Do NOT Give
H
ave you ever opened a gift and pretended to like it? Did you wonder why the gifter thought you would need or even use it? I’m pretty sure we’ve all had a least one experience like this. Save yourself an awkward moment by taking a look at the items listed below and perhaps re-thinking your gift
Never get someone an animal unless you absolutely know it will be cared for and appreciated. Even then, if the recipient is a child, make sure you check with the parents first — after all, they will probably be the ones caring for it.
There is a fine line here….make sure the present is packaged properly and you know who gave you the gift in the first place. “Oh, that blouse (tie/book/fill in the blank) looks just like the one I gave you for your birthday two years ago!” If you must do the re-gifting thing, don’t get caught. Keep a list of who originally gave you the gift and where you were (and who else was there) so there are no awkward moments.
Even you should know never to give a woman something that will bring attention to the fact that she actually needs to use this product. Reminds me of the time my then boyfriend gave me the gift of a bust developer…
This gruesome gift will probably come in handy one day, but no one wants to be reminded of their own mortality, especially if it is on a Milestone birthday (turning 65, for example). Save this “gift” for another time.
Beware. Giving this romantic gift to your spouse or girlfriend could win you big brownie points. Gifting the same items to someone else’s wife or a young teen could get you on a sexual predator list.
My father gave a set of cleaning supplies and a new bath mat to my mother once as a Christmas gift. That was the year before they divorced. Offer to clean the house instead.
I don’t know about you, but I can barely fit the things I like to wear into my closet without getting an item that I probably won’t ever wear (unless I’m invited to a “come dressed in your ugly sweater” party). Even if it’s a gag gift, save your money and get something that won’t end up in the back of someone’s closet.
If it is a family tradition to give fruitcake as a Christmas gift, please make sure it is one you’ve baked yourself and that it has a lot of alcohol (brandy) soaked through it. Whenever I think of this “treat” I am reminded of a song parody from years ago…”Eat the last piece of fruitcake that we got from Auntie Mabel. We can't keep it in the kitchen 'cause it broke right through the table!"
Really? More socks? You can’t think of what to buy for your friend’s birthday?
Know where your friends like to shop before giving a gift card to a particular store. For example, giving my mother a card to Best Buy would probably never be used when all she does is shop at Marshall’s. Giving a Joe’s Steak & Rib gift card to a vegan would also be a colossal waste of money. If you must give a card, give a prepaid Visa so the person can spend it where they like.
Invite friends to sign up with gyftit.com and never again have to figure out what to give them as a gift. Remember, take the time to select a gift that will be remembered for all the right reasons, instead of all the wrong ones.
By D Revelins
Photo Credits: See Acknowledgements