December 25, 2025 • 19 mins
Merry Christmas everyone! As everyone is unwrapping their gifts today, Amy and T.J. researched what are the absolute WORST gifts to give and receive. Maybe you even opened one of them this morning! We’ll tell you which gifts research shows makes it pretty obvious to your loved ones, that you didn’t put in that much effort.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, folks, it is Thursday, December twenty fifth. Marry Merry Christmas.
And if you are wondering if you put the right
gift under the tree for your loved one, well you
should probably stop listening right now because there's nothing you
can really do about it, because we are about to have,
possibly right now, Robes, the most offensive episode of Amy
(00:22):
and TJ we have ever posted.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome everybody to this episode.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, what I'm saying here is we are going to
share now these lists of most unwonted gift. This is
really interesting, the gifts we all have in common every
year that we don't want, but we seem to keep giving.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Don't we know better?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Why? Why that's called? Isn't that basically the definition of insanity?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Keep doing the same thing over and over.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, even though you know it's wrong or it wasn't
well received, you just keep doing it because you think
somehow the next time is going to be different.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
See what and I say this this is a mean
episode because folks are going to listen to this and
the stuff's already.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
In the Actually, I think I might have some of
these things under the tree.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
So this is scary.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
If you hear now, and again we got this from
surveys and lists from over the years and put this together.
But what do you do, robes, if you hear that
something you got is one of the most unwonted gifts,
do you run under the tree and try to do something.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
About Well, maybe you just look, if you're listening to
this before this person opens the gift, maybe you can
kind of temper your expectation. Well, yes, you could switch
it out. I hadn't even thought about that. I don't know.
But also maybe you could just temper your expectations as
to what that person or how that person might react
and do better next year.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And again this is we're having a little fun here.
It's not the end of the world. We've all given
and all received a rough gift. Yes, uh right, it's happened.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
This was curious. Now we got all that.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
There are several surveys one bt BT bet MGM Casinos
nationwide survey that they did. Now there's this really interesting.
When it's time for their specific details, they're the ones
robes that have a specific item that is the worst
one to give. That's hilarious, like specific, not just a this,
(02:11):
but this type of that gift.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
It is really really fascinating to see.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So first off, just off the top of your head,
what would you automatically all know the worst gifts.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Are, what.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
A gift that shows zero thoughts, like a generic gift
one that I know that person just walked in and
grabbed the most expensive or just the closest item to
and you know that's what happened because you know it
was last minute and that actually it's upsetting, not because
you care that much about the gift, but it says
something about what that person thinks of you.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
You just nailed the biggest issue. Everybody can tell. If
you just ran into Dwayne Read and grabbed a coffee
mug and wrapped.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It, yes, we know it. Have you received a gift.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Like that in years past?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Remember, yes, yes I absolutely have, and you know it immediately.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And on the flip side of that, somebody put no
thought into it, just went in and grabbed some really
expensive thing and say here, you know I'm supposed to
do this.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yes, everything, Yes, and actually the most expensive thing actually
is more I know this sounds crazy, but it actually
is more freshen because they think they fooled you, Like, oh,
if I just spend a lot of money, you'll think
it's good.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Oh some people are listening now and go wait a minute,
so yes, let's go with the list.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So off top.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Consistently one of the worst items to give on Christmas
is a novelty item, a generic novelty item. Think Hollywood Boulevard.
You walk into all those shops as a mug that
says the greatest husband ever.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Ye is that is lame?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Sorry, sorry if anyone gave that gift. I actually, you know,
you know who gives those gifts, and it's cute because
it's funny, our little kids. So I remember when my
daughters were young, and they're a little Catholic school would
have a sale that would benefit either a charity or
the church, and there would be those types of gifts.
So yes, I've gotten greatest mom ever gifts. But it's
(04:09):
from the kids and it's cute and it's funny, and
I get they don't know any better.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
I thin get novelty items, just generic silly little items,
socks that say it's it's champagne time whatever.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I gave a lot of socks. I gotta say this year, yes,
oh my goodness, but not meaning novelty socks, just cozy
fun socks, and they aren't the main gift. They're just
fun add ons. Is that a problem.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I don't think that's the problem. Okay, stocking stuffers, yes, yes, yes.
The other thing that you're really really it's so obvious, ropes.
