“Pleasure of giving, joy of receiving”. Who has never grimaced internally when discovering the usual moldy Christmas present from Aunt Micheline? Who has never had the gout in their foreheads at the idea of ​​burning Yemen’s GDP to satisfy the whole family, including cousin Machin who shows up every New Year’s Eve? Yes, the Christmas gift stage turns out to be a real ordeal as our readers have told us. However, an investigation by Appinio reveals that the French people interviewed have quite contradictory answers on this question.

“When we have children we don’t care a bit regarding the gifts we receive, the best part is the great joy they have in opening theirs,” Nat, 36, tells us. It’s true that in case law, there is an exception prohibiting us from throwing away rough drawings and noodle necklaces. Apart from that, we still have the right to expect our loved ones to go out of their way a little, in the absence of their PEL, to offer us something that we will like. Except no: “My daughter gave me a horrible cap,” admits Bernard, 94 years old. “I didn’t throw it away but never put it on! », he adds. For Marie, 30, the list is much longer: “A nail file, nail polish even though I never use any, a bar of chocolate, a pin, sugar, a cushion…”, explains she said. “I was even given a knife several times,” she recalls.

We often keep the gifts we don’t like

We must believe that the rotten gift syndrome is more widespread than we would like to believe. According to Appinio’s study, almost 60% of those surveyed have already received a gift they didn’t like. And among these people, most (63%) kept the gift without ever doing anything with it, like Bernard. Others (17%) opted for resale, 6% exchanged it in store and some (1.2%) even returned it to the person who had given it to them. “Now, let me clarify that I really don’t want anything and at least I don’t have to worry regarding having to be falsely happy to receive something that I would happily do without,” says Bidru, another reader.

If there are disappointments on one side, it is perhaps because there are pinchers on the other. Of course, it is probably not the price that counts and the survey confirms to us in any case that the people questioned are not mostly stingy. More than 57% of them allocate a budget between 100 and 400 euros for Christmas gifts while only 4.7% limit themselves to 50 euros. Economic situation, inflation, many recognize that their Christmas budget will not increase, or even decrease, and gifts will be the main source of savings (62%).

Tweezer tips without looking like a rat

There are still some tips for giving a change and not looking like a rat: “Use your restaurant vouchers to buy and offer pots of foie gras, nice boxes of biscuits, pots of honey, parcels of “delicatessen purchased in supermarkets,” advises Caroline, an Internet user.

Another good plan to avoid breaking the bank is DIY: “I offer homemade chocolates and biscuits. The idea is that it is original, so not the traditional star-shaped biscuits, and above all tasty,” says Patrick. Everything, “well packaged and decorated to show that we took the trouble,” he continues.

The third pincer tip is to offer second-hand items. In his survey, Appinio shows that almost 30% of those questioned have already done so and that almost 40% of them say they are ready to take the plunge. “I give gifts bought in resource stores every year,” admits Gaya, a 46-year-old reader. And if she assumes this perfectly, Gaya nevertheless assures that “this shocks some people who think that I do not love my family”.

It’s beautiful and it doesn’t cost a cent: “Tell your parents that you love them if it’s never been done. It’s not a gift, it’s the beginning of happiness,” prefers Anthony, 29 years old. Heremoana, another Internet user, gives us what is perhaps the ultimate solution: “Cause a lot of trouble in the family, and as a result, not give gifts for Christmas, without seeming like a cheapskate.” It can work, even in the long term.