A BLOW-up boyfriend, a single sock and a potato with the recipient’s name on it have been revealed among some of the UK’s strangest Christmas gifts.
A new nationwide study commissioned by blood cancer charity Leukaemia Care has revealed that many Brits are rethinking the way they give gifts at Christmas – especially at the last minute.
Around half of the 2,000 surveyed admit they regularly re-gift unwanted presents, and more than a third say they would rather donate to charity than buy a token gift.
The research, released to launch Leukaemia Care’s winter appeal ‘The Unseen Gift’, uncovers the scale of waste and pressure surrounding festive giving in the UK.
Almost a quarter of people say they receive up to two gifts each Christmas that they don’t actually want, and a similar proportion choose to donate unwanted presents to charity.
Over 60 per cent admit to buying last-minute panic gifts just for the sake of having something to give, and almost half feel pressured to spend more than they can afford at Christmas.
When asked about the strangest or most unwanted presents they’ve ever received, respondents revealed that things can go very wrong.
Among the most common were single socks, toiletries, cheap novelty mugs, soap, stationery, and ill-fitting clothing – with many admitting they’d been handed something that had clearly been re-gifted or chosen in a last-minute panic.
But some answers took a much quirkier turn. People reported being given everything from a potato with their name written on it to a brick, a concrete rabbit, a Viking necklace, and even a sign for a cheese shop.
A surprising number mentioned risque gadgets, including a ‘blow-up boyfriend’ and a ‘ladybird battery massager’. Others recalled gifts that were just plain bizarre, such as a cable wire, a home-made fort (as an adult), or a custom bobblehead of their boss.
Together, the stories paint a picture of well-meant generosity gone hilariously wrong, and underline how much money is wasted each year on presents no one really wants.
Leukaemia Care’s The Unseen Gift campaign encourages people to give differently by donating in someone’s name to support those affected by blood cancer, instead of buying an unwanted or unnecessary present.
Colin Dyer, chief executive of Leukaemia Care, said: “Every year, millions of pounds are spent on gifts that end up forgotten, re-gifted or in the bin.
“The Unseen Gift is about turning that waste into something truly meaningful, a gift that could help save a life, support patients and advise families how best to navigate what can be a difficult time together.
“We know people want to show they care, but this research shows many of us are tired of the pressure and the excess. By giving an unseen gift, you’re still giving – but in a way that makes a lasting difference.
“We all want Christmas to feel special, but sometimes the most powerful gifts are the ones you can’t wrap. Supporting someone through a diagnosis, funding a helpline call, or helping us reach another family in need – those are gifts that truly matter.”
The charity hopes the campaign will inspire people to rethink how they give, and remind them that even small, thoughtful acts can make a tangible impact.
Visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/theunseengift to leave an unseen gift.