It's a gift nobody wants. And you see it when
you walk in the front door of a lot of
a lot of shops, in particular Sephora. Yes, because they
like dudes are going to come in and they need
(04:55):
this right now, the gift sets.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Consider the source though. It's so funny you just said
that if a dude, if you gave me that, I
would know that you didn't know what else to buy,
and you just grab the first thing on the front
desk that look like a bargain deal of expensive products.
But if I give one of those two my daughters,
they love it because they love all those products and
they know that I know what they like. I think
there is a distinction as to who gives those gift sets.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Okay, distinction of who, But also your daughters know that
you know what you're doing. Ye when it comes to
picking out makeup. Yes, But when someone opens they are
very generic sets out there.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I know what you're talking about, like the front door
perfume sets. Never give someone perfume sets. You can't possibly
know what fragrances they're going to like or not like.
And that is a that's like kind of throwing everything
at something. Hey, maybe one of these will stick. I'll
get you a perfume set that is not thoughtful.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And most people like to stick to one.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Cent right, Yes, you have a signature sent.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Okay, next thing. I wouldn't have expected this and I
have never received this. Flowers and plants are a bad gift.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Really, the what if you're going to someone's do you
have to do that because I've given that, Like you
show up with the points set up, or you show
up with flowers. I get that, though it's annoying. Now
you go to go find a vase. Now you gotta
god put some water in it. Now you got to
go make sure you have a place to put it.
You weren't expecting it. Now it's messed up your decor. Okay,
I follow.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Something else that they say consistently is not a good
gift to give. You've talked about this in some of
our gift guides a gift that requires money or upkeep
of some kind in particular of subscription.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Possibly, man, that is true, and how many gifts now?
I feel like this is happening more and more, and
you have to, as the gift giver, read the fine
print because sometimes they don't want you to know that
there is a monthly or a yearly subscription attached to
your gift. A lot of these tech products, you know,
whether we found from alarm clocks or maybe even like
(06:55):
watches or rings, things that are actually really hot gift
items do require the person you're giving the gift to
to then pay monthly.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
For maybe I don't even know. Do we pay for
the or ring?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yes? I see it go on my American Express every month.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Okay, and case in point, we got those last year Christmas.
Today is the first time I realized I have been
paying a monthly fee for this.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yes you have.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
So it means I signed up at the beginning to
try it out and I didn't cancel in time.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Correct, I've been using Are you serious? Yes?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
So it requires a month yes, Oh my god, I
see it on my account.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Okay, Well there you go. Folks.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
They say those are tough gifts to give. We reviewed
something Robes that for the thing to be cool, you
needed to.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Pay correct if you want to, if you want to
access all of the features that they advertise and tout
and make it a gift that people want, requires a subscription.
I just think that I understand companies need to make money,
but I find that so so underhanded.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Okay, this next one here is a big one that
you and I spend a lot of time off for
whatever reason because we I don't know, we do a
lot of Verbo and Airbnb at lakes.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yes, like in the ocean right.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
There is a certain thing.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
But they say this is absolutely something you should not
give at Christmas.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
This is hilarious. You should not give art from TJ,
Max Marshals, et cetera. You know the ones we're talking about.
Home is where the Heart is. You said, Eat Pray Love.
It's it's live Laugh Love. Is that?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You put eat Pray Love?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (08:25):
No?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
That's a book and a movie. The funny thing The
sign says live laugh Love. Yes, you got you were close.
And I know why Eat Pray Love was on your
mind because you.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Call they're considered what. I don't know how to describe them.
They're not novels.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
What message signs there? I don't know what they are,
but they always make us laugh now because every time
it seems like you walk into one of these rented homes,
they're trying to make it look nice, and they go
to Marshalls and look, I love Marshalls, I love TJ.
Max I have. We have plenty of things from those
stores home goods that are in this apartment, but we
(09:01):
don't have the signings that say I'd rather be at
the lake or lake.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I'm trying to see what.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
They call it just signs home signs. They're rustic hanging
a wood sign, they just signs.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
We actually, we actually get such a kick out of it.
The only person who I would receive a gift like
that from and laugh my butt off would be from you.
We've even talked about making an entire bathroom just filled
with these signs because they're hilarious. Like they're so cheesy,
they're so basic, and yet somehow we see them everywhere
and they become actually hilarious.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I don't have a name. They just call wall signs
with message decorative wall signs. Your live laugh loved one.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Is everyone live laugh love is every the.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Spin on it.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
One says live laugh love, but then it has next
to them in smaller words live well, laugh often love money.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
That's even more annoying. So I did have one my dad.
