When it comes to gift-giving, it can be tricky because you often do not know what to get someone for a special occasion unless they tell you. That is why you tend to grab a gift card from somewhere, and that is not so bad, especially when it comes to you giving a gift to someone who you don’t know very well. A gift card is a good gift for a co-worker or an online friend. However, it is not a good gift to give a family member or a close friend. You would ask them what they want anyway! However, there are some gifts that are downright insulting. Let’s go over the most insulting gifts:
Cash
Never give cash as a gift to anyone. You are better off giving them a gift card that has the same value of the cash you would give. At least they could get what they want at a store they like. But when you give them cash for a gift, you are not putting any real thought into anything they could potentially want. If you do not know what to get someone for a birthday, Christmas, or any other special occasion, and they don’t tell you, then you are better off giving them a gift card than cash. Cash is not the only insulting gift you can give someone.
Books That They Would Not Like
It is one thing to give someone a book gift if it is a good book that you know they would enjoy. Or, if the book is one about their interests they would like. However, if you get someone a random book, that is insulting. Therefore, it is never a good idea to give someone a book as a gift that you do not know very well. Go back to the gift card idea if you do not know what to get them. If you get a book about something that insults them, it will only sit on their shelf collecting dust. There are also extremely insulting gifts you could give that go beyond cash and books that they would not have an interest in at all.
An Activity
If you want to spend time with someone for their birthday and take them out skating or bowling, that is not a gift. That is insulting. Is your time with them worth a gift? If so, then you would not consider that individual as a friend. When you present them a gift by telling them that you will go bowling with them, it is like making it clear to them that spending time with them is a chore. Now, if you were to arrange an activity with a celebrity they love for a gift, then that would be different and very appropriate. But face it, you are not a celebrity as you are supposed to be a friend or even an acquaintance.
Clothing
Do not give anyone clothing as gifts unless it is for a friend, co-worker, or a family member who has a baby or a grandbaby. That is different. But otherwise, do not give clothing as a gift. That will be highly insulting. What if you get something for someone that is the wrong size and is the style that they don’t like?
Data also shows that food, household items, personal care items, and electronics are also rude gifts to give. However, the ones mentioned above are high up on the insulting scale. Once again, if you are not sure of what to get someone as a gift, go and get them a gift card because it shows you thought of them and there is some effort into doing that.
