10 From GEM: Valentine’s Day Edition... Worst Valentine’s Day Gifts

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10 From GEM: Valentine’s Day Edition… Worst Valentine’s Day Gifts

By AlexisWalker / February 12, 2013 / 1 Comment

Creative Commons/anokarina

10 From GEM:
Valentine’s Day Edition… Worst Valentine’s Day Gifts

There are a lot of ways that gift giving can go terribly wrong. You would think a day marked for love wouldn’t fall under this category, but Valentine’s Day takes a big hit in the bad gift department. You’ve probably heard or few horror stories; you might even have one of your own. But keep reading about some the truly awful gifts that just seem to keep popping up.

1. ANYTHING UNROMANTIC

Creative Commons/Alan Cleaver

Valentine’s Day is about romance! Even if you need a toaster, an alarm clock, or a spice rack, February 14th is not the day to receive one. You can buy those for yourself anytime. If you have the unromantic type in your life, this is no time for dropping hints. Be direct and tell him what you want.

2. A CACTUS

Creative Commons/dearaujors

Really? Out of all the beautiful varieties of plants in the world, a cactus? A prickly plant does not exactly say, “You are loved.” Heck, it doesn’t even say, “I like you.” We’ll play Freud for a moment here. Maybe it suggests you’re a prickly person?

3. GIFT CARDS THAT
DON’T DELIVER

We’re not knocking all gift cards. If the receiver is finicky, a gift card might be a good idea. But we know someone who got a $20 gift card for massage services. 20 bucks doesn’t get you through the door of even the worst day spa. The point is this: if it’s a Valentine’s Day gift, you shouldn’t have to pay for any part of it.

4. A PICTURE OF HIM

Creative Commons/draken413o

You should have a picture of your sweetie-poo in your wallet, your desk at work, or your nightstand. But it’s a little strange for him to make that your gift. A framed photo (that he gives you) says, “You love me so much, you should look at me when I’m not around.” Or maybe it says, “I’m always watching you.” Either way, it’s weird.

5. DINNER AT A
CHAIN RESTAURANT

There are a lot of great chain restaurants. The writer of this article prefers the fajita trio at Chili’s over her own cooking any day of the year—except Valentine’s Day. What’s romantic about eating where the toddler one table over is throwing chicken nuggets on the floor? If money is an issue, there are plenty of local restaurants that have meals that are priced about the same as your town’s Applebee’s.

6. GYM MEMBERSHIP

Creative Commons/floating_zen

What is your suitor trying to say with this one? That you need to lose weight? That you could use more muscle tone? That there’s nothing lovely about your love handles? There really is no good way to give or receive this gift.

7. FREE STUFF

Creative Commons/dustpanalley

Free is good, right? There’s buy-one-get-one-free, free will, free enterprise. You would think you can’t go wrong with free, but that’s not always true when it comes to giving a Valentine’s Day gift. This is bad free: a leftover T-shirt from the office golf tournament or a power drill with the purchase of a snow blower. This is good free: a diamond necklace or dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

8. PETS

Creative Commons/naomiwiz

Kittens and puppies are so adorable. However, they’re bad gifts for a person who doesn’t want a pet, who doesn’t have time for one, or who is allergic to furry creatures. Pets need an owner who is dedicated to their care, not one who is plotting how to get rid of them.

9. “YOUR PRESENT IS IN MY PANTS”

Creative Commons/clickinmum

Um…no. Just…no. This does not need explanation.

10. NOTHING AT ALL

Creative Commons/cpdulis

This is probably the worst of all. It’s a very bad sign if you really want some kind of acknowledgement on this day and receive none. It’s not about whether your guy has a lot of money to spend. With a bit of creativity, heartfelt gifts can be very inexpensive. Creativity requires thought and it’s the total lack of thought that should be bothersome.

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So how ’bout it? We’re dying to hear all about the worst Valentine’s Day gifts you’ve ever received!