve as the exchange goes on.