My Munny

It’s better to give than to receive. However, it is painful to receive a gift that you only pretend to like!

Have you received a gift that made you question your relationship with the giver and feign excitement upon receiving it? We just got out of the season of giving - that means some release of the stresses of gift wrapping and exchanging of presents. As you prepare to start dumping out gift wrappings - what gifts did you receive, and what did you give? Which gift needs to go in the trash, and what are your thoughts about gifts for valentine's day or birthdays?

A little advice: If you want to shop around for a gift, find one that you know the person will love, appreciate, and use. Need any ideas on what not to get? Here are nine not-so-good gifts to cross off your list.

Remember, a pet is a lifelong companion. Unless someone, specifically told you to get her/him a pet, don't waste your time and money to buy a pet as a gift. Aside from the care and attention pets deserve, they are expensive to maintain.
There's also the possibility of allergies will you do a survey before purchasing the pet to find out who is allergic to what? (LOL!)
Whether you buy, adopt, or rescue a pet for a friend, remember that such a gift is a lifelong commitment. If they are pet lovers and already have pets, you might consider getting them a pet basket - one filled with treats and accessories, a custom pet pillow, or a pet portrait. Other than that, buying a whole dog or cat without asking questions might be a waste of time and money.

You don’t want to send the wrong message, do you?

While this is a nice gesture and might even put a smile on your face, the persons receiving cleaning supplies as a gift from you are going to think otherwise. They won't like it!

When you offer cleaning supplies as a gift, it shows people that the person giving the gift is, simply, not nice!

To avoid sending the wrong message, check this off your list, and find something else to give.

In fact, if you're going to give someone a true gift, why give them a gift that will result in housework?

People are body-conscious. An exercise equipment gift can send the wrong message.

It is easy for the receiver to think that she or he needs to lose weight. If that is the message you are trying to send, do not do it under the guise of a holiday, birthday, or romantic gift.

Do not offer people scales and dumbbells unless they, specifically, asked you for it, and unless you are trying to look really dumb.

Try to avoid giving presents that conveys the message, “you could look better...or why don't you lose some weight." That message is offensive, awkward, and could lead someone to feelings of depression. Offer a gift that brightens someone's day, not one that makes them think you are mean and inconsiderate.

It's better not to get personal when it comes to buying a gift for someone, especially if that person is someone you work with. Imagine unwrapping a set of underwear or briefs from a colleague, your boss, or even a subordinate.

What will be your honest reaction? What do you think will be theirs?

As tempting as it might sound, and as much as you might want to help your friends stop wearing parachutes for undies, please - avoid any gift that "touches the body" or that people wear under their regular clothes.

Do not buy drawers for other people! Buy them for yourself! Would you want your neighbor's spouse buying draws for your spouse as a gift? Think about it.

If the recipient has no interest in visiting the place the gift card is from, it will end up collecting dust in her/his wallet.

Most gift cards are free money to spend in a specific place. If you prefer McDonald's to Starbucks, you are likely never to use a gift card from Starbucks. Would you want someone to give you a gift card for a boat show or for a yam baking contest?

If you must get a gift card, be certain that the user will have an interest in spending the funds on the card at the specified place.

Otherwise, you are wasting your money, or you could appear as controlling or someone that puts too much pressure on people to buy from your favorite places.

Cold cash from your pocket to someone's hand is not a good gift, although the recipient might appreciate it.
It is better to give cold cash in an envelope, with the intentional purpose of showing the recipient that you care, and that you wanted them to pick their own gift.
That's not to say that you shouldn't give teenagers cash in their hands in fact, they might prefer that. But make sure you are close to the teenagers you hand cash to. Don't go around the neighborhood handing random cash to random people that would be foolish.
If all you have is cash, put it in a nice envelope for crying out loud don't go from your pocket to the recipient's hand, because that is tacky!

MY MUNNY

Spending time on the issues that matter!

9 horrible gifts you should not give to people!

by Judith Abani

1. Pets

Not a good gift!

2. Cleaning Supplies

Not a good gift!

3. Exercise Equipment

Not a good gift!

4. Underwear

Not a good gift!

5. Gift Cards

Not a good gift!

6. Cold Cash

Not a good gift!

7. Scented Candles

Not a good gift!

8. Sweaters and Socks

Not a good gift!

9. An Old Gift From Last Year

Not a good gift!