If you have met someone new and have contemplated buying a present for Christmas, I urge you to be mindful of what you choose. In some cases, it may even be better to not buy anything at all.
If you have known each other for a short time, a really nice date or special outing may be the way to go. I know some classy people decide to dump their potential relationships to avoid the gift exchange, but it doesn’t have to happen that way!
I have seen gift exchanges derail a new romance simply because the person didn’t know enough about their date. You can misjudge their humor or personal taste and come off looking like a jerk.
Guys, don’t give someone you just started dating lingerie. It’s just lose-lose and way too risky, it’s hard to live down a bad gift purchase like that!
What is the best and worst Christmas exchange you have had?
I can recall this one guy that gave me what I thought was drug paraphernalia but it turned out to be an odd shaped crystal piece. It’s always good when the person can tell what the gift is right away!
Whatever you receive, good or bad, remember to be gracious and say thank you! Even if you have the urge to hurl the empty box at their head. Don’t do it!
By Wise Diva, Misadventures in Atlanta Blog
407 comments Add your comment
AmazonRed™
December 22nd, 2010
11:21 am
2CPTG©--"that dude from da innanet"
December 22nd, 2010
11:21 am
tell me am I cheesy…we have a secret santa type thing today; the chic whose name I drew is a total loser! tombout every other week she calls out; She called out yesterday; so I told the chics who work in admin, if she happens to come in today, to give me a call…broad just came in….how about I ran over to the corner store and bought her ass a pack of cigarettes.
AmazonRed™
December 22nd, 2010
11:22 am
Leggs – The messiest office…in all of ATLANTA?!
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:25 am
2C_ that’s colder than 2day old grits. But I fell ya. lol
AmazonRed™
December 22nd, 2010
11:25 am
We had a white elephant gift exchange at the office. The gifts were ridiculous. One of my co-workers got a book on Justin Bieber. Another got a Clapper, another one got a Snuggie. They were all like this:
The Snuggie got left behind.
I feel their pain a little as folks did have to put in $20 of their own money. Times are too tight to just buy stuff for laughs that no one wants. I’d rather us donate to a toy drive or something next year.
SexyCool
December 22nd, 2010
11:26 am
If someone gave me a gift certificate for one hour of counseling, either they think I have some mental issues or I’m going to think they have some mental issues.
2CPTG©--"that dude from da innanet"
December 22nd, 2010
11:27 am
Fion, ya have to know this chic….straight loser, and a redneck to boot! so Marlboro 100’s it was!
AmazonRed™
December 22nd, 2010
11:27 am
We had a white elephant gift exchange this year. My coworkers are fools.
One ended up with a snuggie, another one got a Cla.pper and another one got a book on Justin Bieber. They were like this at the end:
I kinda feel em. Times are hard and we all had to put in $20 just to have a laugh. I’d rather we contribute to a toy drive or something if we have to spend our own loot.
Celisea...on vacay...changing channels
December 22nd, 2010
11:27 am
Cheesy man…that chick hanging out of work ain’t got nothing to do with the fact that you pulled her name….from where you agreed to purchase a gift. Let management deal with her lazies…go get a decent gift
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:29 am
@ARed ~ yes ma’am. In all of Atlanta. i entered him a contest and he won. It’s horrific, much like the show “Horders.” When he came back from a 2 wk visit to Russia, I went in there and boxed up things and threw away things (which he will never know). Some of my co-workers helped. Mind you, he was not a happy camper, but had to put on a smile cuz the pres/ceo was there when he opened his office. Inside was a table with a contintenal breakfast setup. We couldn’t even get a table in his office before. I was proud but knew he would be upset. IT HAD TO BE DONE. Unfortunately, I’m sad to report it’s back to the way it use to be. Five years later. Mounds and mounds of paper and boxes everywhere. A fire hazard, no doubt, but he can’t change.
blue© - one more day
December 22nd, 2010
11:29 am
@Fion – ihr counseling – hmmm, giving that gift are you prepared for her to slap you? lol, “you calling me crazy now? aww he!! no…(Slaappp)”
@2C – shoulda known she’d show on gift day…but still d@mn, thats cold, lmao
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:29 am
Sexy_ Maybe it could be Spiritual counseling.
2CPTG©--"that dude from da innanet"
December 22nd, 2010
11:30 am
hush C….that is decent! our company is lax as hell, but I’on know NO company that gives smoke breaks every hour….
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:31 am
Maybe she’s a batted woman. Maybe the children need just to talk it out with someone
other than Mom. Just saying.
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:31 am
I knew he couldn’t fire me because I had the blessings of the pres/ceo.
:lol:
He looked like this all day
He was lost!
SexyCool
December 22nd, 2010
11:32 am
Either way…it says that there are *some* sort of issue that this person believes that you have….whether it be financial, marital, mental, whatever.
Celisea...on vacay...changing channels
December 22nd, 2010
11:33 am
2Can…lolol smoke break every hour
Zulu
December 22nd, 2010
11:35 am
Sooo,2Can,how about the monied workmate/ chic..she night u some yet?
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:35 am
I meant battered woman……..
DreamsMaterialize
December 22nd, 2010
11:36 am
ihr counseling – hmmm, giving that gift are you prepared for her to slap you?
blue yeah when she asks “What did the five fingers say to the face?”, you know to duck. lol
Oh, and I told my coworkers I’m not playing Secret Santa again after this year because people cheat and don’t follow directions.
AmazonRed™
December 22nd, 2010
11:36 am
how about I ran over to the corner store and bought her ass a pack of cigarettes.
2Can – Forget coal in her stocking…you gave her tar.
