5 Tips for Regifting!
Come on, we’ve all done it! No one here is going to judge regifting, because it’s something we’ve all done in some way, shape or form. Whether you’ve wanted to unload that poodle candle Aunt Edna sent for your birthday, or you forgot a friend’s birthday and knew you had something lying around she’d like, you’re in good company. As organized as I strive to be, I’m far from perfect, and I know I’m not the only one who has repurposed a gift. More than half of people surveyed (the brave ones who actually admitted it) said they believe regifting to be absolutely socially acceptable. My take—why should something sit around my home collecting dust when someone else could enjoy it?
Keep these thoughts in mind when trying to decide if you should pass along a gift that could keep on giving to someone else:
- Is it something they’d like? If you know your best friend would love a sugarplum-scented candle, and you happen to have one you’ve never burned, why not send it her way? If it’s not something the beholder would find beauty in, then don’t pass it along.
- Is it new? I would hope it goes without saying, but I feel like I must say something. Do not—I repeat—do not regift an item that is no longer in its original packaging or that you have used. No half-eaten box of chocolate. No clock that once hung on your kitchen wall. Just no.
- Is it a matter of feeling budget-conscious? No one loves to save a penny more than I do, yet exchanging gifts shouldn’t feel like an obligation, especially if your wallet feels like you can’t squeeze out another dollar. Someone who truly cares about you would rather have a homemade batch of cookies or the gift of your time.
- Does it need sprucing up? A fresh layer of wrapping paper, a beautiful bow and a card signed with love is the perfect touch. Please, leave no evidence behind of it once being a gift from another. That would be awkward.
- Who, what, where? Keep tabs on who gave you the gift originally and for what occasion. You wouldn’t want to give a gift back to the original giver, would you? This, very awkward.
When in doubt, the perfect way to bless someone with something unused in your home is to simply donate it. Just remember to keep to a minimum the giving of fruitcake. It’s for the good of mankind, and I mean this with love.
Happy Holidays!
Gabby
