What not to give this Christmas

It’s the thought that counts, we always say. The question that follows is how much thought do you give to the gifts you give?

A gift that’s not given much thought betrays laziness on the part of the gift-giver.

Here are some gift ideas to steer clear from.

Mugs

Ever notice how coffee mugs in the store shelves magically multiply in number come Christmas time? There’s your cue. It’s a popular gift item. Too popular. Some mug makers even place their creations in boxes for easy gift-wrapping. Don’t get swayed. A boring gift in a fancy box is still boring.

Stuffed toys

Teddy bears, bunny rabbits, kittens, puppies, they’re all cute. But it’s likely that your female friend already has more than enough in her collection. Why give her something that won’t fit in her shelves?

Candles

Make no mistake about it, there are a lot of nice-looking candles out there, but really, you should steer clear of this as a gift item. It’s just too painfully predictable.

Picture frames

Have you ever given one of these to a friend, gone to his house, and found your gift nowhere in sight? Take the hint. See, you have to keep in mind that a picture frame, aside from being too common a gift item, has to match the interior of your friend’s home. If it doesn’t, he won’t use it.

Calendars or planners

Not so much cliché, as impractical. Your friends in the corporate world are likely to receive desk calendars and planners from their clients and suppliers, so why give them another? Also, more and more people nowadays are relying on their computers, smartphones, and tablets to organise their to-do lists, effectively pushing planners out of their list of needs.

• Information obtained from www.manilastandardtoday.com.