11 Gifts You Were Thrilled to Get But Never Used
Here's a nostalgic look at the exciting gifts we once begged for but ended up abandoning.
- Alyana Aguja
- 3 min read
Everyone has received a gift that felt life-changing in the moment but ended up collecting dust. From foot spas to fitness trackers, these presents sparked joy only to fade into unused clutter. This list highlights the thrill of receiving such items and the humorous reality of never finding a reason to use them.
1. Fondue Set
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Getting a fondue set felt like a step into adulthood, the promise of gooey cheese nights and chocolate-dipped strawberries. However, once the excitement wore off, it sat untouched because nobody really has time to melt cheese for dinner. It became more of a kitchen decoration than an actual dining staple.
2. Scented Candle Collection
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Receiving a box of beautifully packaged candles always feels luxurious. The problem is that many people don’t want to burn them because they seem too beautiful to ruin. Instead, they collect dust on a shelf until the scent fades.
3. Guitar
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Opening up a shiny new guitar as a teenager felt like the start of a rockstar dream. You pictured yourself strumming songs in front of friends, but reality hit when tuning and practicing took real work. It ended up propped against the wall, barely touched after the first few tries.
4. Fancy Stationery
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Stacks of embossed notecards, metallic pens, and monogrammed paper make anyone feel like they’ll suddenly become a letter-writer. Yet the thought of ruining such perfect pages often keeps them sealed in their boxes. Eventually, digital communication wins, and the stationery never gets used.
5. Foot Spa Machine
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On Christmas morning, unwrapping a foot spa felt like you’d unlocked the ultimate self-care routine. However, filling it with water, plugging it in, and cleaning it afterward felt like more trouble than it was worth. Most people tried it once, then shoved it in the closet.
6. Bread Maker
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The idea of waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread was magical. After one or two loaves, people realized grocery store bread was cheaper and more convenient. The bulky machine ended up taking valuable space on the counter until it was packed away.
7. Karaoke Microphone
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The thrill of having your own karaoke mic, complete with echo settings and Bluetooth, felt unbeatable. For one night, it was a hit at parties, but then it never came out again. It now lives at the bottom of a drawer, batteries long corroded.
8. Bath Bomb Gift Set
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The pastel fizzing bath bombs looked luxurious and Instagram-worthy. However, between busy schedules and small tubs, most people never found the time to actually use them. They often crumbled in the box before they ever touched water.
9. Fitness Tracker
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Getting a sleek wristband promising health and productivity gave you the motivation of a lifetime. For a week, you checked your steps religiously, but soon it became another accessory you forgot to charge. Eventually, it joined the pile of unused tech gadgets.
10. Cocktail Shaker Kit
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Unwrapping a polished set of shakers, strainers, and glasses made you feel like you’d become a mixologist overnight. In reality, mixing more than two ingredients felt like a hassle. It stayed untouched while you stuck with pouring wine or beer.
11. Expensive Perfume
Jessica Weiller from Unsplash
Receiving a designer perfume is always a glamorous moment. However, many people save it for “special occasions” that never quite arrive. The bottle lingers for years, unopened or barely used, until the scent starts to change.