When it comes to boring gifts, we all know the situation perfectly well. It’s your birthday, Christmas, or some other special occasion, and you’re eagerly tearing open the wrapping paper on a gift from a loved one, a coworker, or a person who happens to be in your social circle. And then...it’s a pair of socks. Or a tie. Or a set of plain office supplies consisting of that tiny little crocodile to remove misplaced staples and a double-sided eraser in the times of everything computers. Of course, you put on a smile and thank them graciously, but inside, you’re thinking, “Really? This is what you got me?”
Now, let’s reverse the situation - you’re in a position to get someone a gift. You choose a mug. And see the very same expression you recognize oh-so-well from your own experience and feel... Well, not so good about your choice. But here’s a cure - you can avoid these situations by learning from the real-life experiences of other people, namely those who shared their stories about receiving the most boring gifts ever on this enlightening Reddit thread.
And you wouldn’t believe (until you read it, that is) what kind of bad gifts these people have received! It only starts with socks, and with socks, you can at least use them, but if you get a VHS of Mariah Carey’s Glitter movie… You only get a trip to a trash recycling plant. And the list of these worst gifts ever goes on and on and on until a point where you cannot believe the human ingenuity in generating the most boring gift ideas.
Right-o, ready to read the stories about the most boring gifts ever that people shared on this awesome AskReddit thread? If so, you know what to do here!
#1
"I bought my girlfriend a plastic washing basket for her birthday. The kids broke one a couple of days before her birthday and she said “What am I supposed to do now” – well, it is someone's birthday coming up! “if you do that I will kill you” – so her birthday comes round and she walks downstairs to a badly wrapped washing basked, it was obvious what it was and she just looked at me “you are such a dick” when she took the wrapping paper off I had filled it with all sorts of things that she likes such as candles and flowers and stuff."
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41points
#2
"My brother-in-law is a mechanic and about 15+ years ago he bought me jumper cables for Christmas. It was a very boring gift but it has saved my butt so many times and I've also been able to help other random people who are stranded too."
29points
#3
"My grandma gets me a notebook and a pen every birthday/Christmas. She's 90 and it's the thought that counts so I'm never unhappy, but c'mon grandma, have you ever seen me use a notebook before?
As I mentioned before my grandma is quite old, so my mom usually gets an extra gift for her to give to me on top of the notebook. My grandma has had trouble picking out gifts for me and my sister since my grandpa/her husband passed away. The notebook is just her way of showing that even know it may only cost 2$, she is still willing to at least try to get me a gift that is solely from her. I don't know if she just consistently forgets that she gave me 10 notebooks already, or thinks I write star trek fan fiction, but either way, I love her for it, and it will be a very fond memory I have of her for the rest of my life."
26points
#4
"My mom got me fish oil pills and a blood pressure machine for my birthday one year. I was turning 26."
callmepebbles replied: "Dude, 26 is the new 102. That could save your life."
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25points
#5
"When I was 8 I was given dishes. Collectible dishes."
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25points
#6
"Thank you cards to send everyone who brought real gifts."
Grintor comments: "Ah, the gift that comes with a chore."
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23points
#7
"I opened a gift from my uncle once, it was a 'Royal Wedding commemorative cup set'. Was weirded out, and just put it on my shelf.
5 years later I was back home visiting my parents when I saw it on my shelf and decided to open it. £50 and a new Xbox 360 game were inside. Sorry uncle."
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21points
#8
"My dad got my mom a plunger for her birthday once. Needless to say, they're divorced now."
21points
#9
My family has sort of stopped celebrating Christmas, as we did when we were little, but now that I and all my cousins are grown up we've started just doing one 'secret Santa with a limit of $50.
Last year, for some reason, my mother got me for secret Santa, and she gave me some sort of special windshield wiper for your car when it gets icy. The problem was (besides the fact that it was already a pretty shit gift) I don't have a car.
I'm actually still pretty pissed about that, simply because I put a lot of thought and effort into my secret Santa, and my own mother phoned it in with something she got at Canadian tire last minute."
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21points
#10
"A bucket of grey paint."
HacksawJimDGN comments: "Mom, this isn't what I meant when I said I wanted 50 Shades of Grey!"
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20points
#11
"Boyfriend got me a multimeter. I was thrilled with it but my mom said he gave me the most boring gift in the universe."
TheMarshallee replied: "Man, multimeters are hella expensive. I wouldn't mind getting another one."
19points
#12
"A soap dish. I received this for Xmas from my uncle when I was 13."
PunnyBanana replied: "The fact that you were 13 is what got me laughing. It's a boring gift for someone who just got a house for the first time. For a 13-year-old though? Absolutely absurd."
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18points
#13
"My grandfather once wrapped up a calendar from a local real estate agent's office. Had their name and ad on it and all. That was pretty bad."
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18points
#14
"When I was 15, I had the chance to go see Rush and Primus in Convert... 90-91 ish.
My mother told me that I could go for my 16th birthday, but that it would ruin ALL the plans she had for my big 16th birthday. So I packed my bags and went on that guilt trip... and did NOT go to the Rush concert.
Day of my birthday, we were walking through Costco, she gives me $35 and says that she was going to get me a briefcase, but decided to just give me the cash.
Still the biggest letdown...
Still have yet to see Rush live.. and I'm 41 now.."
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17points
#17
"One Christmas, I don't know why but my parents got us office stamps.
I remember stamping random stuff in the bathroom and looking back it was hilariously depressing.
It was a really somber holiday but that night my parents caved and got me and my sisters a game cube."
Kaizival comments: "Best Christmas story I've ever read."
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17points
#19
"I received an encyclopedia on fishing from my mum one Christmas when I was 17/18.
I haven't been fishing since I was about 9!"
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16points
#20
"A photo of a can of beans. With no frame."
tyrasbankaccount comments: "I would love an Andy Warhol painting."
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16points