I just read that most people keep gifts for less than a year

I was looking up some stats on gift giving for a school project and found a study from a university. It said over 60% of gifts people get are either thrown out, donated, or just lost within 12 months. That really hit me. I started thinking about all the stuff I've bought my family. My sister got a fancy scarf from me last Christmas and I haven't seen her wear it once. It makes me wonder why we spend so much money on things that just end up in a closet. Maybe we should focus more on giving experiences or things people actually ask for. What's the longest you've kept a gift you actually liked?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_wells1mo ago

Ever feel like you're just giving someone a chore to store? I switched to giving my mom tickets to local plays instead of another sweater. She still talks about the shows years later! My dad got a fancy cheese club subscription one year and we had fun trying them all together. Those memories stick around way longer than stuff.

wright.taylor28d ago

Giving someone a chore to store" is painfully accurate. My aunt's weird vase has been in my closet for three years.

taylorhunt1mo ago

My buddy gave his wife a pottery class for her birthday, and she was so into it she turned their garage into a studio. Now she sells mugs at the farmer's market. That gift basically started a whole new chapter for her, which is way cooler than some trinket gathering dust. It really changed how I see giving things.