What to Do with The Bad Gifts You Got at Christmas

Most years my family gets me just what I want, mostly because I go out and buy it, wrap it, mark it “To MOM” from whichever family member would have bought that for me if they had had the time or money to do so.

Throughout the years, though, I’ve received my share of strange gifts, some just plain bad. For example, one year my sister-in-law got me an aquarium of crabs. That’s right. My sister-in-law gave me crabs. Haha. A Holiday hoot.

My sister-in-law, however, thought she was giving me something that I would enjoy. Pets. I was single back then and I suppose she thought I needed something to occupy my time. I thanked her, proving to be a gracious recipient.

After the holidays, I brought the aquarium, crabs and all, to a local pet shop and handed it over. I told my sister-in-law the crabs ran away.

For many gifts, such as pac-man print scarves and sweaters with smiley faces embroidered on the sleeves, a charitable contribution to the thrift shop of your choice is an option. But when you received the gift from a loved one, and they expect to see you wearing it, what do you do?

Option 1) Shrink it in the wash

Option 2) Spill ink on it

Option 3) Claim that a little boy in a wheelchair at the mall went crazy with glee when he saw your pac man scarf and you couldn’t resist giving it to him

Please note: Option 3 does not work for pants or lingerie. 

When Aunt Hattie gives you a print of two turtles kissing and thinks it will be wonderful in the foyer, are you obligated to hang it? The picture is corny and not even a good print. What do you do with that? Aunt Hattie is a frequent visitor. She’ll expect to see it.

Option 1) Bite the bullet and hang it in the foyer

Option 2) Hang it in the kids’ room, claiming they insisted they wanted it there. (Bribe the kids to go along with the story)

Option 3) Claim a little boy with a lisp came to the door raising money for endangered turtles. He saw it and went crazy with glee. You couldn’t resist giving it to him.

Please note: There is a chance, with option 3, Aunt Hattie will purchase another one for you. Be warned.

When you receive a washing machine from your husband instead of the diamond bracelet you expected, or a new set of steak knives from the friend to whom you just gave theatre tickets for the hottest show in town, or a year’s subscription to Ladies Home Journal from your mother when she knows you were expecting a gift certificate from Merry Maids, you do have options.

Option 1) Spill ink on your husband’s favorite sports jersey and tell him to try out the new washing machine

Option 2) Put the steak knives in the closet and re-gift them to your mother next year

Option 3) Tell your friend she has to take your mother to the theatre with her

When you receive those bad gifts for Christmas, don’t let it ruin your holiday. Just remember, there are always options.