How many times have you asked for advice when hunting for the perfect gift? Buying cracking presents is tough and the most organised and inventive shoppers have had to seek help when the chips are down. However the advice given isn’t always great. In fact some of it can be downright dangerous. Here are four pieces of advice given when it comes to gifts that could see you dealing with more than a pleasant thank you letter…

It’s The Thought That Counts

This is dangerous. If this were true, there would be no gift industry. Admittedly it can work but the problem is this mentality takes over when a ‘can’t be bothered’ attitude has been dominant. Thus the phrase is associated with flowers from the gas station and cards from supermarkets. This means relying on this, especially around Valentine’s Day, has the potential to end in punch in the chops, nose or any other delicate region. And that means a trip to the emergency room!

Extravagant Pets Are A Great Idea

I expect this to be popular this year as it’s the Diamond Jubilee and undoubtedly Queenie is going to receive a number of crazy animals from exotic admirers if the past is anything to go by. However as for your pal? Don’t get them a pet, extravagant or otherwise. It’s a bad idea, mainly for the animal, but also for you. Any exotic animal however small or cute looking has the potential to do harm to a degree that requires hospital treatment. You’ve been warned.

Make Something

This is a great idea if you are competent with power tools or craft equipment. If you go manly and aim to make a ceremonial bench for example to celebrate the birthday of a loved one don’t end up jig sawing through an artery or drilling a hole through your hand. It puts a real damper on the project. If you go for something a little more home crafts, mind that art knife, it’s sharp!

Be Adventurous

The experience gift has for a while now been super popular for those lucky types who seem to have everything. However the experience gifts seem to be for the more adventurous types, which means to go with their ‘everything’ recipients quite often end up with a limb in a cast. This would for the most part be fine but these gifts tend to require group participation, which means you’re going to be go-carting, abseiling or trekking about too. Snap, I hear the sound of breaking bones.

Choose your gifts wisely and the advice you take on them even more wisely…

Terrence Martins loves buying presents and for the most part gets it pretty much spot on, which is good news seeing as he works tracking down funny gifts for the online store Find Me A Gift.