“Is it okay to re-gift Christmas presents?” Aah – the dreaded question! Today, re-gifting presents are no longer frowned upon, as long as it is done right. Sometimes, you’re given items that you already have, don’t need, or don’t really like. Instead of letting it go to waste, you can totally give it away to a friend or coworker whom you know will love it!
It’s not as easy as you think, though. Follow these simple rules we’ve outlined for you to ensure that your re-gifting becomes a success!
#1 Is the Item Re-Giftable?
Be honest about this! Make sure the item you plan on giving is new, unused, and in mint condition. You don’t want to re-gift an item that’s been sitting in your shelf or closet for quite some time. Do a quick test – imagine yourself receiving the item from someone else, and if you won’t feel disappointed or awkward about it, it could pass as a re-giftable item.
#2 Do the Previous Giver and the New Recipient Know Each Other?
Yikes! Nothing’s worse than having the person who gave you the gift see someone else (aka that friend you gave it to) use the item! Make sure the two don’t know each other, especially when the item is rare. The rule of thumb is this: the more unique the gift item is, the farther apart these two people should be in terms of social circles.
#3 Avoid Re-Gifting Personalized or Hand-Made Items
These gifts were made from the heart. The person who made it put time and effort to make you a gift, so it’s best if you just keep it with you. There’s simply no excuse to give it away! Will you risk hurting your friend’s feelings if she finds out the gift she labored over to give to you was just re-gifted?
#4 Take the Time to Wrap it in New Paper
This is a way to destroy all evidence that the item is a re-gift. Be sure you’re not giving away a present with a cute note on its packaging from the previous giver (complete with names!). Wrapping it in new paper implies that you’ve put some thought and effort into the gift, in order to make it presentable for your recipient.
#5 Is It Something Your Recipient Will Really Like?
Or are you just re-gifting it because you’re cheap? If you’re doing it only because you have to give a gift and you don’t want to spend, then re-gifting is not proper! You should always consider the recipient’s taste just as you would do when giving an original present. If you think she’ll really like it or that she needs it more than you do, then go ahead! She’ll appreciate the kind gesture.
Re-gifting is no longer a social faux pas these days and it does not imply that you’re being cheap. If you go by these rules and are motivated by good intentions, you’re on your way to re-gifting success!
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