Exchanging gifts is an integral part of Christmas celebrations, along with enjoying mouth-watering delicacies and getting together with loved ones. Finding the perfect Christmas gift involves understanding the recipient’s requirements and tastes and sticking to a budget range. One should also ensure that the gift is appealing and serves a specific purpose for the recipient. There are certain Christmas gifts that are almost always returned by recipients and should be avoided.

Clothes
Gifting clothes for Christmas may be a slippery slope, as one needs to find outfits of the right size and consider the other person’s preferred type and style of clothing. Understanding the recipient’s fashion sense and dress size is crucial if one wishes to gift outfits. Lack of knowledge regarding any of these aspects may lead to the recipient returning or exchanging the gift.

Home decor
Decorating a home is a highly personal experience and should be primarily dealt with by the homeowner. Thus, while buying a home decor piece may be a sweet gesture, it entails the risk of the gift being returned if the recipient does not prefer the particular type or style of home decor item gifted to them. If one still wishes to buy it as a Christmas gift, it is best to ask the recipient what type of home decor item they would like or require.

Video games
Buying video games for a gaming enthusiast is ostensibly the best idea for Christmas. But studies have shown that most video game enthusiasts purchase bestselling and much-awaited video games immediately after they are released. So, chances are that the recipient already has the particular video game one plans to gift. In other case, one may end up gifting a video game that the recipient is not inclined toward, increasing the likelihood of the gift being returned. It is a better option to present someone a gift card or a gaming console or accessory rather than a video game.

Footwear
The perfect pair of footwear is essential to complete one’s look. But buying it as a gift involves several considerations, including the recipient’s shoe size, preference, requirement in terms of the type of footwear, and comfort level of the shoes. Trying on a pair of shoes before buying them is essential to avoid problems due to differences in sizes. Thus, presenting someone a gift card to an e-commerce website or brand offering footwear is a great idea this Christmas.

Crockery and glassware
Many people believe that gifting someone glassware or a crockery set is an excellent idea for Christmas, as these are visually appealing and have considerable utility. However, crockery and glassware have become extremely common gifts, to the extent that many of these sets are exchanged or returned, or, in worst cases, tucked away into kitchen shelves, never to be used. So, it is best to avoid gifting someone crockery and glassware this Christmas.

Electronic items
Gadgets like smartphones, laptops, and iPads may be incredibly valuable gifts for individuals requiring any of these. But, in many cases, one may end up gifting a gadget that the recipient does not currently require. It is also possible that the recipient does not prefer electronic items offered by specific brands. Thus, if one chooses to gift someone a gadget, it is important to know whether the recipient requires it and if it is from the person’s preferred brand.

DVDs and DVD players
At one point in time, DVDs and DVD players used to be highly useful gifts. However, in today’s era of digital video streaming platforms, DVDs have become redundant and may not serve one any purpose. Therefore, gifting someone a subscription to their preferred OTT platform may be a much better idea than buying them DVDs or DVD players.

Jewelry
Buying jewelry or a jewelry set is usually a good idea, as these perfectly integrate esthetics and utility. However, it is possible that one may not prefer to wear certain types of jewelry. There is also a probability that the recipient already owns the jewelry piece or set one is planning to gift. Further, each one’s taste and fashion sense are different; therefore, one may find a certain jewelry piece too exuberant or too bland. It is best to avoid gifting jewelry unless one is absolutely certain what the other person would prefer.

Sweets
Sweets like gums, candies, and chocolate bars have been classified among the most returned Christmas presents. Some individuals may not eat sweets due to health reasons, whereas others may simply return or pass on sweets because they do not like the taste of particular candies or chocolates. Further, sweets are not gifts that one can preserve as memories. A more long-lasting item would be a better Christmas gift than eatables.

Scented candles
Although scented candles are immensely popular as Christmas gifts, one cannot always be sure of the scent or fragrance that the other person likes. For example, the recipient may find a certain fragrance too overpowering or too mild for their taste. Gifting an air freshener or a scent diffuser is a better idea than presenting scented candles.

Baby clothes
Clothes for babies are among the most returned Christmas presents, mainly because of differences in size. Babies may also outgrow their clothes quickly as they age. Thus, gifting baby clothes may not be the best idea.