Zulu
December 22nd, 2010
11:36 am
I meant bought u some yet
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:37 am
In my book, nothing wrong with getting help if you need it.
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:37 am
@Fion ~ I must have looked at that word a good 3-4 times.
Dan - Simply...Superior
December 22nd, 2010
11:37 am
@Red
Try E-bay, get them dollars up before Christmas.
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:38 am
Good one, ARed!
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:40 am
@Fion ~ but what if you don’t think you need help? Like someone with halitosis receiving a year’s supply of mouthwash. Looking at the gift wondering what did they do to deserve such a gift.
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:43 am
Leggs_ see there you go!
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:44 am
Leggs_ funny lol.
SexyCool
December 22nd, 2010
11:44 am
If a person has so much wrong with them that *you* have to buy them an hour of counseling before *they* will get some help, they are going to need a lot more than an hour.
But hey, I guess you are planting a seed and…you gotta start somewhere.
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:45 am
Sidebar: Then I’ll lighten up.
There are a lot of emotional broken people out here in the dating scene.
Some folks are trying to make toast with an iron, you right it will heat up,
but you can’t toast bread with it.
Dealing with issues the right way and moving forward stronger and better is always the best course of action In my book. Just saying
SexyCool
December 22nd, 2010
11:47 am
But yeah…I would be highly offended if someone gave me an hour of counseling…and I guess I should count my lucky stars that I don’t have any friends who would welcome that as a gift.
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:47 am
I meant emotionally.
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:48 am
Sexy_ u sure u ain’t crazy! Just kidding, I’m Kidding.
2CPTG©--"that dude from da innanet"
December 22nd, 2010
11:49 am
y’all laughin, but I bet she gon like it…
Zulu, the other chic still tryin, but no deal….
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:49 am
Also, most counseling services also will prepare your Will for you. They could use the 1hr session to make their Will, revise their Will, etc. (Wait, perhaps this service is only offered by counseling services offered at one’s job). Hmmmm…..
Dan - Simply...Superior
December 22nd, 2010
11:51 am
I don’t think the counseling would be bad if presented correctly.
If you and this person have be conversing about their issues, then maybe that gift isn’t a blow-off or insult, but the actions of a friend.
However, if y’all aren’t that cool, I’d expect no less than a monkey slap.
Zulu
December 22nd, 2010
11:51 am
But u know,often, people who need professional help or counseling never admit it initially….
so Fion,u got somebody u think needs help and u contemplating giving them a shrink coupon?
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
11:51 am
@2C ~ is that her brand of smokes? If not, she won’t like it. She may perfer an ounce!
blue© - one more day
December 22nd, 2010
11:52 am
@Leggs – thats a shame, lol. you know the poor man was lost for days, just wondering around the office going “now where did she put x,y,z” not wanting to ask….note to self tho: reason not to have “naughty” items at your desk…you’d be telling a whole different story now, lol
@Dreams – lmao, good one. how do you cheat at Secret Santa? thats just low, lol
@Fion – i’d agree many need it, but would be horribly embarassing and uncomfortable i think to have your SO give it to you…have your mind tripped out on just how messed up are they trying to say you are?
SexyCool
December 22nd, 2010
11:53 am
And I thought a gift is something that is supposed to bring the recipient pleasure, not send a message saying, “I think you’re so fkked up that I’m going to spring for yo’ ass to get some help.”
ijs…(lol)
2CPTG©--"that dude from da innanet"
December 22nd, 2010
11:54 am
I’on know bout the counseling sessions y’all talkin about, but I do know 2Can’s Therapeutic-Hand’s-On Couch Clinic has been clinically proven to heal even the worst of cases…they even accept payment plans.
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
No. I had a friend that was having problems with there kid and went that route.
Subsequently she followed with with other secessions and the kid is fine
2CPTG©--"that dude from da innanet"
December 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
Leggs, I asked the chic that sits beside her….
Dan - Simply...Superior
December 22nd, 2010
11:56 am
@SC
It says “I care”…not enought to listen endlessly, but I do care
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
11:58 am
“If you and this person have be conversing about their issues, then maybe that gift isn’t a blow-off or insult, but the actions of a friend.”
Dan_ said it beat 11:51
Fion
December 22nd, 2010
12:00 pm
I meant best. Man I guess I drank too much last night! I can’t type today. Dog!
BlackMagicWoman
December 22nd, 2010
12:00 pm
“She may prefer an ounce!”
LEGGS… I have some friends that would LOVE and oz for Christmas!
But I am not getting arrested to by a Christmas gift!
blue© - one more day
December 22nd, 2010
12:03 pm
@2C – Leggs, I asked the chic that sits beside her – d@mn it just gets worse and worse…so thats the impression she makes on folks? the icky smoker LOL. ask folks around me what to get me for Christmas they’ll tell you PC toys for my desk or chocolate…
Leggs
December 22nd, 2010
12:03 pm
@Fion ~ that was a good thing you did.
There’s a cashier at one of the grocery stores I frequent that loves one of my purses. Every time I go there she asks me to give her my bag when I’m done using it. Well, I stood in her line on Sunday waiting for her to finish with the lady ahead of me. When she finally looked at me she asked where are my groceries. I told I didn’t have any but I had this and pulled a gift box from behind my back. Daggonit, this nut squealed so loudly the manager came over. She ripped it open and found a very nice purse inside. She was so happy, but I saw the look on the other cashier’s faces wondering wth did she do to deserve a gift from a customer. You never know, be nice to your customers and you may be rewarded. I’m a strong advocate of “pay it forward!”