***First, a big welcome to readers who came here by the ways of my guest post on dorm life, on Single Ma’s Fabulous Financial. Please enjoy your stay!
Now, back to the perennial question of regifting…
I say Yay under the following conditions:
- The gift is 100% brand-spanking new. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.
- The gift is not expired. Past-due-date cookies or lotions aren’t very appropriate gifts. For anyone.
- The gift is something that the recipient will like / appreciate / use. Passing off a gift that no one wants (i.e. a bright green sweater with a blinking Rudolph nose) brings you no goodwill.
- The wrapping is new. No matter how well you think you unwrapped the present, you should not re-wrap it in the same paper!
- Do not give the gift to the same person who has given it to you in the first place <– I think this can safely be called the cardinal sin of regifting.
- Do not give the gift to someone in the original giver’s social circle (i.e. if you want to regift your coworker’s present, do not give it to another coworker). People might compare notes.
But other than that… regift and rejoice!
What do you think about regifting?
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I vote yay on regifting. When it comes to unsuitable gifts, I'll usually Freecycle them, donate them, trash them, or allow them to fester in my home and make me feel guilty about not using them. There's really no point in wasting a perfectly good gift that someone you know and love can enjoy.
I vote YAY on regifting, as long as all of the rules you've outlined are followed!
I don't think regifting is such a big deal if you know for a fact that other person won't mind/care — especially if there's little chance I'll use the gift in question. I probably wouldn't give to the same coworkers from the same company, but depending on the social circle of friends, some may not think little of the regift.
Yay on re-gifting, as long as it follows the above criteria. Don't give something away just because you don't want it–make sure the other person does want it. Otherwise, you'll probably end up getting it back through the re-gifting circle anyway…
I am a yay for regifting. Sometimes coworkers give gifts that don't really suit you. They just give to give. I definitely regift items that I can't use or don't need.
Good list!
I get a lot of lotions and stuff from family members who haven't seen me in ages so they don't know what I like. I always regift these things to co-workers whom I know appreciate it. I go through one thing of body wash every 6 months, so I don't need the 8 bottles I get a year. =)
Yay! I would do it. Just be careful not to also regift it to someone who is friends with the person that gave it to you! That could also be a scary situation.
YAY for regifting. I've done it and been totally upfront about it (to the recipient, not who gave it to me.
And a green Rudolph sweater would come in handy at an Ugly Xmas Sweater party. It all depends on your audience.
Yay for regifting here too! I do it a lot with lotions and with wine. People always give wine when they come to a party at my place, so I end the evening with 8 bottles or something like that! I don't mind grabbing one from the stash when I am headed out to a dinner at someone else's house.
I think wine just might be the best gift to regift.
Yay for regifting. I especially agree with A Little Coffee re: wine and lotions. If the gift is really horrible (usually something from one of those Secret Santa things at work or the like) and would not be suitable for anyone that I know, then it goes straight into the Goodwill donation pile.
I have given hardback books as gifts that I read once myself. They're basically brand-new…right?