From Re-Gifts To Utter Insults, Here’s 30 Christmas Presents That Ruined The Holiday Spirit

Look, if you’re stressed about gift-giving, you wouldn’t be the first, and you definitely won’t be the last. In fact, 56% of people admit they feel this way—especially parents with young kids (66%), millennials (64%), and women (64%). But that doesn’t mean you should give up entirely and settle for something completely random, because honestly, that’s probably not much better or sometimes even worse than giving nothing at all.

Instead, you can dedicate some time to becoming a better gift-giver. Of course, some might say that only people with a natural talent for it can be any good, but I believe it’s a skill anyone can learn. If you’re willing to put in the effort, that is.

If I had to boil it down to one thing, I’d argue that the ability to choose fabulous gifts comes from having a good sense of context. A gift doesn’t need to be expensive to stand out—even something as trivial as a box of matches can feel perfect when it fits the occasion. What I’m saying is, if you’re picking out something for someone you know fairly well, it should ideally carry a bit of personal meaning.

A set of matches can go from being an awfully cheap and degrading gift to something magical if it’s the same one your mom used before moving to a different country and thought she’d never find again. A toothbrush might seem like a terrible choice—until it’s a sleek, high-end version that comes in a case with printed initials.

During the holidays, I once gave my dad a keychain for his car keys after he’d spent weeks complaining that he couldn’t find one that didn’t look silly. I had a personal message engraved on it, and he absolutely loved it. Later, when he took his car in for maintenance, the mechanic noticed the keychain and remarked on how sweet it was, which made the gift feel even more special.

Perhaps the best way to capture this idea is with one word: sentiment. Rodney Perry, digital creator, cultural critic, and founder of the Simply King podcast, sees it as the heart of any memorable present.

“I believe this applies to anyone with any connection,” says Rodney, who takes pride in being a thoughtful gift-giver. “If you can’t think of the perfect gift, use this method: give two gifts—one that’s sentimental, and another of relative value.”