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This post was published on December 6th, 2013, by Marie Ann Bailey and me. Since it is close to Black Friday, I figure it might come in handy.
Top Ten Things Not to Do When Buying Gifts for Others
10. If you are buying a gift for a girlfriend, do not plan to give clothes unless you are double-dog sure of the sizes. If you’re lucky, you buy something too small and she feels bad (yet happy) because you think she’s smaller than she really is. If you’re unlucky, you buy something too big and she makes you feel bad for thinking that she’s bigger than she really is.
9. If you are buying a gift for a boyfriend, do not plan to give him one of those latest mechanical gifts from an online gadget store. Best case: he won’t be able to figure out what it is for and will feel stupid. Worst case: he will know what it is for since he already has one.
8. If you are getting a gift for a mother-in-law, do not plan to re-gift something you received from a family member or even a complete stranger. In the best case, you’ll have left the gift receipt in the box with last year’s date. In the worst case, it will be the very gift your mother-in-law gave you two years ago. To make it even more embarrassing, you raved about how perfect the gift was when you got it.
7. If you are buying a gift for a father-in-law, do not plan to give any kind of hat. The best case is that your mother-in-law will tell him he looks ridiculous in it. The worst case is that he will actually like it and wear it just to spite the mother-in-law, and then you will be on the hook for the resulting friction.
6. If you are buying a gift for a spouse, do not plan to give them anything they asked for when you asked what they wanted for Christmas. At best, your spouse will consider the gift as a no-brainer on your part and wonder why you didn’t get something else. At worst, your spouse will have changed their mind, and you now have a new doorstop.
5. If you want to give a gift to a teenager, do not buy anything. Simply provide them with the money you would have spent. If you do buy an unwanted gift, the best you can hope for is an eye roll, followed by the teenager getting a cash refund for it. At the worst, you’ll soon find the gift, with the gift sticker still affixed, at your local thrift store.
4. If you are buying a gift for a co-worker, do not buy any intimate apparel or anything that could be considered personal. In the best case, you will be thought of as “kind of creepy.” In the worst case, you will be explaining to Human Resources what you had intended by the gift.
3. If you are buying a gift for the postal person, do not give anything you have baked. The postal employee is fully capable of putting together their own cookie. At best, you will see your baked goods handed off to the following mailbox on your street. At worst, you will wonder why your mail stopped after the holidays.
2. If you are buying a gift for a white elephant gift exchange, do not buy anything you might not want to take home. The best case is that you manage to avoid being stuck with what you brought. The worst case is that you will be the proud owner of the gift you brought, which you will then have to store away until next year or give to your mother-in-law.
1. If you are buying a gift for your boss, do not try to keep up with his tastes. Simply get a gift card from Amazon and let him pick up a book. The best case is that whatever you give other than the gift card will never cost enough. The worst case is that you might actually spend enough to find out your boss has one of the things you bought. Unless it is a new Ferrari, you will never recover.
Fiction Favorites 
Number 10 brings back memories of a horrible Christmas. I bought my ex-wife a coat. The saleswoman helped me with the size, saying, “This coat is cut different than most (she showed me) and suggested I buy one size bigger than my ex-wife’s known size.” When she opened the box, she focused on the size and was livid. Then, she tried it on, and it was too small.
Great list, I wish I had seen it in the 1970s.
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A double whammie. 😳 I don’t do clothes – Ever
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Good approach.
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Ha ha ha
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Love #5! Fun post.
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Thank you, Deborah. So glad you liked it.😊
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It’s 5 for us. My boys aren’t teens anymore, but I’ve tried for years to stop my mom from buying them things they don’t need or want so she can say she got them something. Most of it wound up at Goodwill. The youngest now keeps a running wishlist on Amazon that makes it easier for everyone.
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We halted all grandkids gifts. Hard to know what they want.
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I’m beginning to think gift cards are the way to go for EVERYONE!
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Might be the best way for sure.
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Except looking at the mound of presents I’ve already bought, I wish I’d thought of that earlier.
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I’m sure everyone will love what you bought them.
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This makes me want to stick to gift cards.
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At some point, that is the best way to go.
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Lol very timely John… and all noted. I think one of the most difficult things is to buy for someone you have been married to for 45 years… if in doubt buy chocolate… hugsx
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That works. A nice assortment of truffles.
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Good advice tips, John. I’m lucky that members of my family send me a list.
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That makes it easier.
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So much truth in this list, John. Lol. I figured out the teenager gift advice the first year I had a teenager. 😀
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That is all it takes
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Hee, hee…good tips for gift-gifting. I think the longer you buys gifts (especially for family members) the harder it gets. I’m starting to think cash cards are the never fail gift that is appreciated. Sure it’s not glamorous but it allows people to get exactly what they want.
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I agree on the gift wear out factor. Gift cards are so pracical.
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Regifting the gift that your mother-in-law gave you. Now that would be funny.
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Especially back to your mother-in-law
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I laughed and laughed at #9. Mom always faced that with Dad, since he was gadget-crazy and she never knew something was popular until he already had it. I kept telling her to stick to golf balls and golf tees, and a nice single malt to go with them.
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Woo. I like the sounds of that myself. (the single malt part) Thanks, Linda.
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That is very good advice. In general, I think it is difficult to buy gifts for adults, especially when they already have everything they want. Money or gift cards for adults outside the family will do. You could always buy gifts for special hobbies, like buying me books and beers always work. Buying books for dogs and children is easy though.
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I’m easy that way too. Thanks, Thomas.
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Very sound advice, John. ‘Tis the season!
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It is on us so fast.
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Zippity doo dah!
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Too zippy. Could take some more doo dah.
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You and me, both!
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😊
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It all gets too complicated for me. If someone wants something there is a six-pack of gifts in the refrigerator. Help yourself.
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Ha ha ha.
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This reminded me of the times I tried not to “trip wire” any bad vibes when it came to having to buy coworkers gifts as part of work “bonding” activities. I loved bringing in food and beverage unsolicited to the office, but when we had to do the Secret Santa or drew for the person to gift for the Holidays, it required way more…too much…thought.
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There was always landmine opportunities with Secret Santa gifts
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Excellent advice, John. I’m in the #5 stage with teenage grandchildren. I miss the years of buying toys!
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It is sad when it comes to an end.
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Yes. Sigh! I’m sure you’ve been there.
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I certainly have,
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🙂
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After reading this list, I am even more thankful of tomorrow, where the only thing I have to sweat is not overcooking anything.
Hope your day is beautiful, Sheriff
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Wishing you a super Thanksgiving, Pilgrim.
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And right back atcha Sheriff
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😊
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Timeless wisdom. You could easily cue it up for a rerun 10 years hence 🙂
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Good idea. I will set a reminder if I’m still here.
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What is your advice when giving a gift to your dog? Best case and worse case.
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Best case, a lasting gift from Kong. Worst case, a dog toy from Target.
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