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A must read: Experience the best gift one can find
The Top 10 Gifts You Shouldn’t Buy Your Wife This Christmas
by L. Wang
OK, let’s be honest. Sometimes men are bad at choosing gifts. Your intentions are good, but pick the wrong gift and you send the wrong message. So before you go out and buy a present for your wife, girlfriend or whoever that lovely lady is in your life, be sure to read these gift no-no’s first.
10. Tools. Unless she’s a handywoman or she’s told you her great desire to take out the bathtub and build a new one, I’d save the wrenches for someone else—maybe yourself.
9. A vacuum. Any cleaning or kitchen appliance says, “Honey, clean the house for me.” Your wife or girlfriend wants to be the more than a housekeeper in your life.
8. A badminton racket. If it’s a sport you like but she doesn’t, forget it. To be on the safe side, I’d stay away from any sports equipment, period.
7. Clothes. Now, some men are very good at buying clothes and they know the exact size of their woman. However, you must keep in mind that women are shaped very differently and sizes can vary depending on store. For example, I am a size 5 at one store and a size 7 at another, and I have shirts that are size small or large. To avoid complications, I suggest buying a gift certificate at your wife or girlfriend’s favorite mall.
6. Tickets to the monster truck rally. I have a feeling that I’m in the minority when it comes to women who enjoy monster truck rallies, so if I were you, I wouldn’t even bother lining up for tickets. And yes, this includes the car show, the motorcycle show, the boat show, NASCAR races…OK, you get my point.
5. A box of Christmas cards. You may be thinking, “Why would I ever think of buying that?” but you’ll be surprised. In a conversation about the worst gifts ever, a friend of mine said, “Can you believe that a guy who was interested in me bought me a box of Christmas cards?” If you don’t want to be the subject of such conversations between women, then don’t get her a box of Christmas cards!
4. Quicken. I don’t care if it’s Quicken, Quark, Photoshop or Simply Accounting, Christmas just isn’t the time to buy software for your wife or girlfriend. Wait until you’re both doing your taxes.
3. Socks. Yes, socks are useful, but they’re just not the type of Christmas gift a woman is thrilled about. I don’t feel a need to explain further.
2. Fruitcake. Yes, Christmas fruitcakes last about 12 years, but that’s because nobody eats them. And neither will your wife.
1. Membership to a diet program. Maybe she’s told you that she’s always wanted to join one. Maybe she’s told you that she thinks she’s fat. Does that mean you think she’s not beautiful and won't be until she loses weight? I sure hope not. But that’s exactly what a membership to a diet program says. Exercise videos have the same effect. Men, flee from the infomercials that convince you otherwise! I suggest giving her something that makes her feel special and loved. Be thoughtful about it, and don’t forget to tell her how beautiful you think she is this holiday season.
~L. Wang recently graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.A. in English and is an aspiring journalist who hopes to go overseas to report international news one day. She loves to play hockey and sleep, and thinks the best part of Christmas gifts are the thoughtfully written cards.