Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Rich Aunt Tries To Sneak A Cheap Gift Back, Dad Gets The Last Laugh With Petty Christmas Revenge
Two small plush dogs on a pink cushion, illustrating cheap gift in a story of petty Christmas revenge.

Woman Sneaks Brother’s Charity Shop Gift Back, He Finds A Hilarious Way To Make Sure She Gets It Again

40

ADVERTISEMENT

Having a good sense of humor and looking for the silver lining are two skills that will get you through the toughest of times. And they’re incredibly handy when some minor family-related drama pops up, too!

Internet user u/pandaboat8, writing on behalf of their father, amused the ‘Petty Revenge’ online community with a fun story about what he did when his “quite snooty” sister secretly returned his brilliant Christmas present one year. Scroll down for a good laugh and for some inspiration for witty revenge the next time your relatives are less than grateful. Bored Panda has reached out to the author for comment, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from them.

RELATED:

    It’s a wonderful feeling when someone genuinely enjoys the gift you got them. However, it’s extremely difficult to please some picky people

    Man and woman laughing as woman hands man a red Christmas gift box, capturing a moment of petty Christmas revenge.

    Image credits: Nappy (not the actual photo)

    An internet user, writing on behalf of their jokester dad, shared how he found a creative way to get revenge against his sister, who returned his amusing gift one Xmas

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text excerpt from story about rich aunt sneaking cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge making narrator laugh yearly.

    Text explaining a dad’s petty Christmas revenge on his rich aunt who tried to sneak a cheap gift back.

    Text describing family tension with a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Optimistic dad with a great sense of humour shares petty Christmas revenge after rich aunt tries to sneak a cheap gift back.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text describing a rich aunt acting snooty with cheap gifts while dad plans petty Christmas revenge.

    Dad’s petty Christmas revenge after rich aunt tries to sneak back a cheap gift with animatronic singing dogs.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Family celebrates Christmas with pets, enjoying laughter and a playful holiday gathering at aunt's house.

    Text screenshot showing a forced smile from a rich aunt during a petty Christmas revenge involving a cheap gift.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text excerpt describing a rich aunt’s large house, highlighting its amenities and her dislike of the dogs.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Rich aunt tries to sneak a cheap gift back while dad plans petty Christmas revenge with family drama unfolding.

    Text excerpt about rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge reaction.

    Text on a plain background reads about a dad planning petty revenge, highlighting rich aunt and Christmas gift conflict.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Empty luxury beauty box repurposed for petty Christmas revenge by dad after rich aunt’s cheap gift attempt.

    Plush dog toys on a pink pillow representing a cheap gift in a petty Christmas revenge scenario.

    Image credits: worthpoint (not the actual photo)

    Text about rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge with singing dogs.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image source: pandaboat8

    Daily laughter reduces stress, boosts your immune system, improves your mental health, and is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationships

    Three women laughing together outdoors, capturing a moment of joy related to rich aunt and petty Christmas revenge.

    Image credits: A. C. (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Having someone return a gift that you put a lot of effort into can be heartbreaking. It’s uncomfortable, a bit embarrassing, and frustrating to say the least. And nobody really enjoys arguing with their family, especially around the holidays.

    But if you shift your perspective a bit and embrace what happened, you can find the hilarity and absurdity in the entire situation. And we could all do with a bit more humor and joy in our daily lives, not least because it’s great for our physical, mental, and emotional health.

    According to research, laughter reduces stress and anxiety, boosts your immune system, improves cardiovascular function, relieves physical tension and pain, and supports your respiratory health.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    On top of that, laughing actually gives you a light physical workout, boosts your mood, and strengthens your relationships if you’re laughing alongside someone else. Humor also enhances your cognitive function and promotes emotional resilience, Healthline notes.

    “Laughter is a simple yet powerful form of self-care that supports your body, mind, and relationships. By making space for humor, you create a healthier foundation for coping with stress, deepening social bonds, and improving your quality of life. You don’t need a perfect mood or a special occasion to laugh. Whether it’s a spontaneous giggle or a full belly laugh, every bit counts.”

    In the retail world, returning products is quite common, especially around the holidays

    Purchase returns are actually fairly common in the retail world, especially around the winter holidays. Based on the findings of a recent report by the National Retail Federation, total retail industry returns were projected to reach a jaw-dropping $890 billion (yes, ‘billion’ with a ‘b,’ not ‘million’ with an ‘m’) in 2024.

    At the time, retailers estimated that around 16.9% of their annual sales in 2024 would be returned.

    Meanwhile, another NRF study found that, for the 2024 winter holiday period, retailers expected their return rate to be on average 17% higher than their annual return rate. This, in turn, makes retailers take preventative measures like hiring additional seasonal staff to specifically handle returns and to seek additional support from logistics providers.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    If you genuinely have to return a gift for some reason, you should consider the giver’s feelings first and foremost

    Man smiling while giving wrapped Christmas gifts to another person, capturing petty Christmas revenge moment.

