It was reported in 2011 that Brits spend roughly £594m on unwanted Christmas gifts, and one in 10 gifts received was not at all what the receiver wanted.

Fear not, however, the turnaround was fast and the presents didn’t stay unwanted for long: by Boxing Day morning, 1.5 million new items had appeared on ebay. Despite this, each year people buy more gifts for one another and this year 12 per cent of people intend to spend more than they did last year.

We all know that women tend to be more organised when it comes to Christmas prep, with the majority of shopping conducted in November and early December. Indeed, male respondents in a study confided that they are most likely to leave their gift shopping until late December. But should they really bother with gifts at all? What do women really want for Christmas? And are we willing to stand up and say if we’re disappointed with a loved one’s choice? I asked the women of Oxford

Rachel Warner, 27, admin assistant, Oxfordshire. I’m really boring on the Christmas present front, but my husband always does a good job – he has quirky ideas and is able to guess correctly what someone will love. My realistic wish list this year is simple: some perfume, pjs and some nice clothes. My dream wish would be a romantic trip to Paris! I would never tell someone I hated a present they’d taken the time to ge.t me but I did once get a dodgy scarf which, when I tried to return it, was only worth £1.50 (to be fair, I think I left it til Easter to return hence the price drop).

Anyway that scarf has been in my cupboard for years – I wasn’t going to accept £1.50 for it was I?! – and has never been wrn so is actually probably going to go to my husband’s mum as a present, three years on. Perfect.

Claire Ferris, 33, lawyer, East Oxford. I’m afraid I have been rude enough to let my husband know that I didn’t like a present!

One Christmas he bought me a necklace and earring set which really wasn’t to my taste – I wore them all day Christmas Day and then never wore them again. He brought it up a few months later and I was then forced to admit. I didn’t like them.

He was then upset I hadn’t told him at the time and it turned out they had been really expensive. He told me that if in the future he bought me something I didn’t like I should tell him. Fast forward to my 30th birthday: mum and dad bought me a Pandora bracelet and everyone bought me lovely charms, all with sentimental meaning. I opened my husband’s present and he had bought me three charms, the letters ‘M’ ‘U’ ‘M’. Bless him, he thought I’d really like them but they just reminded me of those tacky MUM rings or necklaces you can get. I felt awful and almost a bad mother to say I didn’t want to wear that stamp of motherhood. But I remembered his words and admitted they weren’t to my taste.

He seemed a little crestfallen initially and I felt very guilty but that same day we went back to Coxes and changed them for ones I preferred and was really pleased with – and he was pleased I was really pleased.

As I recall he paid extra to get another one I liked so honesty was the best policy. I could never tell anyone other than him that I disliked a present and would never dream of returning one – I suppose he should be honoured I felt I could be brutally honest with him.

Emma Lissamore, 29, housewife, East Oxford. What I’d really love for Christmas is a ‘guilt free’ festive period. Not feeling bad about money I’ve spent, calories consumed, alcohol thrown down my neck and people I should have invited round for Christmas dinner. Instead I know I’ll get socks, enough bathroom smellies to create a foam party of my own and gruesome things for round the house I hide until the present-giver pays a visit. I smile because of course it’s the thought that counts so don’t get me wrong I’m far from ungrateful but it seems very little thought goes into present buying for the individual as long as something is wrapped and tied with a bow. The feeling tends to be ‘that will do’. Time restrictions and a flooded market means that harrassed consumers literally buy anything and everything. My secret present fantasy is easy: I want a John Lewis Telly advert Christmas, and of course, peace on earth. Amen to that.

Louise Harris, 28, ambulance service recruitment advisor, Jericho. Mmmm, I’ve never returned an unwanted gift because I would just feel rude. I have had gifts that haven’t excited me but have always been grateful for what I’ve had. A gift with thought and meaning is better to me than something really expensive. I haven’t yet really given much thought to what to get people this year but I do give it a lot of thought before I buy, and on Christmas Day I like to watch people’s reactions when they open their presents from me. I’m more disappointed if someone doesn’t like their presents from me than I am if I don’t like a present. My fantasy dream present this year would be – and don’t laugh – to fall in love again. But in reality, I’d settle for a good book.

Christina Nick, 20, graduate student in political theory, Oxford. I never would return a Christmas gift, mainly because I tell my parents exactly what I would like. It means that I don’t get a surprise and I do kinda miss that surprise, but at least they don’t waste money on something I’ll never use or like, right? Actually, I once got a necklace that I didn’t like. I didn’t return it though. I just never wore it and was asked by the giver why I never wore it. I had to say something stupid like ‘Oh, I have no clothes to go with it.’ Christmas for me is about spending time with people I care about. I think a lot of people feel the same.

Joanne Howard, 36, fashion stylist, Oxfordshire. Oh gawd, is it nearly Christmas again? People keep asking me and I’m seeing signs everywhere but I just refuse to believe it until I’m drinking gallons of wine on Christmas Eve. Don’t get me wrong – I love it, but I do hate the pressure of it. I mean, we’re not superhuman, we can’t be expected to buy the perfect presents for everyone, be in a million places at once seeing everyone we care about, consume a zillion calories and stay the same size for our New Year’s Eve dress and do it all while – once again – shouting Noddy Holder’s I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY, can we? I buy very few gifts. I buy ones for my close family who I don’t live near and so getting together at Christmas is really important. But I’m not one of those who buys presents for everyone: I don’t expect them in return and just believe giving people a hug, and a merry Christmas should be enough. I’ve received plenty of gifts that I’d rather not have received – my mother is the usual suspect on this front. It’s bizarre that the woman who gave birth to me still doesn’t know what I’d actually like as a present – I often return her gift and then have to pretend for years that I’m still using the thingymabob she got me once.