The average person now has £38 less to spend each month after tax than they did at the end of 2024, following three consecutive quarters of falling UK living standards.
It wouldn't be Christmas without at least one gift so misguided we question whether our loved ones know us at all.
Now a survey by Which? has revealed the most disappointing Christmas presents received in the UK, with used pyjamas and rotten fruit among the underwhelming gifts reported.
The consumer group surveyed more than 2,000 members of the public in January 2025 about their gifts last Christmas, and also asked them about the worst gifts they had ever received.
The latter question led to answers like the used PJs, a rotten coconut and pineapple, marmite-scented deodorant and a Tottenham Hotspur book for a Chelsea fan.
One respondent said their daughter had gifted them a helicopter ride, despite them having vertigo and a fear of flying.
Generally, Which? found that roughly one in five people had received an unwanted or unsuitable gift for Christmas 2024.
Asked what they did with the unwanted gift, 33% said they kept it and would use it and 15% said they would keep it but wouldn't use it.
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34% admitted they got rid of the gift - 12% gave it to a friend or family member, 11% gave it to a charity shop and 8% sold it on an online marketplace.
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Which? said nearly half of those who tried to return their gift said they experienced an issue.
Lisa Webb, consumer law expert, said: "It's hard to think of a more disappointing present than used pyjamas or rotten fruit but our research shows that a fifth of us have been left wondering what to do with an unwanted gift.
"It's always worth getting a gift receipt so your loved one has the option to return their gift if needed.
"Sometimes, for online orders, only the buyer can request a refund or exchange. But if the item was marked as a gift when ordered, the retailer's returns policy may enable a recipient to return or exchange it."