My parents gave it to me. But this was something
my dad used to say to us as we grew up.
Maybe this will resonate with anyone who's of our age.
But eat it and shut up. That was what my
grandpa said to my dad. That's what my dad said
to us. And so I actually found a sign that
said eat it and shut up and shut up. Yes, wow,
(10:15):
that was That was basically the mantra in my house
growing up. But yes, that was one that I did
get a kick out of it.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I'm laughing now because eat pray love signs are everywhere. Seriously,
it's absurd. Oh, I thought you were thinking of live
laugh love.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I probably was.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
I don't know what I was thinking, But some of
these have like wine glasses, right.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Okay, I stand corrected?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Is huge, no, no, no, no, hue, live laugh love. I
think we understand this is huger, but these sounds a hilarious.
If that's under the tree, you better know what you're
doing with whoever you are giving that one too, But
that's a good laugh. But stay here, folks. I told
you about that bet MGM casino survey that they put out.
They have a number one, number two, number three of
(11:01):
the most unwanted gifts at Christmas. We'll explain also if
you plan on regifting, trust us, it's okay, and one
other note will give you. It might not matter at all.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
What gift you've put under the tree.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Stay here, welcome back everyone on this Christmas Day, December
twenty fifth, And well, the gifts might still be under
your tree. You might not have opened them yet, maybe
you already have. But we're talking about the most unwanted
(11:40):
gifts and so if you if you gave one or
you receive one, you'll either feel concerned or validated either way.
We just went over what some of the worst gifts
might be. But we actually have specific gifts from bet MGM.
It's a casino survey and they actually listed number one,
number two, number three the most unwanted gifts at Christmas.
(12:01):
Let's hope you didn't give or receive any of these.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Hey, we'll let you know they did. They say interview
thousands of people for this, and twenty percent of them
agreed on this first number one most unwanted gift folks.
That's one out of five people don't want they specifically
name this thing. I thought that was crazy.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
This is interesting self help books, and maybe the title
should tell you everything. This is something that you, as
an individual should choose to purchase and read. But when
someone else lets you know that you need some self help,
that might be offensive when you open it up, even
if it's well intentioned. I can see how that would be, like, really,
(12:42):
you think I need this book in my life? Why
would you send this to me or give this to me?
It is judgy, it is very much so. We've actually
had a little fun at bookstores, you and I when
you see some of the titles of these books. I'm
just imagining someone opening up a book that says, you know,
I don't know what are some of our shelf here?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We have some Living Beautifully.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
A Radical Awakening self help? Yes, any of these books
we've we've gone through the bookstore and lab like, what
would you do if you saw me on a plane
or on the subway reading this? And then we would
just open the thing and laugh. Some of these titles
I would just be very careful.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I've never done one, you know, just in full disclosure.
I'm just looking to the right in our library here
at our just a few books who are right that
are right here. I don't know why our self help
books seem to be right here in our faith every
day robes. We have interesting taste here. Gary Turner Golden Years.
That's the Golden Bachelor.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Right, Yeah, we got that because we were interviewing him.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
The next one, the title of the book is We
Got Fired. The next book is Marathon Training for Hal Higden.
After that another Master of the Marathon book, and then
it's all self help from Michael Singer and Eckhart totally.
And there's one other in there, The Souls of Black Folks.
You might not want to give that one for Christmas.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Eve. Yes, I have very diverse library, we do, and
I do think I'm looking at ones that say, uh,
the Yale Book of Quotations, A Radical Awakening self help better,
which happens to be the book I wrote, The Untethered Soul,
Stephen King on writing and the Age of Innocence.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
It's a weird place.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
This is weird. We have a weird library.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Strange but what.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Do we notice most of our books and all we
named here have to do with self help. We got
Gabby Bernstein there, we got Michael Singer here, we have
Ekhar Totally, and the majority of our books I seem
to be self help.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
I'm living because we also have one called the Book
of Boundaries, Love Warrior. How about where it began by
Cleo Way Deepak Chopra, Total meditation. We're into self help,
but again, we chose these books for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Actually got me one of the car totally books.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
But I knew you needed it. And like again, if
you have a very close relationship with someone and you
know that they have a certain I don't know pension
for a certain type of book, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Okay, this is we went sideways. We could do a
whole episode just on our books. I didn't recognize. Now
that's number one. Twenty percent of folks say, not just
a book, a self help book specifically is the most
unwanted gift this Christmas.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Number two. I love this one. Clothes but specifically here
clothes that the recipient did not ask for is essentially saying,
don't roll the dice and take a chance on pict
pickcot wardrobe.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
That's really smart. That's really smart because I can say
I have gone sideways, for sure, and I've tried it
again with the girls. They ask for certain things and
I get them, and then I take a few licenses
just to have them something surprising to open up. And
even though I think I have good taste, it doesn't
always jibe with their taste. And so what I do.
