35 Christmas Gift Fails That People Found Insulting Or Thoughtless

Planning the perfect gift takes preparation. When you personalise a present to the recipient’s needs, it shows a deeper understanding and reflects the closeness of the relationship. It’s a meaningful way to reaffirm how important that bond is. Still, some gifts can feel rushed, thoughtless, or even outright insulting.

This list highlights people who had the misfortune of receiving gifts that were not only disappointing but also actively offensive. Read on to discover some truly terrible Christmas presents that left people feeling misunderstood, unseen, or like the punchline of a very cruel joke.

#1

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An essential oil candle making kit – I suffer from migraines and scents are a trigger, especially those. And the gift giver knew that.

#2

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Was invited to participate in the $25.00 gift exchange game at work. I got stuck with a Walmart brand sponge that had a clearance sticker on it. I’m still bitter

#3

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My catholic step-family was never good to me because I’m not catholic and was born out of wedlock. my first Christmas with them, they gave me a lump of coal. literally. in front of about 30 people. I was 10.

#4

I got a hand and stone massage gift card to use on my birthday. Birthday came, and I was excited to use it after a summer of oncology treatment. The staff told me that the person that gave me the card had already redeemed it online.

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#5

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A yard of random fabric and a heart-shaped wreath made of straw when I was like 9. I had never shown interest in any fabric crafts, and I have no clue what the wreath had to do with it.

#6

My family flew across the country to visit my aunt. I turned 8 during that trip. She gave me some used office supplies (a used legal pad, some post-its and a tape dispenser). I was a polite kid and just said thank you. Then she said “ok you passed the test, you’re grateful because it’s the thought that counts. Now give them back, I need them for work”. And no, there was no follow up gift.

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#7

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I was given a bible despite them knowing I’ve been pagan all my life. They said “I needdd guidance”

#8

Work gave me a gift card then said gift card was taken out of my next check.

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#9

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Worst Christmas we ever had, we were barely able to scrape together a couple gifts for each kid and nothing for each other. My brother and SIL sent us a book on how to manage debt. Not gonna lie, I cried off and on the whole day…..

#10

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A brand new, super nice crockpot. I was then told that I didn’t really need that big crockpot, so here, you take our used one and we’ll keep the nice new one.

#11

For my quinceñera my godparents got my sister and I necklaces her name was spelled right my name was spelled Lisa ( my name is laisa)… my mom made me wear it for pictures, she didn’t want them to think I was ungrateful. So my quincena pictures the necklace is visible and so is my misspelled name 🤦🏻‍♀️

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#12

When I was turning 15, my mom started asking me about two weeks before my birthday if I wanted an aquarium. I made it very clear. I did not want an aquarium because I did not want fish because I did not want pets because I did not want to take care of them. She asked me every day for two weeks and I very clearly said no. Guess what I got for my 15th birthday 🤦‍♀️it wasn’t the gift itself. It was the BS associated with it that makes it the worst.

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#13

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I copier/printer/fax machine. I didn’t have a computer at the time, but they had just bought one.

#14

Told my ex how I’m EXTREMELY picky when it comes to perfumes and that I have to smell and choose them myself. Guess what he bought me for a bday gift?

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#15

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A printed copy of his Facebook profile pic.

#16

The guy I was seeing, stopped by the liquor store before we were going to exchange gifts and picked me up a bottle of wine. I don’t drink wine. I got him a gift that I had bought months before that I knew he was going to love. Afterwards, I found out that the other woman he as seeing (unbeknownst to me) got some very special, heartfelt gifts. Still hurts when I think about it.

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#17

When I received nothing on Christmas after gifting my family everything they wanted.

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#18

an 0 balance gift card to Sephora. I told them it was empty and they didn’t do anything either

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#19

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An anti-aging cream for 60+ people while i’m 17💔

#20

My bf bought me king size sheets for my bed except I had a queen size bed. He had a king bed. He bought me sheets for his bed because I slept in it sometimes. 🤦🏻‍♀️Married him and accepted he is the worst gift giver ever

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#21

I don’t know if this is the worst, but it did kind of suck. I bought something for myself left it at someone’s house and months later after I had forgotten about it, they gifted it to me. I asked them if it was something I had left at their house and they said no. The receipt was in the bag and it had my credit card number on it.

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#22

My then husband bought “me” 4 towels for Christmas. There were 5 of us in the family. Guess who didn’t get a new towel to dry off with..

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#23

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My x mother in law got me maternity clothes. I was not pregnant 😬

#24

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I was once gifted a trash can. From my now ex-mother in law. Everyone else got iPads, video games, makeup, etc. I got a plastic black trash can with the goodwill sticker still stuck to the bottom. 😀

#25

My husband gave me a scale for Christmas

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#26

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A USED children’s coloring book. Received from my dad’s mother when I was in high school.

#27

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I received a curling brush that had hair stuck in it. From mil

#28

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My sister in law gave me a bag of flour because “I loved biscuits so much”. I don’t even like biscuits. Still used the flour though

#29

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My grandma gave me one pound weights and then asked for them back about six months later

#30

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My ex gave me a chip of paint from a coach bus he was working on because it’s expensive paint and therefore expensive gift.

#31

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My ex gave me a bunch of fabric and said “I know you love to sew. you can make me clothes.” 😭

#32

Im 48 and my mom got me Lincoln Logs for Christmas last year!

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#33

I received a crock pot from my boss. I could tell it had been used cause it had dried food on the bottom if it. Yuck! I threw it away.

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#34

my mom tried to give me life insurance for my 27th bday, but with her as the beneficiary, not my wife… “happy birthday, if you die i get money” 🙃 i refused to sign the forms. so she gave me eagle-engraved real silver boullions instead. equally weird.

Image source: claire crosby