Ten Things Never To Give As A Christmas Gift

Buy Good Gifts!

Last week I suggested that Toys Make Great Christmas Gifts. This week I will help you avoid making a big mistake by providing a list of things you should not buy for someone as a Christmas gift.  Most are obvious but there is always that one person who needs a little help with common sense.

• A live animal such as a dog, cat or pony unless it is your child and you had a lengthy discussion with your spouse
• Money. As in cash, greenbacks, dough, Federal Reserve notes, cabbage or whatever else you call the green and grey paper currency. I know gift cards are popular and I am ok with going that route if it is a person that you do not know real well. A gift card can at least seem like you gave some thought. Unless it is a Visa gift card then that is the same as money.
• Something too practical like 5 quarts of oil for your dad or a new vacuum sweeper for your wife. I hope you understand.
• Something the person doesn’t want and you know it. For example, buying me tickets to Cirque Du Soleil.
• Anything age inappropriate. A classic example of this is a Red Ryder BB Gun for a 5-year-old. You’ll shoot your eye out!
• Something that you should know is insulting. An example of this is buying a diet book for your wife.
• Clothing that is even remotely on the cutting edge of high fashion. A nice conservative tie or sweater vest is always welcomed by me (Hint).       Just don’t get me something that they wear in music videos. Do they have music videos anymore? Don’t force your avant-garde sense of fashion on boring old me.
• Hard liquor for a wine drinker or vice versa. You may like wine but if your recipient is a Scotch drinker you are wasting your time and money. This is similar to the item above.
• A gag gift. Maybe a gag gift is ok for someone at work who is turning 40 but don’t do it for Christmas for anyone – ever.
• Something that is noisy or will make the house a mess unless it is for your kid. An example is a toy lawn mower or chain saw, or a 250 pack of Army men. I know the Army men were on the list of greatest toys of all time but have you ever stepped on one? As far as the noise makers go, let me tell you a story about my dad and what happens when you run around with a toy lawn mower when 60 minutes is on TV…

I hope it is not too late to take that bad gift back. Have a great week and Merry Christmas to all.

 

Advertisements