I’m a shopping expert – the worst Christmas gifts you can ever buy someone and why gift cards are a no-no | The Sun

IT can be tricky trying to think of what to buy people at Christmas, which often creates a lot of added stress.

And while it's easy to grab a gift card or perhaps some perfume for someone, they might not be the best idea after all.

Gift cards

Jonathan Merry, financial expert and CEO at MoneyTransfers.com tells Fabulous that while gift cards can seem like an easy present idea, especially for those who are difficult to shop for, they can be a bit of a risky purchase. 

"For instance, if the retailer goes bust then they usually stop accepting gift cards and there’s not a lot you can do to get your money back," he explains.

"Ever since the pandemic, an increasing number of retailers have gone into administration so it’s not an unlikely scenario either."

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Also, gift cards often have an expiry date so you’re relying on the recipient to remember to actually use it.

"On top of this, gift cards can get lost pretty easily too, so again that’s more money down the drain," he adds.

To prevent any of this from happening, handing out cash instead of a gift card is a much safer option and it means the recipient isn’t restricted in any way.

Perfume or skin care

Jo Threlfall, a savvy shopper and bargain hunter reckons perfume and skincare should always be off the cards.

"If you don't know the person's scent preference it's a bad idea to get perfume," she said.

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The same goes for home toiletries or skincare items -if you don't know much about the person, or what they like, choose something else.

The last thing you want is to spend your money and it goes to waste.

Generic gifts

Perfume gift boxes, slippers and boxed handkerchiefs should be avoided too, says Rita Kastrati, a shopping and trends expert at Twigapp – for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, you run the risk of choosing something that's not suitable for the person you're buying for,because everyone has different tastes.

Plus, slippers and handkerchiefs are a little generic and could appear as though not much thought was given to them.

The person might already have enough handkerchiefs, or a few pairs of slippers, so the present will go to waste.

Animals

"No one should ever give the gift of a cat, dog or hamster," Rita says.

Getting a pet is a big decision, and one to be made as a family. "It should also be thoroughly researched before making a purchase," she adds.

Cleaning appliances

Unless it's something specific someone has asked for, a vacuum cleaner or anything cleaning-related is a big no-no in Rita's eyes.

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"It could be taken as an insult," she explains, so avoid it at all costs.

In addition, "weighing scales or anything that's linked to losing weight" should be avoided too as it could be taken the wrong way.

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