So, now that things have settled down from the holidays, have you found yourself wondering what to do with those, well, "special" gifts? You know, the ones that caused your smile to momentarily freeze upon your face and the best comment you could come up with was "Wow, you really shouldn't have!"
Don't worry, there is a solution, and it is called re-gifting. While some people think that re-gifting is tacky under any circumstances, others feel re-gifting an item to a person that will use and/or appreciate it is a great way to breathe new life into something you may already have or doesn't fit into your home or life style.
According to a November, 2011 on-line survey, more than four-in-ten (41%) of U.S. adults report that they have re-gifted an item, while more than one-third (35%) said they've received what they believed to be a re-gifted item.
With all of the potential opportunities for gift-giving ahead of us -- Valentine's Day, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations, weddings, host/hostess gifts, house warming parties, and more -- here are some guidelines. If you are going to re-gift, do it right!
1. The item should be new and never used, in the original packaging with all seals intact.
2. Remove any evidence that it was a prior gift. Re-wrap the item in fresh tissue, wrapping paper and ribbon, adding your own card.
3. Be sure to re-gift in different social circles. It is important that the person receiving the gift doesn't know or interact with the person who originally gave you the item.
Re-gifting does NOT mean cleaning out the garage or basement! Ask yourself if the item is a good match to the person. - Is it something you would actually purchase?
- Will the recipient enjoy, appreciate and use the gift?
Those items that are truly unwanted should be donated. Just because you don't care for something doesn't mean it won't become a prize find to another person. That itchy holiday sweater? It may be the winning entry at an ugly holiday sweater party next season! Anything that is bent or broken belongs in the trash. There are times when it is good to let the recipient know an item is a re-gift, such as when passing along a grandmother's piece of jewelry or china, or a book from a favorite uncle. Knowing the origin and history of the item will add special meaning and value that cannot be duplicated, and may be a gift in and of itself. |
