Regifting: The Resourceful Way to Brighten the Holidays
Submitted by Angela on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 13:29
According to Dictionary.com, to regift is, “to give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift.”
For some people the thought of regifting is seen as something negative. But why, I ask? Sure, no one wants to receive a half- eaten fruitcake or previously worn socks. But there are many times when regifting an item can be perfectly acceptable.
With the economy these days, there are even more reasons to consider regifting this season. In fact, the practice of regifting is more common than you might think. Over 1/3 of respondents in a recent consumer holiday poll admitted to regifting something, which is an increase from last year.
If you’re going to regift there are some things you need to keep in mind. In fact, the website Regiftable.com provides tips and tricks on regifting, including a lesson on Regifting 101:
- Is the gift regiftable? Never regift handmade or one-of-a-kind items. Signed books and monogrammed items are off-limits. Do you have to be told not to regift free promotional items? Some gifts that are good candidates for regifting include good (unopened!) bottles of wine, new household items and inexpensive jewelry.
- How is the condition? Only new, unopened gifts in good condition should be considered for regifting. Never give partially used gift cards. Don’t give items that you have owned for a long time. A general rule of thumb: if you have to dust it off, it is not regiftable.
- Is this going to work? Successful regifters use common sense. If you are going to regift, be sure you know who gave you the item, so you don’t return something to the original giver. Only regift items to people who are not likely to see the original giver.
- Do you have good intentions? Don’t just give a gift to give a gift. Be sure that the recipient will appreciate the item. Remember, if you feel that an item is undesirable, the recipient probably will too. If you are regifting simply because you ran out of time, gift cards are simple to obtain and always well received.
- How does it look? When it comes to gift-giving, go for show! While gift bags in good condition can be reused, wrapping paper is a one-time thing. Always spring for a new card or gift tag.
- Can you handle it? If you don’t plan to announce the gift as a regift, ask yourself if you can keep the secret. Never feel guilty about regifting once you’ve done it.
- Have you considered your options? An unwanted gift could be a welcome donation to a charitable organization. It is also an option to suck it up and keep an unwanted gift—after all, it was a gift.
I’ll be honest, I have regifted something before. And hey, odds are you probably have too. Regifting, when done correctly, is not something that should be seen as cheap, but rather as a creative way to make those holiday dollars stretch a little further. So this season when you’re looking to save a little green, follow these tips on regifting and you’ll most likely be in the clear. Just remember to change the name on the gift tag!
What are your thoughts on regifting? Have you ever done it? Is regifting resourceful or just tacky?
-Angela is a blogger for The Sorbate. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.
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Comments
I've regifted once before...
I've regifted once before... recently. 1) Because it made sense - the gift was relevant to the occasion. 2) The item was brand new and was just sitting there unused and 3) The economy.
I do have to admit that I did feel guilty at first. But after reading your post I felt way better. Regifting, while following your rules, is a totally appropriate thing... thanks for the post!!
Why not?
I agree with Rae! I think that if the gift is more relevant and can be appreciated more by someone else then why not re-gift it? I do agree w/ your guidelines that the gift should be new and in-tact (still packaged) and as long as you give it to someone who won't run into the original gifter, then you're all set!
Very appropriate for the times
These are awesome guidelines for regifting. If we have never used it then why not? Just remember to remember if the person you intend to give it to was the orginal giver! LOL