Why Santa Why? Gifts No One Wants to See This Holiday Season

There are two great article about bad gift ideas appearing this season on Associated Content: Five Terrible Gift Ideas for the Holidays, and also Nine of the Worst Holiday Gifts Ever. Both of these funny, honest and inspiring articles inspired me to write an article on gifts no one wants to see this holiday season.

Gift giving is tricky. Some people are good at it and others are just not great at it. There is no rhyme or reason to it. As there can be good gift givers and bad gift givers in the same family - perhaps this is a learned trait and not a genetic one? It would be very interesting if someone did a study on this. But in the meantime we are just going to have to help each other out.

To protect the innocent (and the not-so), this article does not mention any gift giving situations that have actually taken place. But each of these items has been inspired by actual gift giving that has happened during holiday times. Let us learn from what others have done before us - and try to give gifts that make the holiday season merry and bright for others.

So what gifts do you not want to see this holiday season? Probably some of these...

Self Help Books. While your aunt may have thirty pounds to lose, Christmas is not the time to give her the latest diet book (unless of course she has specifically asked for this book). Off-limits as well are books about better communication in your marriage, how to be a better parent, how to be a better lover, friend or any other type of relationship you can think of. Christmas is not the time to send someone a hint that they need to change something about themselves. Even if it is a great book that would offer them lots of tips that would help them improve their lives - chances are they will be offended and not appreciate your, uh, gift.

Fruitcake or Generic Holiday Treats. Now who doesn't love fruitcake? Okay, okay, the hands can come down. We get it. The same goes for those sugar cookies you make out of a mix, or the cookies you slice straight out of the grocery freezer. Here's a tip: if you don't like baking, skip it and let others enjoy this part of the holidays. Holiday treats are probably one of the most welcomed gifts during the holidays that people look forward to every year - but remember that if it doesn't sound delicious to you, then it probably isn't.

Get Everyone The Same Gift. Here's a neat trick. Why not cut down on your holiday shopping stress and get everyone the same gift? The same fleece glove and scarf set but in different colors, or the same mug with hot chocolate. Why not? Well, for starters, those in your life you give gifts to may very likely compare notes on what they got this year for gifts and they may be slightly offended that you thought to give everyone the very same gift this year. If there is truth in that old saying "it is the thought that counts" then this gift shows that you thought of them - very little.

Final Sale Items. You say its seventy percent off? Eighty? Sounds like a great deal. But gift giving means sometimes you give someone something they decide to return. Imagine the person's expression when they discover that the item is 'final sale' and cannot be returned. Shop Final Sale items only if it looks like a real 'slam dunk' of an item - and you have a real strong feeling that the person is going to like it.

Bad Regifting. What is regifting? Well that's when you give someone something that you have already been given. What is bad regifting? Bad regifting is giving someone an item that they gave you last holiday season, or giving someone a very old gift item. Good regifting is giving someone a gift that you got that you know the person will actually like. Say you got a holiday purse from someone at work, it is decorated with candy canes in sequins and it is the perfect thing to wear to a holiday party. So you give it to your sister, who has four holiday parties to go to this year. That's good regifting.

Don't "Should"On Someone. This follows along the lines of the Self Help book theory. The holidays are not the greatest time to go about changing your family, friends and other loved ones. If you have a family friend who is a football nut, don't go buying him a chess set in an attempt to change his habits. If you have a family member that loves to spoil their dog, don't get them a book or video on dog obedience. If your gift comes with a secret message that this person "should" be doing something, then you are "should-ing" on them. Would you like to be "should-ed" on this year? I think not!

Hard-to-use-Gadgets. With our cell phones and PDAs and IPODs, we live in a very gadgety society. Chances are you are going to be buying some high tech things for the holidays. But it is bad form to buy someone you care about a gadget that is hard to use. Do you really want to get them a digital camera that they need an instruction book the size of the Chicago telephone book in order to actually use it? Probably not. Look for items that are easy to use. If you can't figure out how to use it in the store, then it is not a great sign that the person you are giving it to will be able to figure out how to use it themselves.

Things You Get For Free. If you are female and wear makeup or perfume of any type then you are probably familiar with the gift with purchase. If you are male and reading this you are probably sitting there saying huh? Cosmetic and perfume companies will often give gifts with purchase, especially at the holiday time. And often the person who rings you up will say "this can make a great holiday gift". Well don't. If you got it for free then it is going to look like you got it for free. Even if it is great cosmetics or perfume, most women know about the gift with purchase deal and they are not going to be so impressed that you thought to give them your little freebie. It shows that you thought of them - very little. So any type of gift that you would get for free is probably off-limits.

Now what can you do to select a gift someone will love? There are some very simple things you can do that always seem to work:

Think of what the person you are giving a gift to - and what they like to do and other things they like (hobbies, activities, other things that would describe them)

Talk to the person - just to find out what is new in their life, not to ask them what they want for the holidays. This conversation could inspire you to come up with a great gift idea.

Search the internet using their hobbies and interests as guidelines. Be sure to check places like online auctions and associations, you never know what you will find!

Happy holidays!