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Whoever said a bouquet is right for any occasion clearly never took into account the fact that many people are traveling, on vacation, or out of the office this time of year. Translation: by the time everyone's settled back at home after the holidays, the arrangement you sent will be droopy and dead.
What to buy instead: A mix tape 2.0. iTunes lets you buy songs then email them directly to a friend, along with a personal message.

Cheese of the Month Club
Enrolling a friend in these food clubs sets you back close to 50 bucks a month. So even if you opt for just half a year, you're dropping serious cash. And since most of that cost is going towards the packaging, presentation, and shipping costs, don't expect gourmet goodies.
What to buy instead: For a foodie friend, put together your own gorgeous gift basket of preserves, wine, spices, bread, and cured meats. It looks super luxe and can be done for $50, what you'd spend on just one shipment of cheese.

The DVD of His New Favorite Movie
Just because he raved about it in the theater doesn't mean he wants to watch the damn thing over and over again. Plus, when movies are first released (especially those that come out right before Christmas), the price-tag tends to be pretty steep.
What to buy instead: For the same cost as a DVD, you can sign him up for four months of unlimited movies. Netflix just added the option of a streaming-only package, which allows you to instantly watch thousands of movies from your computer (or on your TV via Wii or PS3) for $7.99 a month.

A Pretty Top from a Boutique
Unique clothing is a great long as you know exactly what to get. But if you're not quite sure, steer clear of apparel from small stores. Because if the recipient wants to return it, chances are she'll get a store credit for the post-Christmas discounted price, i.e. way less than you were generous enough to spend.
What to buy instead: Stick with chains and department stores–and include a gift receipt. The item has all the benefits of a gift card (exchangeable for anything) without the impersonal feel. Plus, how awesome is it when you can turn one returned sweater into three because of markdowns?!

A Weekly Cooking (or Knitting or Salsa or Writing) Class
Sure, it seems like a personalized and thoughtful present (hey, your friend always talks about wanting to write a novel), but it's a massive time commitment, which can end up feeling more like an obligation than a fun activity. And there's something awkwardly sugar momma-ish about bankrolling another person's schooling, even if it's just a Tuesday night knitting workshop.
What to buy instead: If you want to get something experiential and educational, opt for an afternoon at a vineyard, where you can learn about wine and food pairings, or a one-time dance class followed by a night out to practice your skills.

Credit Card Gift Cards
Did you know there's often an activation fee associated with these plastic presents? Seriously.
What to buy instead: Stick with a plain old gift card, but make sure it's place or website they'll go to in the next year–iTunes is a safe bet— because certain ones start to lose value after 12 months.

A Beer-Making Kit
This contraption has landed at the top of every guy gift guide, but don't fall for it. The idea sounds fun, but once he realizes what a pain in the ass it is to brew his own cold one and how much he has to blow on ingredients, he'll go back to picking up a sixer from the grocery store.
What to buy instead: An indoor grill, either electric or the more authentic range top version. For whatever reason, guys associate grilling with masculinity and he'll be psyched to be able to cook up manly steaks and burgers on the barbie even during cold months.

$50 to Some Super Pricey Store
Now that is just mean! Forcing someone to spend three figures in order to use your gift card will only annoy them.
What to buy instead: Impress a luxe-loving friend with a designer label item that you picked up for cheap at a discount store, where you can find high-end accessories marked waaay down. Cut off the discount pricetag, leave on the original tag (but black out the price), and she'll never know it was a bargain.

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