From condoms to cat food, the worst Valentine's Day gifts revealed

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and the shops are awash with cute heart shaped gifts for those wanting to treat their loved ones.

Turns out what to get your other half is a burning question right now with 43,000 recent online searches for 'Valentine's Day gifts' as people look for inspiration to spoil their significant other.

But before you commit, it's probably worth thinking about what you shouldn't get them with a new poll revealing some of the worst gifts couples have received on the most romantic day of the year.

While 68% of the couples surveyed say they regularly exchange gifts with their partner on Valentine’s Day, 41% are left unimpressed by the usual Valentine’s Day gifts such as scented candles, flowers and chocolates.

And some have been considerably more disappointed with their presents, sharing some of the worst which range from cheap chocolate in top spot, to a supermarket gift card which just scraped into the top 50, and deservedly so.

Coming in second spot in the V-day disappointing gift list was a book of stamps, followed by a bag of crisps and a battery with a note saying 'You turn me on'. Enough said.

Bunches of dead flowers, a car air freshener and a cow keyring also ranked highly in the let down stakes, while other presents lovers would rather forget include a happy birthday card, a break-up and a horseradish root.

Other out-there presents range from cat food to condoms, while one lucky lover received a ring meant for someone else.

Also falling in the 'what were you thinking?' category of gift-giving were a roll-on deodorant, a toothbrush and a hub cap, while household items also featured heavily and include a mop and a bucket, washing up gloves and a tea towel!

In an attempt to avoid receiving disappointing gifts, 35% of those polled by Ninja admit to dropping hints in the run-up to February as to what they want for their Valentine’s Day present.

Over nine in 10 (91%) of the nation say they would rather spend more on a present than they typically would if they knew it was something their partner really wanted and 57% report they would rather receive a more useful gift that they can enjoy in the long term, such as an air fryer.

It's little wonder, therefore that a whopping 69% of Brits in a relationship want to be gifted an air fryer this Valentine’s Day.

Who says romance is dead?

The most disappointing Valentine's gifts Brits have received

1. Cheap chocolate

2. A book of stamps

3. A bag of crisps

4. A battery with a note saying “You turn me on”

5. A breakup

6. A bunch of dead flowers

7. A car air freshener

8. A happy birthday card

9. A horseradish root

10. A cow keyring

11. Chocolates that he ate before I could

12. An iron

13. A pair of socks

14. A roll-on deodorant

15. A ring with the wrong birthstone

16. A tea towel

17. A teddy intended for their recent ex

18. A toothbrush

19. A toy wobble

20. A biscuit

21. Being cheated on

22. A car tax holder after they'd been abolished

23. Cat food

24. A cheap ring that turned my finger green

25. Chocolate body paint

26. A ring meant for someone else

27. Hummus and carrot sticks

28. A hub cap

29. An inflatable foot bath

30. A male thong

31. Horrible underwear

32. No present

33. Out-of-date alcohol and chocolate

34. A packet of tissues

35. Knock off perfume

36. A teddy bear

37. A wheelbarrow

38. A washing-up bowl with a mop and bucket

39. Washing up gloves

40. A weekend in Blackpool where it rained every day

41. Clothes that didn't fit

42. Seeds for the garden

43. A pizza tray

44. A dustbin

45. Going to a football match

46. A fishing reel

47. A bookmark

48. A bottle opener

49. A pocket screwdriver

50. A supermarket gift card

Read more about sex and relationships:

• Why are Brits so tired? Half of parents are 'too exhausted' to have sex (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• These are the best UK cities to date if you're single (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)

• Is marriage really better for couples and children? An expert weighs in (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

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