Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
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.
RELATED:
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
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
What do you think ?
Ron Baza 1 year ago
My concerns first began with the line “we have extremely strong love for each other s**t she has my name tatted on her underneath the words ‘I gonna bleed this sucka dry’.”
Scotty B 1 year ago
I only see red flags with her. She's extremely manipulative and toxic.
Load More Replies...
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
Why are we giving ANY oxygen to the idea that spending big bucks equals big love?
Featherking 1 year ago
Don’t know. It’d be considered an extremely cringeworthy faux pas where I live; even if that was what your greedy little self thought deep inside, you’d never EVER breathe a word about it to anyone else. Ever. You’d be a pariah until your dying day and it’d spread like wildfire. Someone expecting their SO to spoil them like a brat with rich parents doesn’t work here, at all. The very idea gives me hives. We don’t brag about money and we don’t expect to be freeloaders on our partners. Big no-no.
Load More Replies...
Ron Baza 1 year ago
My concerns first began with the line “we have extremely strong love for each other s**t she has my name tatted on her underneath the words ‘I gonna bleed this sucka dry’.”
Scotty B 1 year ago
I only see red flags with her. She's extremely manipulative and toxic.
Load More Replies... Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
Why are we giving ANY oxygen to the idea that spending big bucks equals big love?
Featherking 1 year ago
Don’t know. It’d be considered an extremely cringeworthy faux pas where I live; even if that was what your greedy little self thought deep inside, you’d never EVER breathe a word about it to anyone else. Ever. You’d be a pariah until your dying day and it’d spread like wildfire. Someone expecting their SO to spoil them like a brat with rich parents doesn’t work here, at all. The very idea gives me hives. We don’t brag about money and we don’t expect to be freeloaders on our partners. Big no-no.
Load More Replies... You May Like Woman Told To Suck It Up After She Rethinks Attending Family Christmas Over An Expensive Gift Wife Finds Husband's Christmas Gift, Feels Let Down: "Yet Again I’ve Got A Useless Present" Man’s “Thoughtful” Surprise Blows Up In His Face After Early Reveal Leaves GF In Tears
Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Ieva Pečiulytė
Mantas Kačerauskas
Related on Bored Panda
11
35