What are the worst Christmas gifts? This financial website has a list of what not to give
The best part of Christmas might be waking up to find your present under the tree and enjoying the day with your friends and family.
It’s certainly safe to say that giving a gift to a loved one comes with the best of intentions — something to make them happy.
But sometimes gift-giving can be tricky, especially when the gift carries a financial burden, according to Moneyzine.com.
The website, which offers financial advice, has compiled a list of what it describes as the “worst Christmas gifts” — items it argues “will end up costing” gift recipients “big in the long term.”
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Here are five Christmas gifts that, according to Moneyzine.com, should be avoided:
1. Pets
According to Moneyzine.com, the longtime commitment necessary to have a pet also comes with the need to be financially equipped.
“Pets are expensive and we’re not just talking about the cost of that purebred golden retriever puppy, which can run into the thousands,” the website stated. “Responsible pet owners will need to take out insurance, factor in the cost of the initial vaccinations and yearly boosters and pay monthly fees for flea and worm treatments.
“This is all before factoring in the not insubstantial costs of food, toys, kennel visits and a dog-walker during the working week.”
2. Smartphone
Buying someone a new phone, especially the latest smartphone models like the iPhone, could be a popular gift, “provided it is anticipated and planned for,” Moneyzine argued.
“Otherwise, your loved ones might find themselves burdened with monthly fees for calls and data usage that they simply hadn’t planned for,” the website stated. “This gift could be particularly difficult if they already have a mobile phone contract in place, and can’t afford the early upgrade fee. Having to pay two monthly phone bills is enough to turn anyone into the Grinch.”
3. Concert tickets
Before buying someone a concert ticket for Christmas, there are other costs involved that should be considered, according to Moneyzine.
The website used Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour as an example.
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“While we’re not sure there’s anyone who would pass up on the chance to see Tay-Tay perform, surprising a friend with tickets … may not be all that well-received,” the website argued. “On top of flights … the recipient will have to dig deep to cover the accommodation costs, with hotels accused of charging a ‘Taylor Tax’ and ramping up the cost of rooms on the days of her tour.”
4. Spa day
Moneyzine also warned against giving someone a voucher for a spa day.
“Unfortunately, while most vouchers include use of the facilities and even afternoon tea or a three-course meal, very few extend to the cost of spa treatments, and it will be up to the recipient to book and purchase these (expensive) extras. Bah, humbug, to that!” the website argued.
5. Subscriptions
The trouble of subscriptions, according to Moneyzine, is the fact that sooner or later, the time paid for will expire, and the recipient will be faced with renewal costs.
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“(Subscriptions) can seem like a great idea, catering to those with more specialist interests, but once the subscription comes to an end, they could find themselves billed monthly renewal fees that they simply weren’t expecting,” the website stated.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Christmas gift warning: Website cautions against certain presents
