9 Holiday Gifts That Aren’t As Useful As People Think

Making decisions can be difficult at the best of times, and even more so when it comes to holiday shopping. But it recently occurred to me that if I find it easier to decide when I have fewer options, I could make my holiday shopping easier by first deciding what not to give!

So I did some research to find out which items get returned most after the holidays. And I’m sharing the results of that research with you, to help make your last-minute gift decisions a little bit easier!

(Note: There are plenty of exceptions to the rule of “what not to give!” For instance, if someone asks for one of these items specifically, then of course you should feel free to give it to them.)

9 Frequently Returned Holiday Gifts (Or: What NOT To Give This Year)

1. Clothes

Clothes and shoes make up over 60% of post-holiday returns. But this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, because it’s hard enough to pick out clothes for yourself, let alone for someone else!

A lot of people have specific tastes when it comes to clothing, and may prefer certain colors, fabrics, styles, and fits. That makes it really tricky to choose a clothing item that someone will truly love wear often, so clothing probably isn’t your best bet if you’re looking for a guaranteed win.

2. Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen appliances can be very hit-or-miss as a gift. Unless you know that someone has been dying to get a specific model, you may end up giving them a bulky gift they didn’t actually want!

And unless you’ve been snooping around someone’s kitchen recently, you also run the risk of giving them an appliance they already have.

3. Tools

Based on the number of tools that are returned after the holidays, they aren’t as great a gift as we think! Unless you are positive that Dad is hoping to get a new drill for Christmas, a gift card that allows him to get what he actually needs may be the better way to go.

4. Home Decor

Decorating your home is a very personal experience, and most people have very a particular style. Instead of trying to pick out the perfect home decor item as a gift, opt for something functional like a cozy blanket.

5. Self-Help Books & Exercise Gear

It’s best to avoid any gift that could be misconstrued by the recipient as a slight against them. For instance, a self-help book may seem like a useful gift, but the recipient may not appreciate it.

The same goes for things like exercise gear, fitness equipment, and gym memberships. Exercise and weight loss are highly personal matters, so unless the person is an unabashed gym rat, it’s safer to avoid giving an exercise-related gift.

6. Hoverboards

Hoverboards have been a very popular gift for the past several years. But when you consider the number of malfunctions, injuries, and recalls since then, it just doesn’t seem worth it!

7. Food & Drink

Unless you know a person well enough to know their eating habits or dietary restrictions, steer clear of food and drink gifts like alcohol, meat and cheese, etc. You don’t want to end up giving alcohol to someone who doesn’t drink, or cured meats to a vegetarian.

8. Video Games

For the most part, people who play video games will buy the games they want to play when they are released. This makes it tricky to give video games to gamers, because there’s a good chance you’ll choose one they either already own, or aren’t interested in playing. (However, few gamers would object to a gift card they can use on their preferred console or gaming platform!)

9. Glassware

Glassware might seem like an appropriate gift for the whiskey aficionado in your life, but they probably already have glassware they like and use at home. And since glassware and other drink accessories frequently get returned, you might be better off taking them out for a drink instead.

Do you have a go-to gift for giving, or a gift that you are always happy to receive?