“Is it okay to re-gift Christmas presents?” Believe it or not, this is one of the most common questions we hear during the gift-giving season.
Some say it’s cheap, others believe it’s frugal; some say it’s rude, while others say it is being smart. But no matter what anyone says, re-gifting is here to stay.
So, whether you’re trying to be frugal or think that the present just deserves a better owner, here’s how to properly do it without feeling guilty—and getting caught.
- It Should be Brand New
Not last-year brand new, but this-year’s-Christmas brand new. The item should be unopened and never tried out and should be in its original and undamaged packaging. If there’s a warranty, include it as well. In case the receiver of the gift returns the item to the store, he shouldn’t be told, “That item is already phase out.”
- Give Good and Reasonable Stuff
The old saying ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ can be true in the re-gifting arena. However, some gifts are just too hideous or inappropriate to be passed on. If you decide to re-gift, give something useful that you either have more than one of, don’t need or just neither your taste nor style. Never re-gift an item just to get rid of it. A perfect gift—whether re-gifted or not—is something you know the receiver will like.
- Re-Wrap the Gift
Re-wrap everything—the box, gift wrapper and even the ribbon. See what’s inside first before re-gifting it. You don’t know what’s lurking inside the box. It could contain a personal letter or note for you or another smaller gift that you just missed. Check thoroughly what’s inside before deciding to re-gift it.
- Avoid Re-Gifting Within the Same Circle of Friends
This can get really embarrassing. Sam gave Kat a French press for Christmas. Kat isn’t really a fan of fancy coffee, so she re-gifted the press to Kim. Later, Kim invited Sam and Kat for a weekend brunch, and Sam noticed the coffee maker in Kim’s kitchen, and excitedly said “That’s the same French press I gave you, Kat!” Imagine how embarrassing that would be.
- Skip Re-Gifting Handcrafted Items
No matter how ugly that painting your sister-in-law painted for you, it was made with effort and love. Giving away gifts made specifically for you can cause hurt feelings if you’re caught. Especially made and one-of-a-kind gifts like ceramics, paintings, handcrafts and frames should be kept no matter how horrible they look.
So, Yes! It’s totally fine to re-gift some of your presents. As long as you keep these rules in mind, re-gifting shouldn’t make you feel guilty or rude.
