As the festive season approaches, the age-old practice of regifting makes a comeback, stirring a mix of opinions on its appropriateness in both social etiquette and ethics. Embracing the joy of the holidays, let’s dive into the artful technique of passing on unwanted items to others.
Regifting can be as tricky as wearing a holiday sweater to a formal gathering. When done right, it spreads cheer; when mishandled, it can lead to awkward moments and hurt feelings. However, with a few guidelines and a dash of common sense, you can reap the benefits of this frugal tradition.
Understand Your Recipients
The ideal candidates for regifting are those you aren’t particularly close to. Your family and close friends deserve genuine, heartfelt gifts. If time is tight, a simple explanation about your busy schedule will suffice; they’ll appreciate your honesty and wait for something special.
Veteran regifters know to select recipients who are unlikely to discover the item’s origins—or if they do, won’t be overly concerned. Be wary of gift enthusiasts who scrutinize brands and tags; they can quickly spot a previously gifted item. However, a thoughtful coworker may appreciate even a bottle of wine you originally received from a friend.
Freshen Up Your Gift
Once you decide to regift, treat the item as a brand new gift.
- Tip One: Ensure the item is unopened and in its original packaging. Remove any remnants of its previous life—like personal notes or pictures that may give it away.
- Tip Two: Wrap the gift with care, using the same wrapping paper you’d choose for any other present, complete with a new card.
- Tip Three: Make sure the item is contemporary. If the recipient discovers it’s been collecting dust since the early 2000s, your secret is out.
Keep Track
Maintain a record of who originally gifted you the item, who you regifted it to, and when. This helps prevent the awkward situation of giving something back to the original giver. Your safest bet is to regift to people far removed from the original source, such as colleagues or acquaintances.
Recognizing a Regift
As the saying goes, “There are only two fruitcakes in the world; we just keep swapping them.” Speaking with a gift manager at a high-end department store, I learned that the most frequently regifted items include:
- Accessories like scarves
- Picture frames
- Vases
- Items that don’t come in specific sizes (clothes are typically avoided due to sizing issues).
Common regifts also include wines, spirits, and extravagant gift baskets filled with gourmet goodies.
Regifts often lack a personal touch and may feel irrelevant to the recipient. Remember, “The gift that was regifted was likely a regift itself.”
When to Think Twice About Regifting
When gifting to those we cherish, it’s important to remember the true essence of gift-giving: it should uplift and create connections. Even if you consider regifting an item that might be useful, like a paper shredder from a colleague, think about selecting a heartfelt gift for your loved one instead. The process of choosing, wrapping, and presenting a gift carries significant meaning. It’s essential to recognize that effort and thoughtfulness often outweigh practicality in these instances.
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Summary
Regifting can be a savvy way to recycle gifts, provided you follow some simple guidelines. Understand your audience, present the item as new, keep a record of where it came from, and be mindful of the true spirit of gift-giving when it comes to loved ones.