The only problem is these are my daughters, and they
can tell me they don't like it. I include a
(15:47):
gift receipt and say, please feel free to take this back.
I took a shot. I took a stab. Now if
you give this to someone who you don't have that
personal relationship with, now you've put them in the position
of feeling awkward and having to act like they like it,
and then even worse, feeling like they have to wear it.
And I have absolutely been in that position. We're like,
(16:07):
I don't really like this, but I don't feel comfortable
saying I don't, so now I feel awkward, I have
to pretend, and now I have to wear it when
I don't even want to when I'm seeing them. That
creates all sorts of problems.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So clothes are tricky.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
I have stopped buying clothes, as you know, for Sabine
because she's getting older and has particular taste. So I
don't want to waste that money, and I don't give
gift receipts. I make the call that this is something
you're going to want.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, I feel better about it because all the girls
are in the house. If any one of you girls
open someuth that you don't like to wear, there are
three more girls who are going to say, I'll take it.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
It's funny. It's funny you say that. I think you
heard me say this. I did buy some things for
the girls that I knew were a little risky, and
I said to you, I tried them on. I said,
if they don't like them, I'll take them. And these
were extra gifts. They weren't their main gifts. So I
was like, I'm good because I know I'll take what
they don't like.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
That's how you shop anyway. You're essentially go shopping for yourself.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I always I like to pick up a few things from.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Those time shopping. And number three, no surprise here, socks
are a bad way to go. I can't imagine we
do have socks under the tree get there specialty socks,
specific socks that we know are going to land. But
if you just go grab a lame pair of socks
that is not going to work. And novelty socks as well.
Who wants a bit. I have socks with a picture
of weird.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Stuff martiniz et cetera. But you like those socks now,
I will say my daughters have requested socks. They get
all you know, they get out on their own and
they don't want to They don't want to buy their
own socks because it seems like such a waste of
money when they're trying to save it up for other things,
so they actually ask for socks.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
The other thing here that was of note robed in
the in the survey regifting. I don't know how you
feel about it. I don't feel great about it, but
apparently it's not a big deal to folks. Seven out
of ten say regifting is O take okay? Seven out
of ten O tay.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
The only thing that I have regifted was alcohol that
I knew someone else, like, Like, I'm not a big
red wine person, so I know if someone is and
I received it, I don't mind regifting that, but I
feel a little ikey about it. Do you how do
you feel?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I don't regift at all. Nope, and don't want to
be really, it's just me. Everybody has their personal thing,
but seven out of ten don't have a problem with it.
And the last thing here, folks, we've been going through
it and look, we're having some fun. And maybe we
did name something you have under the tree, and maybe
you are second guessing some gift, but here is the thing,
and this made me feel good.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Ropes.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Most people, overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly don't even think the gifts are
the best part of the holiday anyway.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Listen, that is very cool. It's the food, it's the fellowship,
it's the family reunions, it's the fun. It really is.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
And their survey here only twelve percent of people say
giving or receiving gifts is the best part of the holiday,
just twelve percent. Now, I hope they're being honest to
maybe feel lol, I can't see my favorite part is
the gift. But no, I think genuinely the wow as
we sit here, the thing we're looking to forward to
most has nothing to do do with the tree. It
has to do with the trip we're taking. It has
to do with the food we're cooking and.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Movies we're going to. Yeah, so that is true, that
is but I do love giving. Receiving can be a
little awkward sometimes because you never know what you're going
to get, but I do love I think most people
would agree givings more fun than receiving.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Well, folks, Mary, Mary, Christmas to you. Just having a
little fun here.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Hopefully we didn't mess up anybody, but folks, hope you
have a wonderful day with family, friends wherever you may be.
I certainly hope you have any safe one as well.
But enjoy it. And it seems lame to say, but
Robes after doing an episode like this, it is. It's
a matter of remembering the reason for the season. That's
kind of goal, that's the reason.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
We say it.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I do love that. So Merry Christmas to all of you.
