UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 5
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check box if no longer subject to Section 16.
    Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.

[ ] Form 3 Holdings Reported

[ ] Form 4 Transactions Reported

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person(s)
   Lessin, Robert H.
   131 South Woodland Street
   
   
   Englewood, NJ  07631
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   Fingerhut Companies, Inc. (FHT)
3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Year
   12/98
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   [X] Director                   [ ] 10% Owner 
   [ ] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)
    
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   [X] Form filed by One Reporting Person
   [ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person



Table I   Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
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1)Title of Security                           2)Trans-    3.Trans- 4.Securities Acquired(A)      5)Amount of    6)  7)Nature of     
                                              action      action   or Disposed of (D)            Securities         Indirect        
                                              Date        Code                   A               Beneficially   D   Beneficial      
                                              (Month/                            or              Owned at       or  Ownership       
                                              Day/Year)   Code     Amount        D  Price        End of Year    I                   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         

Common Stock                                  11/12/98    A (1)    2,318.84      A  $8.625000    2,318.84       D  Direct           


Table II (PART 1)  Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1 through 6)
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1)Title of Derivative          2)Conversion    3)Trans-       4)Trans-  5)Number of Derivative            6)Date Exercisable and    
Security                       or Exercise     action         action    Securities Acquired (A)           Expiration Date           
                               Price of        Date           Code      or Disposed of (D)                                          
                               Derivative                                                                                           
                               Security                       Code      A                D                Exercisable  Expiration   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            
Non-Qualified Stock Option     $8.520000       09/28/98       A         10,000.00                         09/28/99 (2) 09/28/08     
(right to buy)                                                                                                                      


Table II (PART 2)  Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1,3 and 7 through 11)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          3)Trans-  7)Title and Amount                           8)Price     9)Number of   10) 11)Nature of    
Security                       action    of Underlying                                of Deri-    Derivative        Indirect        
                               Date      Securities                                   vative      Securities    D   Beneficial      
                                                                        Amount or     Security    Beneficially  or  Ownership       
                                                                        Number of                 Owned at      I                   
                  -                      Title                          Shares                    End of Year                       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            

Non-Qualified Stock Option     09/28/98  Common Stock                   10,000.00                 10,000.00     D   Direct          
(right to buy)                                                                                                                      


Explanation of Responses:

(1)
Deferral election under Fingerhut Companies, Inc. Directors' Retainer Stock Deferral Plan.                                          
(2)
These options were granted under the Fingerhut Companies, Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan and vest in two equal      
annual installments.                                                                                                                



SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ Lessin, Robert H.
DATE