When my grandma was still alive she would cut out newspaper clippings of things related to comics or cartoons and send them to me, sometimes with some kind of weird toy or kitschy gadget. I think she hoped I'd find them useful, though it never really was, and kept doing it up until the last year of her life. I was in my late 20's at the time.
I guess maybe my perspective is a little different because Grandma would send me these weird little care packages any time of the year and the things inside were mostly disposable, but I always thought they were kind of fun. I never knew what would be in there except there's always be a note telling me she was thinking of me and why she sent at least one of the things in the package.
My mother has gotten into the habit of asking me if I want something before getting it for me, though half the time it still shows up even if I say no.
I don't know, when I get gifts like that I guess I just try to think about think about the fact that this person cares about me and thought I would like this thing, even if they miss the mark.