Thank you for listening, and we hope you have a
beautiful day with your friends and family. I Amy Roeboch
alongside TJ. Holmes. We will talk to you soon.
Hey, folks, it is Thursday, December twenty fifth. Marry Merry Christmas.
And if you are wondering if you put the right
gift under the tree for your loved one, well you
should probably stop listening right now because there's nothing you
can really do about it, because we are about to have,
possibly right now, Robes, the most offensive episode of Amy
(00:22):
and TJ we have ever posted.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome everybody to this episode.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, what I'm saying here is we are going to
share now these lists of most unwonted gift. This is
really interesting, the gifts we all have in common every
year that we don't want, but we seem to keep giving.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Don't we know better?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Why? Why that's called? Isn't that basically the definition of insanity?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Keep doing the same thing over and over.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, even though you know it's wrong or it wasn't
well received, you just keep doing it because you think
somehow the next time is going to be different.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
See what and I say this this is a mean
episode because folks are going to listen to this and
the stuff's already.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
In the Actually, I think I might have some of
these things under the tree.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
So this is scary.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
If you hear now, and again we got this from
surveys and lists from over the years and put this together.
But what do you do, robes, if you hear that
something you got is one of the most unwonted gifts,
do you run under the tree and try to do something.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
About Well, maybe you just look, if you're listening to
this before this person opens the gift, maybe you can
kind of temper your expectation. Well, yes, you could switch
it out. I hadn't even thought about that. I don't know.
But also maybe you could just temper your expectations as
to what that person or how that person might react
and do better next year.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And again this is we're having a little fun here.
It's not the end of the world. We've all given
and all received a rough gift. Yes, uh right, it's happened.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
This was curious. Now we got all that.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
There are several surveys one bt BT bet MGM Casinos
nationwide survey that they did. Now there's this really interesting.
When it's time for their specific details, they're the ones
robes that have a specific item that is the worst
one to give. That's hilarious, like specific, not just a this,
(02:11):
but this type of that gift.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
It is really really fascinating to see.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So first off, just off the top of your head,
what would you automatically all know the worst gifts.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Are, what.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
A gift that shows zero thoughts, like a generic gift
one that I know that person just walked in and
grabbed the most expensive or just the closest item to
and you know that's what happened because you know it
was last minute and that actually it's upsetting, not because
you care that much about the gift, but it says
something about what that person thinks of you.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
You just nailed the biggest issue. Everybody can tell. If
you just ran into Dwayne Read and grabbed a coffee
mug and wrapped.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It, yes, we know it. Have you received a gift.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Like that in years past?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Remember, yes, yes I absolutely have, and you know it immediately.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And on the flip side of that, somebody put no
thought into it, just went in and grabbed some really
expensive thing and say here, you know I'm supposed to
do this.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yes, everything, Yes, and actually the most expensive thing actually
is more I know this sounds crazy, but it actually
is more freshen because they think they fooled you, Like, oh,
if I just spend a lot of money, you'll think
it's good.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Oh some people are listening now and go wait a minute,
so yes, let's go with the list.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So off top.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Consistently one of the worst items to give on Christmas
is a novelty item, a generic novelty item. Think Hollywood Boulevard.
You walk into all those shops as a mug that
says the greatest husband ever.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Ye is that is lame?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Sorry, sorry if anyone gave that gift. I actually, you know,
you know who gives those gifts, and it's cute because
it's funny, our little kids. So I remember when my
daughters were young, and they're a little Catholic school would
have a sale that would benefit either a charity or
the church, and there would be those types of gifts.
So yes, I've gotten greatest mom ever gifts. But it's
(04:09):
from the kids and it's cute and it's funny, and
I get they don't know any better.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
I thin get novelty items, just generic silly little items,
socks that say it's it's champagne time whatever.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I gave a lot of socks. I gotta say this year, yes,
oh my goodness, but not meaning novelty socks, just cozy
fun socks, and they aren't the main gift. They're just
fun add ons. Is that a problem.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I don't think that's the problem. Okay, stocking stuffers, yes, yes, yes.
The other thing that you're really really it's so obvious, ropes.
It's a gift nobody wants. And you see it when
you walk in the front door of a lot of
a lot of shops, in particular Sephora. Yes, because they
like dudes are going to come in and they need
(04:55):
this right now, the gift sets.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Consider the source though. It's so funny you just said
that if a dude, if you gave me that, I
would know that you didn't know what else to buy,
and you just grab the first thing on the front
desk that look like a bargain deal of expensive products.
