How to Regift Unwanted Presents

"Oh my gosh, thank you!" Many of us have uttered those words at the exact same moment we've thought "What the heck am I going to do with this?" One option is returning the unwanted gift, but you can't very well ask for the receipt from the person that gave it to you. And if the item is on sale when you get to the store, you'll only receive the reduced credit. Sometimes a better option is to just regift unwanted presents!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find a space for unwanted gifts. Some people have whole closets dedicated to things they plan on regifting. It's a good idea to find a place in your home where all of the unwanted presents will be kept. That way, next time you have to go to a party, you know exactly where to snag a present from and won't be searching through the attic muttering things like "Where did I put that sushi making kit?"

2. Leave it unopened! If you've opened the manufacturers seal on the gift, you might consider listing it on an online auction site instead, with a very honest description about how it was truthfully never used and only opened under duress because the person who gave you the unwanted presents was begging you to open it. Or, you can donate it and take a tax deduction. But if you want to get the most bang for your buck and regift presents at the next party you attend, leave the gift unopened.

3. Make a list. On the inside of your gift closet, or wherever you keep the unwanted presents, make a list of who gave you what gift and when. After a while, it can all blend together in your mind, and you NEVER want to give the same gift back to either the person who gave it to you, or someone in the same circle. That can be social suicide.

4. Let it marinate. If the gift is not perishable, let it sit in the gift closet for a while. This is another way to avoid regifting a gift in the exact same social circle. If three or four months have passed you can always say "Debbie got me a dough hook, and I just love it, so I bought you a dough hook!" Just don't have those people over for homemade bread anytime soon.

Tips & Warnings

• Always rewrap the present. To help avoid getting busted, always rewrap the present in different wrapping paper. You've already skated by with a free gift, the LEAST you can do is throw some new wrapping paper around it.

[coachmac4]

on 12/26/2007 I think this is the ONLY practical way to not crowd our landfills with unwanted junk!!!! When we regift, recycle, and reuse ALL things we are using our resources wisely. Thanks for this PRACTICAL article. 5 stars!

[amandals20]

on 12/18/2007 Oh too funny! Yes, we have all been there. Thanks for the great ides!

[MidniteWriter]

on 12/18/2007 This is something we've all thought to ourselves and now we know how to do, thanks to you! Happy Holidays!

[olganash]

on 12/18/2007 Great ideas. I do this all the time. My husband does not approve, though. But I don't think there is anything wrong with re-gifting, especially if you know that someone else will love and appreciate it much more than you ever will, or if there is someone that actually needs it and will get more use out of it.

[psaysofavril]

on 12/18/2007 I love the part about using new wrapping paper. Yeah, that is the "least" we can do. I love it!