Not So Great Gift Ideas
We typically talk about great gift ideas that you would want to buy for someone in your life. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Christmas, mother’s day, father’s day etc. No matter the occasion we like to try and find a great gift idea that will work for that particular day.
There certainly are many great gift ideas out there, but there are also many not so great gift ideas. Things that people may buy themselves, but would never enjoy receiving them as a gift for a special occasion.
Here is our list of not so great gift ideas, or gift ideas that you may really want to think twice about.
- Nothing at all. The worst possible thing you can do is to not buy a gift at all. This is especially important to remember on Valentine’s Day. Now it’s not terribly important to buy a man a gift on Valentine’s Day, but keep in mind many men do like a gift. However, it’s extremely important to buy a woman a gift on Valentine’s Day. If you don’t buy her a gift, think of how she’ll feel when all her friends are getting roses or even diamonds.
If your relationship is just starting out, you need to refrain from getting anything to intimate. Don’t buy her a negligee or a romantic weekend getaway. That’s just not appropriate. Get her a nice friendship ring, or a box of Godiva chocolates.
For those of you that have been in a relationship for a longer period of time, then get her something. It could be almost anything romantic. Just get something.
- Money. We all like money, but it’s not a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day or Christmas. Nothing says “I don’t know anything about your likes and dislikes” more than money. You need to put some thought into it. When you give money she’ll know you didn’t spend any time at all thinking about her.
- Re-gifted gift. Let’s face it, if you’re giving it away, chances are you didn’t like getting it. What makes you think someone else is going to like it? If you received a gift and you didn’t like it, then sell it on eBay or give it to good will. Don’t give it to a loved one or friend.
- Be careful with chocolate. Yes, chocolates are a great gift item. Just be careful about who you’re giving it to. If you’re giving it to someone that you know is watching their weight, then it’s not a great gift idea. Think about who you’re getting the gift for.
- Imitation or fake items. Cubic Zirconia? Forget about it. Plastic or paper flowers? No way! Imitation items are not great gift ideas. Yes they are much cheaper, but it’s just not worth it. Get the real thing and make them really happy.
- Store purchased cards as stand alone gifts. You can pick out a card that really shows how you feel about someone. But don’t get that special someone a card and nothing else. If you truly only want to give a card, then spend some time and make it yourself. If you make it yourself, then you let them know that you really put some thought into it. Cards are ok for friends at work, but they are not one of the best gifts for her or best gifts for him.
- Stuffed toys. Stuffed toys, like Teddy Bears, might be ok if you mix them with another gift, but as a stand alone gift stuffed toys don’t really cut it. I’ve seen too many guys walking through the mall with a big stuffed animal dressed in a Valentine’s Day outfit and I hope that’s not the only gift they are getting for her. For a younger crowd a stuffed toy with another gift might be ok. But a mature person really has no interest in a stuffed toy.
- Books. Not all books are bad. Just be careful about what you pick out for them. You probably don’t want to buy the lady in your life a book about how to cook. Unless she has specifically asked for that particular book, it’s definitely not a great idea. Some books are really good. Just be careful.
- Clothing. This is another one of those gifts that you need to be careful with. Clothing could be a great gift idea. But only if you’re 100% you know her exact size and tastes in clothes. Then you also need to be careful about brands. Most women would not find a gift of clothing from Walmart a romantic or caring gift.
- Night or weekend getaway. As I mentioned above, this could be a great gift idea for a couple that has been in a relationship for awhile. But it is not, under any circumstance, a good gift for anyone that has been in a relationship for a short period of time. Talk about pressure. If you give this to your new girlfriend she is going to be very uncomfortable.
- Fitness club membership. You might as well just tell her she’s out of shape :-) If she’s already a member of a club and you get her an extension to her membership that might be ok. But only if she has already hinted that she wants to continue. It’s another one of those “be careful” gifts.
- Household appliances. A vacuum for Valentine’s Day. I don’t think so. I remember once my father bought my mom a broom for mother’s day. Oh…the look on her face when she opened it. Let’s just say it was mighty quiet around the house for a couple days.
- Artwork. Unless the person receiving the gift has requested a particular piece of artwork, it’s best to stay away. Would you like to be the owner of a nicely framed picture of wild horses running loose in the plains of the mid-west? Maybe you would if you were a cowboy. But most people wouldn’t.
- Pictures of yourself. Maybe if you’re giving your mother a picture of your family. But who really wants a picture of someone else in their family? Every year I get a picture of my brother-in-law and sister-in-law dressed in some kind of confederate army garb…ugh…They are all stacked up in my basement and every time they come to visit we find ourselves frantically digging them up and finding a place to put them in the house. Don’t give pictures of yourself to anyone.
- A gift that brings you more enjoyment than the receiver. You like to golf, she doesn’t. So you give her a gift of a golfing weekend at a really nice golf club. Who is going to enjoy that gift more? Her or you? I think you know the answer to that question. Don’t be selfish. You’re buying a gift for someone, make them happy.
There you have it. Our list of not so great gift ideas. Some of the gifts are actually good things to get, as long as you’re getting it for the right person. Just use some common sense, check out our site often for our gift ideas and make sure the loved one in your life gets the kind of gift they deserve.
Happy shopping!
