Tis the season for giving, but seriously, white bread and toilet paper?

The TL;DR: Receiving gifts is often a highlight during the festive season, but some young people say they have received some gifts that had them scratching their heads in bewilderment.  

Ho, ho, oh no… One of the most anticipated aspects of the festive season is the gift exchange, often at class parties or family gatherings. There’s something about unboxing a nicely-wrapped gift, not knowing what surprise – or shock – awaits you.

Young people told TLDR about the dud gifts they’ve received during the festive season.

White bread 

“The worst thing I got was a loaf of white bread. I know it was a low-budget gift exchange but they could have gotten me a Hello Kitty bun.”

“I still ate it. At least it tasted good.”

Sky Wang, 17, Ngee Ann Polytechnic student 

The same Nerf gun, thrice

“There was one Christmas where I received the same gift from three different people. I went to three different parties and every single gift I got was this particular Nerf gun. It was the basic kind, where you have to pull back the piston before you shoot.”

“When I got the first one, I thought it was cool. Then I got another and another. I was a kid then so I think people thought I would probably enjoy playing with the gun.”

“I still have the toy guns. They’re somewhere at home.”

Isaac Lim, 17, Ngee Ann Polytechnic student 

Toilet paper

“I once received toilet rolls in a Secret Santa gift exchange.”

“It used to be a running joke in my friend group that whenever I go to the toilet, I find myself without tissues. My friend got me toilet rolls, so that I would not have to ask them for tissues again.”

Najwa Abdullah, 17, ITE College Central student

Candy and air freshener

“We had a Secret Santa gift exchange for our radio deejay co-curricular activity, and others were getting some nice gifts like an expensive bottle of perfume. I bought my giftee jewellery.

“I received a bag of Chupa Chups candy – which is not so bad – and air freshener. Not that the gifts were bad, but they just got me thinking: Do I smell?

“I used the air freshener – it was quite great actually – and ate the candy. Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful, but like…”

Ms N. J. Eshani, 20, Ngee Ann Polytechnic student

Rubber slippers

“We were doing a gift exchange among our friends and I got a pair of slippers. Not even nice, cute, colourful ones, just a plain, black rubber pair. The ones you can buy at a market for $2. 

“I ended up giving it to my mum, and she kept them as spare slippers for anyone who needed them.”

Ms Jennifer Lim, 19, ITE College Central student

Manchester United jersey

“I received a Manchester United football jersey during a gift exchange. But I’m a Liverpool fan!

“I think whoever gifted it to me did not know me well enough or maybe the gifts got mixed up. I don’t think I could even wear that. I felt bad throwing it away so I kept it, but never touched it again.” 

Mr James Lee, 22, Nanyang Polytechnic student