Regifting

You’ve decluttered and discovered presents you have been given over the years that you do not use or do not like. Yes, it is OK to say you do not like a gift. The dilemma is what to do with these presents.

Regifting is a popular way of sharing new/unused items you no longer wish to keep with someone who will appreciate the gift.

So how do you go about regifting without creating offence? Here are a couple of rules:

• Make sure the item is unused, and is not scratched or dented.
• Make sure you have removed any identification labels from the person who gave the gift to you. There’s nothing worse than giving a gift with the old gift tag still on it. It could be a friendship ender.
• Regift to a person you know will like the gift. Do not gift to someone just to get the unwanted gift out of your house.
• Don’t regift items that are old and look it. It is obvious you have had the item for awhile because of the dust on the item.
• Keep to yourself that you are regifting. There is no need to spoil the moment with announcing that someone else had given you the present and you didn’t want it. Similarly don’t tell everyone but the receiver that you are regifting. That is just tacky and guaranteed to cause hurt when the receiver finds out (and you know s/he will find out).
• Do not regift using used wrapping paper.
• Do not regift to the person who gave you the gift originally.
• Do not regift the following items:
  • § Monogrammed items (unless the monogram matches their initials)
  • § Personalized items
  • § Items with a company logo on them ie promotional materials you got at work
  • § Boxed sets of bath products – that just screams regift
  • § Obscure or cheap books, music, software, dvds
  • § Too expensive items – makes the receiver feel uncomfortable and even a little suspicious
  • § Food – this depends on what it is. Pate for example is a no go.

• These are great items to regift (of course it goes without saying that they are unused and clean.

  • Bottles of wine

  • Electrical gadgets

  • Inexpensive jewellery

  • Candles
  • Food – what better gift at Christmas time than to pass on fresh Christmas cake to a Christmas cake nut. It’s become a standing joke in my family that I will regift Christmas cake because I don’t eat it yet I know plenty of people who just love it. So why deprive them, I say!
  • Popular books

If regifting is not the right option for any of your unwanted presents, then consider donating them to a charity. There is always someone somewhere who will appreciate the gift and that person may just be looking in a charity shop near you.

============================