Gifts that will ruin your relationship

Unless you want to spend New Year's Eve single or be in the dog house for a very long time, there are some items you just shouldn't give your significant other for Christmas.

Weight loss books/gym membership

This is one of those gifts that could either be warmly received or land you a one-way ticket to the singles scene. Unless your significant other has specifically requested a certain title, or asked for a few sessions with a personal trainer - don't give any gift that could make your partner feel like you think they need to lose a few pounds. If they weren't already self-conscious enough, nothing says "I think you're fat" quite like unwrapping the Atkin's cookbook on Christmas Day from someone who you thought loved you 'just the way you are.' Even if your sweetie does request something for their self-improvement, it's best to exchange these types of gifts in private, just in case they don't want Grandma Jane and Aunt Sue to know they're looking to get in shape, quit smoking or possibly battling an addiciton.

Cheap (or celebrity) perfume

While there's nothing wrong with getting your sweetie a bottle of their favourite eau de whatever, giving them a bottle of cheap perfume is akin to saying that you're not willing to put an investment into their gift, and very likely not willing to invest in the relationship. Generally speaking, a celebrity-created perfume is nothing more than another way for them to squeeze a few more dollars out of their fanbase and isn't actually a scent you'd want to wear. It also shows that you haven't really taken the time to get to know them well enough to know what fragrance really tickles their fancy. Plus, do you really want to smell like a Kardashian?

Clothes

Depending on how well you know your partner and how long you've been together, clothes are generally one of those things best left off the holiday gift-giving list. Fashion is such a personal thing, and unless they've specifically pointed out the sweater their life would not be complete without, you run the risk of your gift hanging in the closet. There's also that risk that you won't get your significant other's size just right - which may offend them if you get it too big - and again, your well-meaning gift might just end up taking up space in their closet. Plus, who really wants to ask their loved-one what size they are? Leave the socks and underwear for your stockings and let your partner dress themselves.

Gift cards (or cash)

While there's nothing wrong with gift cards, getting a gift card from your significant other is a signal that they either don't know you at all or that they left things to the last minute. If you've spent enough time with someone that you're ready to exchange Christmas presents, you should at least know enough about them to get them a meaningful gift.  So while a gift card to the bookstore might be thoughtful coming from their cousin, you can at least get him/her a book by their favourite writer. Nothing smells like lazy gift-giving more than an envelope of cash, even if it is more portable than a store-specific gift card.

An engagement ring

This might not be the case for all ladies, but I think most can agree that getting an engagement ring on Christmas is not how they'd like their proposal to go down. You might think it's sweet and special but ladies don't want to lose the thunder of either of these special days. It would be like proposing on her birthday - bad taste; there are 360-some-odd other perfectly valid days of the year when you can pop the question. I'm also of the school of thought that says something like a proposal is best done intimately, between the two of you and not in front of your extended family, or a restaurant full of strangers. Plus, the holidays are already stressful enough without adding the pressure of deciding whether you want to spend the rest of your life with someone.

Scented candles

Nothing says last-minute and cheap quite like scented candles. The fact that you can pick them up almost anywhere shows you didn't really put much foresight into it either. Unless your sweetie has a thing for some rare or exotic candle that can only be found at one store in the entire world, steer clear of candles. While you might think that 'lilac fields' is the best scent in the entire world, your partner may not agree and could even be allergic to the fragrance you pick.

Cleaning tools

Although your sweetie might love cleaning, and say it helps them de-stress, giving them a vacuum cleaner probably isn't going to win you any points. Same goes for any other sort of cleaning tool. Unless you've both agreed that the household could benefit from a new washer/dryer, it's best to hold off for some other time. They might put on a good face, but your loved one's heart is likely sinking when they see that big box isn't holding the shiny new pony of their dreams.

Personal hygiene products

It doesn't matter that it comes in a little gift box, with ribbons and bows and special limited-editions  doodads, deodorant and razors are something you can buy for yourself, your partner need not gift it to you on Christmas morning. Buying gifts from the pharmacy also signals that you didn't put much foresight into what to get your partner or picked up something last-minute on your way to the gift exchange. Double bad if you use a gift bag from the pharmacy too.

Photo Credits

Perfume: Adam Orchon/Everett Collection

Clothes: The Canadian Press/Image Source

Gift cards: AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File

Candles: The Canadian Press/Ableimages

Vacuum cleaner: LEHTIKUVA / Sari Gustafsson

Razor: The Canadian Press/Ableimages