Debate ensues after Aussie reveals his 5 ‘worst gift choices’
- Replies 10
The joy of giving is an integral part of the holiday spirit.
However, in this social-media-driven age where it feels as if everyone is competing to show off their ‘perfect’ Christmas, we tend to overlook the importance of mindful spending, especially when it comes to presents.
Case in point: An Australian shopper has sparked a debate by revealing the common Christmas spending traps many of us fall into.
He has identified five gifts that he believed are a waste of money and has urged fellow Aussies to avoid purchasing them this festive season.
Here are the five worst gift choices, as posted on his social media account:
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
The first item on his list is the Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a whiskey created using the rarest casks in House of Walker.
Retailing at $341 at Dan Murphys, this whiskey is described as an 'exquisite blend of vanilla, honey and rose petals' and is rumoured to have aged between 28 and 60 years.
However, the man disagreed, stating it had an 'unremarkable' taste.
‘It's a scam to recycle all the old whisky that has aged so much that they have lost their flavour. Don't fall for it. Even black label is better,’ he said on social media.
Luxury Vodka
Next on his list is luxury vodka.
‘Apart from exotic flavours or African moonshine, all vodka is basically ethanol and water, triple distilled to remove any adulterants,’ he said.
‘Nobody can reliably pick out the grey goose from the Russian standard. I guarantee it.’
A bottle of Grey Goose vodka costs up to $100. Meanwhile, Russian varieties cost around $30 to $40 per bottle.
Expensive Underwear
Expensive underwear also made it to his list of 'waste of money' gifts.
‘In my experience, their sizing is weird, and they're not all that much better quality than Bonds,’ he said.
‘I get that some people want to wear $200 logo tees, but nobody will see your undies except the missus, and she doesn't care.’
A three-pack of Calvin Klein or Polo Ralph Lauren briefs costs around $100, while Bonds underwear costs around $40 per pack.
Health Supplements Containing ‘Superfoods’
The fourth item he warns against is health supplements that contain 'superfoods' like ginseng, probiotics, and açai berries.
He argued that it’s not proven that these products work.
‘In the case of the latter, there are many ordinary foods that are rich in antioxidants. You're paying more for the same result,’ he said.
Branded Fragrances
Lastly, he urged shoppers to avoid branded fragrances and instead take the time to find dupes for luxury bottles.
'The markup on these things is something like 10000 per cent on the cost of production. Do yourself a favour and research dupes. Save hundreds of dollars,' he pointed out.
‘Sure, they may last a bit shorter and have worse sillage. Very few people notice.’
Chanel ‘Chance’, a famous women’s fragrance, costs $190, and Dior Sauvage costs $145.
Kmart offers the best dupes of fragrances, such as 50ml bottles of designer-inspired perfumes from the likes of Vera Wang, Ariana Grande, Marc Jacobs and Gucci. Read more about it here.
The man's post sparked a lively debate, with many agreeing, particularly on expensive underwear.
‘On the expensive underwear note, I bought step ones because I was chafing literally every day. I haven't had chafe since, so worth the cost,' one said.
'I went from Tom Ford to StepOne for my underwear. Couldn't be happier with the economics and comfort,' another added.
Meanwhile, a third commented: 'Wrapping paper is the biggest waste.'
A fourth replied, 'Don't even get me started on the cost of cards'.
However, others disagreed, especially with his advice on alcohol.
‘Vodkas can have a certain distinct taste depending on grains and brands, I can definitely tell the difference,’ one commented.
Another added, ‘I agree that you can find better deals, and unbranded/lesser known brands give you the same experience cheaper, but don't forget sometimes a brand has power and means something to someone—even if in just the gesture itself of saying “I spent money to get the brand to signal your worth to me.”’
‘Alcohol, underwear, [and] fragrances are often items you give as gifts. It is not a waste of money to buy the good stuff for your friends and family! You get what you pay for,’ another commented.
‘The taste between Smirnoff and Grey goose is incredibly noticeable, particularly the next morning. The hangover from cheap vodka is noticeably worse,’ one said.
'Expensive/purpose-made underwear is the difference between chaffing and not chaffing. And for any person who has some decent chafe, it isn't a pleasant experience.'
If you want to make the most of your Christmas budget, the CEO of Smart Women Society shared what you need to know to make your budget survive this Christmas.
In this story, she provided ideas on working your Christmas budget and what kind of gifts to buy. Learn more about her tips here.