But if I give one of those two my daughters,
they love it because they love all those products and
they know that I know what they like. I think
there is a distinction as to who gives those gift sets.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Okay, distinction of who, But also your daughters know that
you know what you're doing. Ye when it comes to
picking out makeup. Yes, But when someone opens they are
very generic sets out there.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I know what you're talking about, like the front door
perfume sets. Never give someone perfume sets. You can't possibly
know what fragrances they're going to like or not like.
And that is a that's like kind of throwing everything
at something. Hey, maybe one of these will stick. I'll
get you a perfume set that is not thoughtful.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And most people like to stick to one.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Cent right, Yes, you have a signature sent.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Okay, next thing. I wouldn't have expected this and I
have never received this. Flowers and plants are a bad gift.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Really, the what if you're going to someone's do you
have to do that because I've given that, Like you
show up with the points set up, or you show
up with flowers. I get that, though it's annoying. Now
you go to go find a vase. Now you gotta
god put some water in it. Now you got to
go make sure you have a place to put it.
You weren't expecting it. Now it's messed up your decor. Okay,
I follow.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Something else that they say consistently is not a good
gift to give. You've talked about this in some of
our gift guides a gift that requires money or upkeep
of some kind in particular of subscription.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Possibly, man, that is true, and how many gifts now?
I feel like this is happening more and more, and
you have to, as the gift giver, read the fine
print because sometimes they don't want you to know that
there is a monthly or a yearly subscription attached to
your gift. A lot of these tech products, you know,
whether we found from alarm clocks or maybe even like
(06:55):
watches or rings, things that are actually really hot gift
items do require the person you're giving the gift to
to then pay monthly.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
For maybe I don't even know. Do we pay for
the or ring?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yes? I see it go on my American Express every month.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Okay, and case in point, we got those last year Christmas.
Today is the first time I realized I have been
paying a monthly fee for this.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yes you have.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
So it means I signed up at the beginning to
try it out and I didn't cancel in time.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Correct, I've been using Are you serious? Yes?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
So it requires a month yes, Oh my god, I
see it on my account.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Okay, Well there you go. Folks.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
They say those are tough gifts to give. We reviewed
something Robes that for the thing to be cool, you
needed to.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Pay correct if you want to, if you want to
access all of the features that they advertise and tout
and make it a gift that people want, requires a subscription.
I just think that I understand companies need to make money,
but I find that so so underhanded.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Okay, this next one here is a big one that
you and I spend a lot of time off for
whatever reason because we I don't know, we do a
lot of Verbo and Airbnb at lakes.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yes, like in the ocean right.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
There is a certain thing.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
But they say this is absolutely something you should not
give at Christmas.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
This is hilarious. You should not give art from TJ,
Max Marshals, et cetera. You know the ones we're talking about.
Home is where the Heart is. You said, Eat Pray Love.
It's it's live Laugh Love. Is that?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You put eat Pray Love?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (08:25):
No?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
That's a book and a movie. The funny thing The
sign says live laugh Love. Yes, you got you were close.
And I know why Eat Pray Love was on your
mind because you.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Call they're considered what. I don't know how to describe them.
They're not novels.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
What message signs there? I don't know what they are,
but they always make us laugh now because every time
it seems like you walk into one of these rented homes,
they're trying to make it look nice, and they go
to Marshalls and look, I love Marshalls, I love TJ.
Max I have. We have plenty of things from those
stores home goods that are in this apartment, but we
(09:01):
don't have the signings that say I'd rather be at
the lake or lake.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I'm trying to see what.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
They call it just signs home signs. They're rustic hanging
a wood sign, they just signs.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
We actually, we actually get such a kick out of it.
The only person who I would receive a gift like
that from and laugh my butt off would be from you.
We've even talked about making an entire bathroom just filled
with these signs because they're hilarious. Like they're so cheesy,
they're so basic, and yet somehow we see them everywhere
and they become actually hilarious.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I don't have a name. They just call wall signs
with message decorative wall signs. Your live laugh loved one.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Is everyone live laugh love is every the.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Spin on it.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
One says live laugh love, but then it has next
to them in smaller words live well, laugh often love money.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
That's even more annoying. So I did have one my dad.
My parents gave it to me. But this was something
my dad used to say to us as we grew up.
Maybe this will resonate with anyone who's of our age.
