The most unhinged gifts people have actually received

Let’s face it, gift giving is a high-stakes sport. Sometimes you crush it and become a living legend. Other times… well, you end up on this list.

We trawled the internet, bugged our mates and shamelessly scrolled Reddit at 2am to find the most unhinged, hilarious and deeply questionable gifts people have actually received. These aren’t made up. These are real. And they’re a warning to us all.

Here are 7 of our favourites. No judgement (but also, lots of judgement).

1. “A Funeral Brochure From Their Family Plot”

Imagine opening a card expecting chocolates, and instead - ta-da! - a brochure for your future burial spot. Yes, this happened. And no, it wasn’t a joke. (At least... we hope it wasn’t.)

Moral of the story: If your gift includes the phrase “pre-paid plot”, maybe reconsider.

2. “A Raw Egg in a Box”

No explanation. No context. Just one raw egg in a jewellery box. That’s it. Honestly? Iconic in its absurdity.

Unhinged level: 9/10
Practicality level: Salmonella

3. “A Real Horse (Without a Property to Keep It On)”

One woman’s boyfriend bought her a horse… while she lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the city. Cue chaos. And a very awkward phone call to a local farm.

Reminder: If your gift needs a paddock and weekly hoof trimming, it’s not a surprise, it’s a responsibility.

4. “A Half-Used Lip Balm”

We get it. Times are tough. But if you’re digging through your own purse for a ‘last-minute gift’, maybe just write a card and call it a day.

5. “A Bar of Soap That Said ‘You Smell’”

Technically useful. Emotionally scarring.

6. “A Gravestone-Shaped Cake for a 30th Birthday”

Nothing says “I love you and your youth is dead” like buttercream mortality.

PSA: Funny and traumatic? That’s the line.

7. “A Single Puzzle Piece (of a Puzzle They Didn’t Own)”

This one is just… haunting. A mystery. A threat. A slow-burn prank that lives rent-free in our brains.

Want to Stay Off This List?

Easy. Don’t give raw eggs or grave plots.
Give something that:

• Makes people laugh (in a good way)
• Feels personal, not terrifying
• Comes with a cheeky card and actual thought behind it