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It goes without saying that no one gives better gifts than Leslie Knope, a character from the American TV series “Parks and Recreation”.

In the episode entitled “Anniversaries”(Season 6, Episode 14), she surprised her husband Ben Wyatt with a scale model of the Iron Throne from the HBO hit series, “Game of Thrones” (see video below).

As you can see Leslie’s gift was thoughtful, creative and well-planned.

However, more often than not, this isn’t the case for most people.

There will be times when some of us would receive gifts that make you go, “What the … ?”

Many of us have had our fair share of receiving bad gifts.

Whoever came up with the saying – “It’s the thought that counts” – obviously never received a Pet Rock as a gift. (Yep! That’s actually a thing!) In my opinion, receiving a poorly-chosen gift is downright insulting!

Pet Rock … It’s actually a thing! (Photo courtesy of eBay)

Terrible Gifts

While we’re on the subject, let’s take a look at some of the worst gifts people have received according to an online forum.

#1. Lingerie from your in-laws!

(Photos: Shutterstock)

“My mother-in-law pulled out a box in which there was a fire engine red nightgown and said, in front of the family, ‘This is what you’ll wear when you conceive a son.'”

#2. Hair straightener for someone bald!

“My brother gave me a hair straightener. My head had been shaved for a year by that point.”

#3. Permission to buy an Xbox.

“My parents ‘gifted’ me permission to buy myself an Xbox.”

How To Get A Good Gift?

Let’s face it: getting the perfect gift is not always easy. You may not know the person well, or may feel like the recipient already has everything they’d ever want. According to Gifts.com, the following tips are sure to give you a few unique ideas:

#1. Pay attention to any upcoming activities.

Perhaps they’ve mentioned a trip, a romantic getaway or just a fun day with their kids. You can plan ahead and get them something they need for their activity, whether that’s a backpack, a gift certificate to a restaurant in the area. If you gift to this person often, it may be helpful to add to a list on your mobile phone whenever they hint at wanting something.

#2. It’s not just about the gift, but the presentation.

In order to make someone’s day extra sweet, think about a fun way to present their gift to them. Perhaps you take them to their favourite dinner spot, lead them through a scavenger hunt or surprise them with snail mail. Little details can go a long way.

#3. Observe the details.

Does your co-worker only wear certain colours? Do they constantly talk about their favourite show? Start paying attention to these things. For example, a coworker might like a desk calendar with their favourite TV character, a personalised mug with their favourite quote or even a scarf in a colour they wear often.

#4. Give them an experience.

Does the person already have everything you can think of? Are they new to the area or extremely daring? There’s nothing better than fuelling their adventure bug with a sky dive or kayaking class. It will certainly be unique and unforgettable.

#5. Get creative!

If your guest of honour is passionate about a particular cause or is a lover of nature, donate to their favourite charity in their name or give them a yearly pass to the zoo or a national park. You can also get creative by creating a theme with your gifts – giving multiple small gifts that play off each other and add to the fun!

#6. Take your time.

The worst thing you can do is rush through the store and pick out whatever you find. If you already have something in mind, that definitely helps. If you don’t, you will end up purchasing something you and the receiver will not be thrilled with. Plan the day, make a list of gift options, and take note of anything you have given them in the past so that you don’t end up getting the same type of gift.

A Dying Man’s Act Of Kindness

In a true act of kindness, a dying man secretly stashed away 14 years of Christmas presents for his 2-year-old neighbour.

Ken Watson, 87, had watched Cadi Willams grow up and left the presents behind in a final act of kindness before he died, according to a report published by Metro. The presents will last until Cadi is 16 years old.

The gifts were discovered by Ken’s daughter who took them next door. Cadi’s parents Owen and Caroline Williams were brought to tears when they saw the presents.

The 87-year-old was widowed after his beloved wife Beryl died in February 2012. He had no grandchildren himself and previously worked at his family’s Cardiff bakery business. Owen described the gesture as ‘like the plot from a Richard Curtis Christmas film’.

The family have decided to open up one of the presents already, a children’s book called “Christmas Eve at the Mellops” by Tomi Ungerer.

Owen said, “We’ll tell Cadi in the coming years – I like the idea of opening a gift every year, and recording it. It’ll be a nice story for us as a family.”

If this doesn’t make you shed a tear than you are made of stone!

We’d Love To Hear From You

Have you had your fair share of good and bad gift exchanges? What’s the most memorable or wackiest gift you’ve ever received? I’m sure they can’t be as bad as the ridiculous Pet Rock I got many years ago!