15 worst holiday gifts for men

Men aren't tough to shop for, but steer clear of these 15 gift ideas. 

Men aren’t tough to shop for, but that doesn’t mean you can buy us just anything. We’re not picky, but we certainly don’t want the same things women want. Women like thoughtful gifts from the heart, and men just want stuff that’s a mix of fun and useful.

If you’re convinced you’ve nailed down great gifts for the men in your life, check out the following list of 15 gift ideas to avoid: 

1. Gym membership

What, we’re not fit enough already? This not-so-subtle suggestion that we need to get in shape won’t convince us to get off the couch, but it will be grounds for retaliation with your gift next year.

2. Silly gadgets

Stores like Brookstone and Sharper Image are the go-to gadget stores for the hard-to-shop-for male. But please, no more 3-in-1 pens or motorized grill brushes. We already have regular versions of these things that do the job without batteries and buttons.

3. Cologne

Men either already wear a specific cologne or choose not to wear any. Your random scent selection won’t fit into either of those categories, but it will sit unused in our bathroom medicine cabinet forever.

4. Tools (for a certain project)

This one may have you scratching your head since men enjoy their power tools, but hear me out. Men know when you want us to complete that household project you’ve been nagging about. Your gift says, “Now you have no excuse not to redo the bathroom!” Turning a gift into a chore will turn any man off. Do you like it when we give you a vacuum cleaner?

5. Ties

File this gift under the “boring” and “forgettable” categories. No man is going to get excited to unwrap a new tie, much less throw it on for a day at the office. Useful? Maybe. Fun? You’ve got to be kidding.

6. Shoes and clothes

It’s not that men don’t need shoes and clothes, we just don’t get excited about this stuff. In addition, the chances of you nailing our tastes are slim. Put down that Hawaiian shirt – it will never leave the closet. And don’t get me started on how awful socks are as a present.

7. Nose hair trimmer

I received one of these before and wasn’t sure what to think about it. Was it a gag gift? Or do I seriously have a nose hair problem? I still don’t know, but I’m certain I’ve never used it before. While you’re at it, skip any other gift that adds, removes, or colors hair.

8. Personalized stuff

Personalized gifts aren’t only tacky, but we probably don’t need it whether it says our name or not. I’m talking about mugs, shirts, aprons, or anything else that says “World’s best dad/uncle/brother.” Find another way to tell us how great we are.

9. Bath products

Have you ever seen bath products on a man’s wish list? I didn’t think so. We spend close to zero time thinking about this stuff, and that tells you something about how little we care about what we use.

10. Jewelry

Men who wear jewelry don’t need a ton of it. We’re not going to accessorize with every outfit. If we don’t already wear jewelry, your gift probably won’t change our minds.

11. Anything “As Seen on TV”

Yes, we’ve already seen it on TV, and guess what? We didn’t buy it. We know Snuggies are cozy and warm, but we don’t want to look like the world’s softest wizard. Golf club gimmicks found on TV aren’t going to help our game, either.

12. Framed pictures

We get it, you’re going for sentimental. But guys don’t enjoy sentimental gifts as much as fun ones. We can appreciate couple or family photos to glance over at from our workplace desk, but don’t expect us to be excited about unwrapping this.

13. Gag gifts

Everyone’s seen the singing fish now, and we don’t need to see it again. Gag gifts are good for a quick laugh, but that’s it before they’re tossed out or take up residence in the garage.

14. Artwork

Decor is another one that’s never going to top the list of things men think about on a regular basis. Best case: We hang it up and never notice it again. Worst case: It’s off to Goodwill.

15. Coupons for favors

While women might love a coupon for a “Special dinner date night” or “Back massage,” men won’t be excited to unwrap this one.

Don’t get me wrong: It’s not that we don’t want to spend quality time with you. But can’t we do it without making it into a gift? Plus, we know this was a last-minute idea born from the fact you waited too long to shop.

Jeffrey Trull is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.