Do you agree with the five things he mentioned? What can you say a gift is the ‘worst gift’? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
However, in this social-media-driven age where it feels as if everyone is competing to show off their ‘perfect’ Christmas, we tend to overlook the importance of mindful spending, especially when it comes to presents.
Case in point: An Australian shopper has sparked a debate by revealing the common Christmas spending traps many of us fall into.
He has identified five gifts that he believed are a waste of money and has urged fellow Aussies to avoid purchasing them this festive season.
Here are the five worst gift choices, as posted on his social media account:
A shopper said these five products are the worst gifts to buy. Credit: Unsplash
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
The first item on his list is the Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a whiskey created using the rarest casks in House of Walker.
Retailing at $341 at Dan Murphys, this whiskey is described as an 'exquisite blend of vanilla, honey and rose petals' and is rumoured to have aged between 28 and 60 years.
However, the man disagreed, stating it had an 'unremarkable' taste.
‘It's a scam to recycle all the old whisky that has aged so much that they have lost their flavour. Don't fall for it. Even black label is better,’ he said on social media.
Luxury Vodka
Next on his list is luxury vodka.
‘Apart from exotic flavours or African moonshine, all vodka is basically ethanol and water, triple distilled to remove any adulterants,’ he said.
‘Nobody can reliably pick out the grey goose from the Russian standard. I guarantee it.’
A bottle of Grey Goose vodka costs up to $100. Meanwhile, Russian varieties cost around $30 to $40 per bottle.
Expensive Underwear
Expensive underwear also made it to his list of 'waste of money' gifts.
‘In my experience, their sizing is weird, and they're not all that much better quality than Bonds,’ he said.
‘I get that some people want to wear $200 logo tees, but nobody will see your undies except the missus, and she doesn't care.’
A three-pack of Calvin Klein or Polo Ralph Lauren briefs costs around $100, while Bonds underwear costs around $40 per pack.
Health Supplements Containing ‘Superfoods’
The fourth item he warns against is health supplements that contain 'superfoods' like ginseng, probiotics, and açai berries.
He argued that it’s not proven that these products work.
‘In the case of the latter, there are many ordinary foods that are rich in antioxidants. You're paying more for the same result,’ he said.
Branded Fragrances
Lastly, he urged shoppers to avoid branded fragrances and instead take the time to find dupes for luxury bottles.
'The markup on these things is something like 10000 per cent on the cost of production. Do yourself a favour and research dupes. Save hundreds of dollars,' he pointed out.
‘Sure, they may last a bit shorter and have worse sillage. Very few people notice.’
Chanel ‘Chance’, a famous women’s fragrance, costs $190, and Dior Sauvage costs $145.
Kmart offers the best dupes of fragrances, such as 50ml bottles of designer-inspired perfumes from the likes of Vera Wang, Ariana Grande, Marc Jacobs and Gucci. Read more about it here.
Three of the five worst gifts to buy, according to the Aussie shopper. Credit: Unsplash
The man's post sparked a lively debate, with many agreeing, particularly on expensive underwear.
‘On the expensive underwear note, I bought step ones because I was chafing literally every day. I haven't had chafe since, so worth the cost,' one said.
'I went from Tom Ford to StepOne for my underwear. Couldn't be happier with the economics and comfort,' another added.
Meanwhile, a third commented: 'Wrapping paper is the biggest waste.'
A fourth replied, 'Don't even get me started on the cost of cards'.
However, others disagreed, especially with his advice on alcohol.
‘Vodkas can have a certain distinct taste depending on grains and brands, I can definitely tell the difference,’ one commented.
Another added, ‘I agree that you can find better deals, and unbranded/lesser known brands give you the same experience cheaper, but don't forget sometimes a brand has power and means something to someone—even if in just the gesture itself of saying “I spent money to get the brand to signal your worth to me.”’
‘Alcohol, underwear, [and] fragrances are often items you give as gifts. It is not a waste of money to buy the good stuff for your friends and family! You get what you pay for,’ another commented.
‘The taste between Smirnoff and Grey goose is incredibly noticeable, particularly the next morning. The hangover from cheap vodka is noticeably worse,’ one said.
'Expensive/purpose-made underwear is the difference between chaffing and not chaffing. And for any person who has some decent chafe, it isn't a pleasant experience.'
If you want to make the most of your Christmas budget, the CEO of Smart Women Society shared what you need to know to make your budget survive this Christmas.
In this story, she provided ideas on working your Christmas budget and what kind of gifts to buy. Learn more about her tips here.
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