There are not too many of us who deliberately go out to buy the worst gift imaginable (even though at times we feel like we would like to).
Most of us spend countless hours deliberating over what we are going to buy for whom.
Agonizing over every little nuance: •will they appreciate what we got them? •What do they like? •Will they like the present/? •Is it too expensive (is it too cheap?) The list just goes on and on.
It is always amusing to me when I come across lists of things that have gone wrong.
The silent gasp, the thank goodness I didn't do that feeling that I get when I read the horror stories of others.
Hopefully the following list will help you steer through the minefield of what to give this holiday season.
At least you will know what not to give...
Here are six gifts not to give: 1.
Giving them an item that is a subtle (or not so subtle) hint at how you would like them to change, even if they ask for the item.
Things like weight loss books,stop smoking books, anything by Dr Phil or Oprah,memory improvement tapes, hypnosis tapes for self improvement, you get the idea.
Generally you are giving them the idea that they are fat, stupid and unable to develop and keep relationships.
This type of gift often causes depression and pain, the exact opposite of what you intended.
Not a good feeling for the holidays.
2.
The second type of no go gift is the one that says you put zero thought into buying the gift.
Chocolates for diabetics, a steak house voucher for a vegetarian, you get the idea.
If you need to buy for someone you are unfamiliar with perhaps a gift card from somewhere like Wal-Mart or Amazon, may be more appropriate.
3.
Coffee table books - way to big and cumbersome and let's face it, who has room on their coffee table for anything, let alone another huge book??Books are getting smaller and smaller, a lot of people are opting for electronic books that they can take anywhere.
I say no more.
4.
When buying your gift, make sure that it is something that the recipient can exchange or refund if it is not suitable.
Don't give them a great pressie from the lower slopes of Nepal if they have no way or swapping it if it is the wrong color, size, shape, or just wrong.
5.
This one, on the surface appears to be quite harmless.
You forget someone's special occasion, haven't had time to buy them a gift, so you scrapple though your own house desperately looking for something, anything.
There it is either a gift to you from someone else or something you purchased for yourself.
My advice is don't do it.
Don't wrap it up and give it away.
The guilt will eventually overwhelm you and it won't be worth it in the long run.
6.
Number six is such an outright bad idea, its amazing that some of us even think of doing it.
It's the one where you buy the present for yourself, hoping they don't like it and will give it back to you.
If you want the item.
Buy it for yourself, not as a gift for someone else.
You will end up buying it twice otherwise.
Remember the golden rule of gift buying:buy for others, the buy for yourself.
You both will be happy!