Christmas shopping often involves lots of thought and care - but that doesn't mean every present you gift goes down quite as well as you'd hoped. From duplicates to a difference in taste, there's lots of reasons why people might not like their presents, even though they appreciate the effort.
So, it should be no surprise that lots of gifts find their way to charity shops after the festive season is over. If you've ever wondered which presents you dish out are most likely to get donated, today could be your lucky day.
British Heart Foundation has revealed some of the most common items they receive after Christmas - and it could be bad news if you gave your loved ones books.
Toys, jumpers, DVDs and books are among the most commonly donated items at this time of the year. However, it doesn't necessarily mean your gifts didn't score. Second-hand books, toys and clothes also rank as some of the presents most likely to be purchased from charity shops.
So, it could be that your nearest and dearest loved your presents so much they wanted to donate similar items for others to benefit from - or they simply needed a clear out of their old good after receiving more from you. Regardless, it's great to hear people pass old or unwanted presents - and help charity at the same time.
As families across the country struggle with the cost of living crisis, donating unwanted gifts to charity is a great way to avoid waste and offer the items up to a new owner at a cheaper cost.
Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "We all know what it's like after Christmas. Homes can be filled to the brim with people and gifts. Once the festive cheer has settled and we reflect on another joyful Christmas, some gifts can very quickly fall out of favour, gathering dust under the Christmas tree or left abandoned in the cupboard.
"At the BHF, we see an increase in toys, jumpers, accessories, homewares, DVDs and books at this time of year and it's a great opportunity to donate those quality items to the BHF. It's not only free and easy but helps fund our life saving research.
"Our recent survey found that a fifth of Brits said they would donate unwanted Christmas gifts to charity and one of their main motivations were to fund a good cause and to help declutter. Visit our website to find out more about the easy, free and convenient ways to donate to the BHF."
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