( The Frisky ) -- A really bad gift can be a sign that your relationship is headed over a cliff , columnist says . Have you seen that Target commercial where the guy gives his date a beautiful necklace , only to have the woman look kind of uncomfortable and announce that she did n't think they were quite `` there '' yet ? After a flash of hurt crosses his face , he zings back that he bought it at Target so it was super cheap . I always high-five that guy in my head , but truth is , I 've been an ungrateful giftee in the past . However , it 's also the truth that I 've received a lot of crappy gifts . Some were heartfelt , others were just dumb . So in light of the fact that we 're in primo gift-exchange season , I put together some guidelines for how to handle the gifts you get that you really wish you had n't ... Too utilitarian . I thought only married ladies woke up to things like vacuum cleaners or shower squeegees under their tree . Not so . A yoga instructor I know received a Dustbuster from her live-in boyfriend , while singer/songwriter Peg had a beau who gifted her with an oven mitt . `` I should 've yelled , '' she recalls . `` I think I just had a stunned , very disappointed look on my face . Not sure what he was trying to say , but clearly we were nearing an end . '' How to handle : Generally , I 'm of the mind that you should try to smile and eke out a thank you , no matter what . But when someone -- particularly a live-in partner -- gives you something designed to make cooking for or cleaning up after them a little easier . . . well , no . Just no . The Frisky : When a bad gift reveals an even worse relationship . Wrong size . You have to have a little sympathy for the dude brave ( or foolhardy ) enough to buy you clothes . Even if he has your style down , most men are clueless with women 's sizes . Searching your closet is n't much help either as one designer 's `` M '' is another 's `` XL , '' so he 's screwed either way . If he buys something too small , then you have a gift that does n't fit and makes you feel fat . If he buys something too large , you 'll be convinced he thinks you 're a chubster . How to handle : Do n't take it personally . Politely tell him that while you love the dress/sweater/chaps , it 's not your size and you 're going to exchange it for something that 'll allow you to exhale . The Frisky : My boyfriend does n't like my hairy legs ! Utterly clueless . `` Our first Christmas together , my ex bought me all action figures , from sports and horror movies , '' shares my friend , Jennifer . `` One was a bobblehead ! '' Jennifer 's now-ex had never been in a serious relationship before , so he was n't being cruel with the bobblehead , just clueless . How to handle : Jennifer knew better the next year . `` Develop specific lists of things you want on Etsy , Amazon , wherever , '' she advises . `` And let him choose from a list of things you already know you like . Because sorry -- if you want to be surprised , you most surely will be . '' And not in a good way . The Frisky : The 5 lies women tell themselves . I 'm not her . I still remember the unspeakably ugly , donut-shaped , skull-adorned , pleather purse my man bought me one year . It was so off . So utterly not me . But perfect for his ex -- a much younger goth chick . With a forced smile I told him it seemed that he was shopping for the ghost of relationships past . How to handle : Calmly explain that while she was Kmart , you are Bloomingdale 's and he has to shop accordingly . Men tend to think women all want the same things , so if he spent years getting used to gifting a one way , there might be a period of adjustment while he resets . The message . You can learn a lot about a relationship from the gifts you exchange . `` The last Christmas we were together I gave him a suitcase , and he gave me a set of knives , '' says an editor I interviewed . The two split up by mid-January . My message gift was a cheapo , faux turquoise , Santa Fe-style , silver-plated bracelet that an ex picked out with help from the girl he was cheating on me with . Ouchie . How to handle : You got the gift , do n't wait for the engraved announcement -- get out . The Frisky : 9 inexcusable excuses for breaking up .
'T is the time of the year when some really bad gifts can be delivered . It 's always bad for live-in partner to gift something to make it easier to clean up after them . Boyfriends can be clueless , so develop lists of favorites on Etsy or Amazon . Totally thoughtless gifts may be sign that your relationship is about to end .