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    In an interview with NPR, New York City-based etiquette expert Myka Meier said that “discretion is key so you never hurt the gift giver” when you’re returning a present. From Meier’s perspective, you should stay quiet about returning the gift, unless the giver specifically asks you.

    “For most situations, it’s better to simply thank them graciously for their thoughtfulness without mentioning the return. The focus should always be on appreciating the gesture of being given a gift, not the item itself. I would still try to avoid ever bringing it up, but I also would not lie,” she said.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    However, British etiquette consultant Jo Bryant, who favors full transparency, had this to say to NPR: “The best way to return an unwanted gift is to really examine the financial worth, and relationship with the giver. It always involves a tricky conversation, so it is best to prioritise this for more expensive gifts when it really would be [a] shame that you can’t use it, and a real waste. You also need to know the person who gave you the gift very well to be so honest with them.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The internet adored redditor u/pandaboat8’s dad’s revenge story. At the time of writing, the post had already gotten 2.8k upvotes on the ‘Petty Revenge’ subreddit, as well as 93 comments and an award. It just goes to show that with a bit of creativity and wit, you can turn unpleasant situations around fairly quickly.

    What do you think about the entire situation, Pandas? Would you have done anything differently if you were in the dad’s shoes? What moustache-twirlingly awesome petty revenge plan would you have concocted?

    Has anyone ever returned a present that you’ve gotten them? What do you think is the best way to react to things like this? How do you avoid family holiday drama? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share them in the comments below. And happy holidays!

    The internet absolutely loved the story. Here’s what readers had to say about it

    Screenshot of a Reddit thread discussing a rich aunt’s cheap gift and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge story.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Reddit comments discussing rich aunt sneaking cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge story.

    Reddit comments discussing a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge plan.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a Reddit conversation where users praise a dad's petty Christmas revenge against a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment thread discussing a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back with dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    Reddit comments showing a user joking and another replying, related to a petty Christmas revenge story.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of an online discussion about creative writing, highlighting a dad’s petty Christmas revenge with a cheap gift.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Reddit comment reading She must have been wooful after opening the box, referencing petty Christmas revenge and cheap gift sneak.

    Reddit comment about a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    Comment on social media platform showing praise for dad’s petty Christmas revenge after rich aunt tries to sneak a cheap gift back.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment text on a platform showing the word Brilliant by user Confident_Tour_8328 with 8 points and posted 1 day ago

    Reddit comment discussing a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift back and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge reaction.

    Screenshot of an online comment about a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment text on a social media post reacting to a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back with dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift and dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back during Christmas.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment text on a white background about Christmas gift revenge involving a rich aunt and a petty dad.

    Screenshot of a social media comment reacting to a story about a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift back at Christmas.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Rich aunt caught sneaking a cheap gift back while dad plans petty Christmas revenge in a family living room setting.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of an online comment replying to a story about rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift and dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a dad’s petty Christmas revenge after a cheap gift attempt by a rich aunt.

    Comment about rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge in a Reddit thread.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment saying Great story, thanks for sharing it, from user Foreign-Tax4981 on a social media post.

    Comment text on a white background praising a dad handling his rich aunt’s cheap gift with petty Christmas revenge.

    Comment about a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge shared in a family discussion.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back, while dad plans a petty Christmas revenge with a sly smile.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment on Reddit discussing rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift and dad's petty Christmas revenge in a family argument thread.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment about a rich aunt trying to sneak a cheap gift back during Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a user comment about a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift back and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge story.

    Comment from user BrokenBotox sharing a funny story about a rich aunt and petty Christmas revenge involving a cheap gift.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Meanwhile, other folks had similar stories of their own to share

    Reddit post telling a story about a rich aunt, cheap gift, and dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text excerpt showing a rich aunt giving a cheap Christmas gift and a dad planning petty revenge for Christmas.

    Text excerpt showing a dad’s petty Christmas revenge after a rich aunt sneaks a cheap gift back.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment sharing a story about a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift and a dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment describing petty revenge involving a cheap gift and family tensions inspired by rich aunt and dad’s Christmas revenge.

    Screenshot of a Reddit conversation about a rich aunt sneaking a cheap gift back and dad’s petty Christmas revenge.

    Text post about a rich aunt giving a cheap gift and the dad getting petty Christmas revenge.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook

    Explore more of these tags

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Read more »

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Read less »
    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    Read less »

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    What do you think ?
    sbj
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the Dad, he's just the best!

    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    😂😂😂😂😂priceless , your dad is awesome , n that note had me crying laughing , I hope your uncle managed to keep them 😂😂😂n aunt needs to go find her sense of humour , happy Christmas ,also from the uk x

    sbj
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the Dad, he's just the best!

    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    😂😂😂😂😂priceless , your dad is awesome , n that note had me crying laughing , I hope your uncle managed to keep them 😂😂😂n aunt needs to go find her sense of humour , happy Christmas ,also from the uk x

    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT