The 14 worst holiday gifts for women
It should go without saying that the perfect gift isn鈥檛 the same for everyone: There are men hoping for cologne and women longing for power tools.
But that doesn鈥檛 stop us from having some fun and a contest around truly horrible gifts. Today鈥檚 post is about bad gifts for women 鈥� then it will be the boys鈥� turn.
1. Any appliance she didn鈥檛 ask for
Unless she specifically asked for a waffle maker or blender, don鈥檛 buy her one. Even women who enjoy cooking don鈥檛 want to feel it鈥檚 expected.
2. Clothes
Clothes are a no-no for several reasons. There鈥檚 the size issue 鈥� if you get her something too big, she鈥檒l probably be offended; if you get her something too small, she might feel bad about herself. There鈥檚 also the style issue.
If a wardrobe makeover is what she wants, make a nice card promising to take her on a shopping spree with your cash.
听3.听A framed picture of yourself
This 鈥済ift鈥� is strangely common, based on personal experience and its presence on almost every 鈥渨orst gifts鈥� list out there. Nothing says you鈥檙e self-absorbed like a framed photo of yourself posing like a model. And the picture of yourself when you were 6 years old? That鈥檚 not cute either. Better idea? A picture of the two of you doing something memorable.
4.听Anything that can鈥檛 be easily exchanged
If your significant other absolutely hates the expensive gift you bought her, be sure you can exchange it, for her sake and yours.
5.听Diet or fitness products
Unless you鈥檙e looking for trouble, don鈥檛 buy her anything related to losing weight. The implication is that you鈥檙e not satisfied with her the way she is 鈥� definitely not your intended message.
听6.听Gifts for yourself
Buying her the new flat-screen TV you want and calling it a gift because she鈥檒l use it too doesn鈥檛 work. Give her something she can appreciate and enjoy.
7.听Tickets to sporting events
Your significant other might love baseball or football. But unless she鈥檚 a die-hard fan, skip the tickets to sports events. A better option: tickets to the ballet or a Broadway musical. Bonus points if you go with her; choose something you might not normally attend and she鈥檒l appreciate it even more.
8. Tacky novelties
She鈥檚 not going to be as amused by that singing coffee cup as you were when you spotted it at the store. Unless there鈥檚 an inside joke behind the novelty gift and it鈥檚 in addition to a larger gift, this is a bad idea.
听9.听Perfume
If she asked for Elizabeth Arden鈥檚 newest fragrance, by all means, buy it. Otherwise, stay away from the perfume counter. She might hate the fragrance you choose, or worse 鈥� she might be allergic to it.
10.听Cash
Remember the 鈥淪einfeld鈥� episode in which Jerry gave Elaine cash for Christmas? Elaine got mad, as will the lady in your life if you give her this thoughtless gift.
11.听听Cosmetics (including wrinkle cream)
It鈥檚 almost unbelievable that men buy women wrinkle cream as a听gift. I once heard听about a girl who received wrinkle cream from her boyfriend when she was 22! It鈥檚 also weird to buy a woman makeup. Just stay away from the cosmetics department.
12.听Flowers
Flowers are appropriate at certain times, but the holidays call for something more thoughtful and longer-lasting.
13.听听Last year鈥檚 gift
She loved the one-hour massage you bought her last year, but she鈥檚 expecting something different this year. Even if you have a hard time remembering the details of last year鈥檚 gift, chances are she hasn鈥檛 forgotten.
14.听Candy
Many women love chocolate, but it鈥檚 just not a sufficient gift at the holidays. Use it as a stocking stuffer, and put some more thought into a larger gift she鈥檒l appreciate.
Amanda Geronikos is a writer for听, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.
