Don’t Waste Your Money: The 6 Worst Holiday Gifts, According to Recipients (and How to Avoid the Same Mistakes)

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Not everyone is a great gift giver. Here are some gift-giving mistakes we’d all do well to avoid. 

As someone who left social media years ago, I’ve never looked back. Still, on occasion, I wade into a Reddit forum to get an idea of what people are saying about important world events, like “Most Horrible NFL Quarterback Ever,” or “Why Hotdogs Are Better Than Hamburgers.” Today, I’ve taken a dive into the “Worst Christmas Gift You’ve Ever Received” threads, and some of what they said made sense.

1. A useless 3D poster

Reddit post: My mom bought me one of those 3D posters that were all the rage in the ’90s. I am blind in one eye.

Takeaway: Don’t rush. When holiday shopping is left to the last minute, it’s easy to make purchases that do not fit the recipient. According to Paper & Stitch, the trick is to remember who you’re buying for. And chances are, Mom was so busy finishing up last-minute shopping that she didn’t stop and think whether her child would enjoy (or even be able to see) the gift. Oops!

2. A lonely computer mouse

Reddit post: One year when I was a kid, my parents bought me a computer mouse. What makes it bad is that I didn’t have a computer, and had been asking for one for years.

Takeaway: Save the comedy for open mic night. Maybe the parents didn’t have money in their checking account to buy a computer to go with that mouse, but still this gag fell flat. The number of stories from adults who received “gag” gifts was surprising. And did I mention these were adults, remembering gifts they received as children? Honestly, folks, kids don’t think it’s funny. Ever.

3. Oddly-familiar pajamas

Reddit post: This year I got a pair of pajamas that were identical to the pair I was wearing when I unwrapped them. Thanks again mom!

Takeaway: Make a list. On one side write the recipient’s name, and on the other, make a note of what they received. Keep that list (mine is saved to my desktop). Pull the list out as you plan the upcoming holiday season. I know what it’s like to be so busy that you actually forget what you bought the year before. After all, I am continually teased for giving my sons bathrobes several years in a row. But who doesn’t need a new robe? Grown men, that’s who. Grown men do not need a new bathrobe every single year. Lesson learned.

4. A “you’ve got to be kidding” push lawn mower

Reddit post: I feel ya. When me and my twin sister turned 16 she got a car in the driveway wrapped in a big bow and I got my parents old push-mower and a weed-whacker.

And here’s another one along the same lines.

Reddit post: First Christmas with my dad, new stepmom, and her kids. They got electronics and designer bags. I got a bottle of Herbal Essences shampoo. No conditioner.

Takeaway: Do not show favoritism. According to the BBC, a child’s personality is fundamentally shaped by ending up on the short end of the favoritism stick. Children who grow up feeling they are treated unfairly experience a deep sense of unworthiness. They may feel as though they’re unlovable, or do not possess the special traits and characteristics needed to be loved by other people. Not to put too fine a point on it, but such children sometimes end up being people pleasers, trying to make people care about them. No kid expects the adults in their life to take out a second mortgage to buy gifts, but they do notice if gift-giving is unfair.

5. A box of surprises

Reddit post: I can actually answer this question with one of my presents this year. When I had gotten home from college I found myself with some excess cash. I decided to invest in some new video games for myself and had them sent to my house. The strange thing was I had only received half of the games. I emailed the suppliers and told them I hadn’t gotten my packages yet and was growing quite sad. Well Christmas morning came around and I was opening up my presents. I got to the one from my older brothers. I tore the paper away and opened the box. Inside there were several other packages that had been mailed to our house. With my name on them.. My brother had taken half of my games and hid them from me until Christmas… Worst present ever.

Takeaway: Be open and create an experience. If you don’t plan to spend money on a gift or can’t afford to buy one this year, it’s okay to be honest about it. It’s possible to create an even better memory by taking a different route. For example, if you’re in school and can’t afford a gift for your grandparents, set a date for the two (or three) of you to spend the day together. It may involve taking them out to a park, playing board games, or simply hanging out together. Most humans crave connection far more than presents.

That said, I’ll admit to laughing at one of the responses to the post: I used to do something like this in high school but not as mean. I would steal something from all my friends. Not something of value and something they would never notice was gone. Then I would wrap that item up and give it to them for Christmas. I called myself Klepto-Claus.

6. A “questionable tool box”

Reddit post: My father bought me a metal tool box with my name across it. It was very used. It actually said “’s Breeding Service.” It was a used bull semen collector’s tool box.

Takeaway: Shop for useful gifts. According to Everyday Health, “quirky” gifts tend to collect dust until the recipient ends up donating it. Recipients value gifts they’ll be able to use over and over again. I’m pretty sure no kid has 100 uses for a tool box once used by a bull semen collector.

The bottom line is this: As long as a gift comes from the heart, the lucky recipient is going to know it. And while the gift may be quite useful, what they’re likely to remember is how special they felt opening it.

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