But eat it and shut up. That was what my
grandpa said to my dad. That's what my dad said
to us. And so I actually found a sign that
said eat it and shut up and shut up. Yes, wow,
(10:15):
that was That was basically the mantra in my house
growing up. But yes, that was one that I did
get a kick out of it.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I'm laughing now because eat pray love signs are everywhere. Seriously,
it's absurd. Oh, I thought you were thinking of live
laugh love.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I probably was.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
I don't know what I was thinking, But some of
these have like wine glasses, right.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Okay, I stand corrected?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Is huge, no, no, no, no, hue, live laugh love. I
think we understand this is huger, but these sounds a hilarious.
If that's under the tree, you better know what you're
doing with whoever you are giving that one too, But
that's a good laugh. But stay here, folks. I told
you about that bet MGM casino survey that they put out.
They have a number one, number two, number three of
(11:01):
the most unwanted gifts at Christmas. We'll explain also if
you plan on regifting, trust us, it's okay, and one
other note will give you. It might not matter at all.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
What gift you've put under the tree.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Stay here, welcome back everyone on this Christmas Day, December
twenty fifth, And well, the gifts might still be under
your tree. You might not have opened them yet, maybe
you already have. But we're talking about the most unwanted
(11:40):
gifts and so if you if you gave one or
you receive one, you'll either feel concerned or validated either way.
We just went over what some of the worst gifts
might be. But we actually have specific gifts from bet MGM.
It's a casino survey and they actually listed number one,
number two, number three the most unwanted gifts at Christmas.
(12:01):
Let's hope you didn't give or receive any of these.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Hey, we'll let you know they did. They say interview
thousands of people for this, and twenty percent of them
agreed on this first number one most unwanted gift folks.
That's one out of five people don't want they specifically
name this thing. I thought that was crazy.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
This is interesting self help books, and maybe the title
should tell you everything. This is something that you, as
an individual should choose to purchase and read. But when
someone else lets you know that you need some self help,
that might be offensive when you open it up, even
if it's well intentioned. I can see how that would be, like, really,
(12:42):
you think I need this book in my life? Why
would you send this to me or give this to me?
It is judgy, it is very much so. We've actually
had a little fun at bookstores, you and I when
you see some of the titles of these books. I'm
just imagining someone opening up a book that says, you know,
I don't know what are some of our shelf here?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We have some Living Beautifully.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
A Radical Awakening self help? Yes, any of these books
we've we've gone through the bookstore and lab like, what
would you do if you saw me on a plane
or on the subway reading this? And then we would
just open the thing and laugh. Some of these titles
I would just be very careful.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I've never done one, you know, just in full disclosure.
I'm just looking to the right in our library here
at our just a few books who are right that
are right here. I don't know why our self help
books seem to be right here in our faith every
day robes. We have interesting taste here. Gary Turner Golden Years.
That's the Golden Bachelor.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Right, Yeah, we got that because we were interviewing him.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
The next one, the title of the book is We
Got Fired. The next book is Marathon Training for Hal Higden.
After that another Master of the Marathon book, and then
it's all self help from Michael Singer and Eckhart totally.
And there's one other in there, The Souls of Black Folks.
You might not want to give that one for Christmas.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Eve. Yes, I have very diverse library, we do, and
I do think I'm looking at ones that say, uh,
the Yale Book of Quotations, A Radical Awakening self help better,
which happens to be the book I wrote, The Untethered Soul,
Stephen King on writing and the Age of Innocence.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
It's a weird place.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
This is weird. We have a weird library.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Strange but what.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Do we notice most of our books and all we
named here have to do with self help. We got
Gabby Bernstein there, we got Michael Singer here, we have
Ekhar Totally, and the majority of our books I seem
to be self help.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
I'm living because we also have one called the Book
of Boundaries, Love Warrior. How about where it began by
Cleo Way Deepak Chopra, Total meditation. We're into self help,
but again, we chose these books for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Actually got me one of the car totally books.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
But I knew you needed it. And like again, if
you have a very close relationship with someone and you
know that they have a certain I don't know pension
for a certain type of book, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Okay, this is we went sideways. We could do a
whole episode just on our books. I didn't recognize. Now
that's number one. Twenty percent of folks say, not just
a book, a self help book specifically is the most
unwanted gift this Christmas.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Number two. I love this one. Clothes but specifically here
clothes that the recipient did not ask for is essentially saying,
don't roll the dice and take a chance on pict
pickcot wardrobe.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
That's really smart. That's really smart because I can say
I have gone sideways, for sure, and I've tried it
again with the girls. They ask for certain things and
I get them, and then I take a few licenses
just to have them something surprising to open up. And
even though I think I have good taste, it doesn't
always jibe with their taste. And so what I do.
