Christmas gifts can be a headache, so a loved one coming up with a wishlist or revealing what it is they’d like to get can really make things easier.

But for this redditor, his girlfriend telling him what she wanted for Christmas only made things worse. She said she wanted a new car, and a rather costly one, which the boyfriend didn’t consider a worthy investment under the given circumstances. Scroll down to find the full story below.

Getting the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one is not always easy

Image credits: Keira Burton / pexels (not the actual photo)

This redditor’s girlfriend wanted a new car for Christmas, but he didn’t think it was a sensible investment

Image credits: Dmitry Novikov / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Image source: anon

This year, the majority of people are planning to buy gifts for their children, leaving partners second on the list

Image credits: Any Lane / pexels (not the actual photo)

Needless to say, we all want what’s best for our loved ones, and during the holiday season, that often includes getting them the perfect Christmas gift. But that’s often easier said than done. Some people are so picky or peculiar, they become impossible to shop for, others are “fine with everything”, which, again, is impossible to shop for, not to mention the instances when there’s clearly a perfect gift but it’s one that the giver can’t afford or can’t get because of other circumstances.

In a perfect world, people would get whatever their loved ones have set their eyes on, but in reality, there’s more at play than good intentions. The OP’s situation is a great example of that. Even though a new car was the number one on his girlfriend’s wishlist, the redditor thought it was financially irresponsible to get it for her for Christmas, especially considering that the woman’s current car was just a few years old at that point.

But the gift doesn’t have to be a new vehicle to encourage people to make difficult financial decisions. Take parents, for example; seeking to surprise their little ones with Christmas presents, as many as 16% of them are willing to go into debt, according to a 2021 survey. It also found that in order to make sure their kid gets the coveted gift, the majority of parents—roughly half of them—preorder it months in advance and nearly a third shop online for a midnight release.

A more recent survey, conducted this year in the US, revealed that partners and children are the most common groups people are looking for Christmas gifts for. The two are followed by parents, siblings, and friends respectively, leaving the shopper themselves sixth on the list—roughly one-in-four respondents shared they’re buying a gift for themselves, too, this year.

Some Christmas gifts seem to be more popular than others

Image credits: Eugene Zhyvchik / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Even though a car is something quite a few people would likely love to receive, it’s not a thing that’s commonly mentioned in people’s letters to Santa. Statista found that this year, the most popular gift people would like to get comes in the shape of… money. That might come as no surprise, considering that it can then be used to buy something a person actually needs—or might have been saving up for—be it groceries and everyday items, or treating oneself to something out of the ordinary.

Vouchers and gift cards are second on the list as the most desired Christmas gift this year (likely for similar reasons as money), but items such as clothing and shoes come at a close third. Out of all the respondents, only 7% were unsure of what they wanted for Christmas, leaving it up to their loved ones to figure out.

While for some of the said loved ones, it seems like a mission impossible, others excel at the task of giving gifts. Chances are, the latter simply have a hunch about these things, but, for those who don’t, there are research-based tips for picking out great presents.

TIME emphasized that, according to a 2017 study, there are six things to keep in mind: first and foremost, focus on the sentimental—that’s something people reportedly love when it comes to gifts. Secondly, think about the period beyond the initial exchange; seeing the recipient’s face light up is great, but it might be more important to make sure the nice feeling lasts beyond that point. Other advice includes focusing more on experiences, refraining from being selfish, opting for something that’s not necessarily unique but is more likely to be liked by the receiver, and not overdoing it with personalization.

The OP seemingly didn’t need any tips or advice on what to get his girlfriend for Christmas, as she made her wish pretty clear. But that became the reason some redditors criticized her in the comments and made sure to let the OP know he wasn’t a [jerk] in the situation.

Fellow redditors shared their views on the matter in the comment section

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