Buzz
The day after Christmas, when the house is quiet, you realize those brown monkey socks and that oversized blouse need to go back to the store, so no one sees you in them! Who would think a bright-orange tie or a plastic mood ring would be a good gift? And so, you rush to the store, wondering why cash wasn't an option.
10. Replicated Toys
With a large family like mine, it's a small miracle this doesn’t happen more often. Despite all the lists we make, my parents, grandparents, and in-laws often go off-script and pick up whatever catches their eye. This leads to gift duplicates, much to the dismay of the kids, who exclaim, 'Hey, we already got this toy!' Hopefully, you saved the receipt.
9. Home Goods
Who thought I would ever want to make pressed sandwiches? Yes, I once received one of those sandwich press machines, which I've used exactly zero times. Unfortunately, I couldn’t return it because it came from a store in another state, so it still sits in my kitchen. And while we're at it, unless explicitly requested, bathroom decor is not the best gift—most people, except for perhaps eighty-year-olds, don't want their bathrooms decked out in lavender. Not ideal.
8. Films
Wow, how did you guess that I was hoping for my very own copy of Mega Force? Oh, fantastic, now I can watch Ed as much as I like! Unless you have an intimate understanding of the person you're gifting, giving a movie can be a risky gamble. More often than not, one person will be left disappointed. Keep that Deluxe Edition of Weekend at Bernie’s Two for your own DVD shelf.
7. Video Games
You're venturing into some very treacherous territory here, my friend. Imagine, just for a moment, that your child has not only meticulously drawn out the cover art for a specific video game on their Christmas wish list but also included a map to where it can be bought. It might be wise to follow those clues. After all, they’ve been asking for this game since Halloween, so presenting them with Sim Paint Dry is just the first step on the fast track to disappointment in your parenting career.
6. Music
Even though you might not be into Modern Punk or Emo music, your teenager might be! I know, Fallout Boy and Panic at the Disco! can be more irritating than a cat stuck in a wood chipper, but for your kid, they’re probably obsessed. If you’ve already had your eardrums blasted by Billy Joel's greatest hits, I recommend taking another trip to the mall.
5. Shoes
Sometimes, your aunt or step-mom gets a little carried away and decides to buy you a fancy pair of shoes for Christmas. Although their hearts are in the right place, you can count on one hand the number of times you’ve actually worn those Zips. To your fashion-blind relatives, though, these shoes are considered ‘cool’ and ‘trendy.’ But after unwrapping them, all you want to do is throw them at her. Thank goodness the receipt is taped to the box, Nana.
4. Spouse-Inappropriate Gifts
Toaster
3. Clothing
Have you ever noticed the worn, black clothes your child ‘wears’ to school? Perhaps you've seen your daughter strolling around in leggings and a denim mini-skirt, topped off with a Green Day T-shirt? Hmm... Maybe that’s where the issue lies. If you're planning to buy your children clothes for Christmas, I suggest taking a peek inside their rooms and simply replicating what you find there. Or, even better, go for gift certificates to Hot Topic.
2. Toys That Are Too Young for Them
Do you happen to have one of those quirky grandmothers, probably deep into her eighties, who insists that her great-grandchildren will always be 2, even when they’re clearly 6? Thought so. Sadly, there’s not much you can do about it since the odds of her remembering your name, or even where the receipts are, are pretty slim. Fortunately, many stores offer credit, so you can exchange that 18-month toy for something that suits your 12-year-old.
1. Something You Really Didn’t Want
More often than not, you're just going to end up with a bunch of random stuff that will never catch your attention again, let alone get any use. There’s simply no space in your life for things like an Ant Farm, a year’s worth of Salves, or a creepy wooden Jesus clock. Find that receipt quickly and treat yourself to something worthwhile.
Contributor: StewWriter