The only problem is these are my daughters, and they
can tell me they don't like it. I include a
(15:47):
gift receipt and say, please feel free to take this back.
I took a shot. I took a stab. Now if
you give this to someone who you don't have that
personal relationship with, now you've put them in the position
of feeling awkward and having to act like they like it,
and then even worse, feeling like they have to wear it.
And I have absolutely been in that position. We're like,
(16:07):
I don't really like this, but I don't feel comfortable
saying I don't, so now I feel awkward, I have
to pretend, and now I have to wear it when
I don't even want to when I'm seeing them. That
creates all sorts of problems.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So clothes are tricky.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
I have stopped buying clothes, as you know, for Sabine
because she's getting older and has particular taste. So I
don't want to waste that money, and I don't give
gift receipts. I make the call that this is something
you're going to want.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, I feel better about it because all the girls
are in the house. If any one of you girls
open someuth that you don't like to wear, there are
three more girls who are going to say, I'll take it.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
It's funny. It's funny you say that. I think you
heard me say this. I did buy some things for
the girls that I knew were a little risky, and
I said to you, I tried them on. I said,
if they don't like them, I'll take them. And these
were extra gifts. They weren't their main gifts. So I
was like, I'm good because I know I'll take what
they don't like.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
That's how you shop anyway. You're essentially go shopping for yourself.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I always I like to pick up a few things from.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Those time shopping. And number three, no surprise here, socks
are a bad way to go. I can't imagine we
do have socks under the tree get there specialty socks,
specific socks that we know are going to land. But
if you just go grab a lame pair of socks
that is not going to work. And novelty socks as well.
Who wants a bit. I have socks with a picture
of weird.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Stuff martiniz et cetera. But you like those socks now,
I will say my daughters have requested socks. They get
all you know, they get out on their own and
they don't want to They don't want to buy their
own socks because it seems like such a waste of
money when they're trying to save it up for other things,
so they actually ask for socks.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
The other thing here that was of note robed in
the in the survey regifting. I don't know how you
feel about it. I don't feel great about it, but
apparently it's not a big deal to folks. Seven out
of ten say regifting is O take okay? Seven out
of ten O tay.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
The only thing that I have regifted was alcohol that
I knew someone else, like, Like, I'm not a big
red wine person, so I know if someone is and
I received it, I don't mind regifting that, but I
feel a little ikey about it. Do you how do
you feel?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I don't regift at all. Nope, and don't want to
be really, it's just me. Everybody has their personal thing,
but seven out of ten don't have a problem with it.
And the last thing here, folks, we've been going through
it and look, we're having some fun. And maybe we
did name something you have under the tree, and maybe
you are second guessing some gift, but here is the thing,
and this made me feel good.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Ropes.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Most people, overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly don't even think the gifts are
the best part of the holiday anyway.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Listen, that is very cool. It's the food, it's the fellowship,
it's the family reunions, it's the fun. It really is.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
And their survey here only twelve percent of people say
giving or receiving gifts is the best part of the holiday,
just twelve percent. Now, I hope they're being honest to
maybe feel lol, I can't see my favorite part is
the gift. But no, I think genuinely the wow as
we sit here, the thing we're looking to forward to
most has nothing to do do with the tree. It
has to do with the trip we're taking. It has
to do with the food we're cooking and.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Movies we're going to. Yeah, so that is true, that
is but I do love giving. Receiving can be a
little awkward sometimes because you never know what you're going
to get, but I do love I think most people
would agree givings more fun than receiving.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Well, folks, Mary, Mary, Christmas to you. Just having a
little fun here.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Hopefully we didn't mess up anybody, but folks, hope you
have a wonderful day with family, friends wherever you may be.
I certainly hope you have any safe one as well.
But enjoy it. And it seems lame to say, but
Robes after doing an episode like this, it is. It's
a matter of remembering the reason for the season. That's
kind of goal, that's the reason.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
We say it.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I do love that. So Merry Christmas to all of you.
Thank you for listening, and we hope you have a
beautiful day with your friends and family. I Amy Roeboch
alongside TJ. Holmes. We will talk to you soon.
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