Bah humbug! 6 Christmas gifts we’re tired of getting each year

“It’s the thought that counts.”

While this adage may certainly be true of any gift you receive, let’s be honest: there are some gifts, especially during the obligatory present-swapping season that is Christmas, that we’ve received one too many times. These are the gifts that often end up collecting dust in a corner of our room – if we haven’t regifted them or sold them at a garage sale, that is.

We asked the following question to our readers, and here are their top answers. If you want to give your loved ones something a little more special than the usual, avoid the following like the plague!

Mugs

Most of the things in this list are given so often because of their practicality. “[Insert loved one’s name here] loves coffee/tea! They could use a mug!” most of us reason. But there are only so many mugs one needs in a day, and unless that mug you gave is something overtly unique, chances are it’ll be relegated to the back of the kitchen cabinet with all the other forlorn beverage holders.

Empty picture frames

Even back in the day when we were still having our film rolls developed at the mall, empty picture frames already seemed like a strange gift to give. Suddenly, you’d need to find a photo to slip inside it, but which one? We get the “sentimental” aspect of the gift, but we’d much prefer that there be a photo inside of it with our special someones instead.

Towels

Towels definitely come in handy; it’s always good to have spares at home just in case. At the same time, they do seem a little unimaginative as a gift; there’s not much you can say when you receive a towel except, “Oh! Thank you!” (Plus, if you live in a small condo, storing them can be a huge hassle.)

Food containers

Speaking of utilitarian, it doesn’t get more practical than the food container. They are definitely useful, and if you’re a neat freak, they’re pretty much a godsend, but like towels, they do tend to take up a lot of space. (We’ll be a tad less Grinch-y if you add some yummy food inside, though!)

Perfume

Perfume is honestly a big no-no. Unless it’s already a fragrance you know the receiver loves or already wears regularly, chances that it might not be hiyang to them is high. Fragrances are very personal – quite literally, as you need time to let your body react to a perfume for you to know if it smells good on you throughout the day. This one’s just too high-risk.

Calendar

Finally, probably the most groan-inducing gift of them all. Yes, like most of the gifts here, they can be quite useful at home or at the office, but there really is something about calendars that say, “Sorry, I had no idea what to give you.” And with the pandemic still very much here, we don’t need another reminder of how our precious days are just flying by.

We know some of these gifts are also the type companies order in bulk as Christmas giveaways, so if you want your gift to really count, and not just the thought behind it, then spend a little more time choosing it! – Rappler.com