Do You Re Gift?

[pretty cheap jewelry]

Why is this such a sensitive topic?

When receiving things that just are not needed, I immediately put it in the secret closet of 'presents' for others.

When the right person and event comes along, out comes the re gift!

It seems only proper to reuse things this way. Nothing that's used. Nothing broken.

This was especially frequent when my kids were toddlers and just had too much given to them at birthdays. Now they are older (grade school age) and it's impossible to whisk away things before they see! HOwever, at this age they are willing to talk about donating things or taking them back because they have so much.

What about you?

[fairy74]

I do the same, I make sure that it is appropriate for the person I am giving it to and something they would enjoy. I usually include it as part of a larger gift, not solely on its own. But I agree why not recyle it?

[pearlieq]

I regift all the time! There isn't too much "stuff" I need or want, so most things I get go in the closet to be regifted somehow.

It's especially helpful when you need a random generic gift for the office christmas party or as a hostess gift. Often, though, I can think of someone who I know will like gift and I make an effort to pass it along to them.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it as long as you can keep things straight and make sure the giver never knows it was regifted, and you make sure that you're honestly presenting someone with something you think they will enjoy, not just tossing a gift off on them to satisfy an obligation.

[fairy74]

well said pearlieq

[MonkeyMama]

Oh yes. I did not know what my MIL was smoking when she got me some beauty products - LOL. She apparently doe not know me. I set it aside in the regift pile - I know a few friends who would love this gift. My regift pile gets big this time of year and I distribute it out the rest of the year. I don't get or give that many presents so I think I can keep it straight.

But I admit someone regifted a gift back to me once. Since it was a cash gift certificate and 3 years later I Was super annoyed it had not been used, but glad I got it back I guess - LOL. I vaguely remember another regit incident. MAkes you want to keep a log just in case - hehe.

[disneysteve]

I agree. We've often received gifts that we didn't want or need. Sometimes we've sold them at yard sales. Sometimes we've donated them to charity. And sometimes we've given them to someone else who we thought would actually appreciate and use them. I've never understood why anyone would think that was a bad thing to do.

[tinapbeana]

i think there are thoughtless/careless regifters out there that give the rest of us a bad name. bah, bad regifters! woohoo, good regifters!

to me, regifting is the embodiment of 'it's the thought that counts'.

[Ima saver]

I don't regift, but I don't see anything wrong with it. I would just sell it or give it away to a friend.

[frugalmomof1]

I don't think there is anything wrong with regifting. But I agree with the other posters that said the gifts should be given to someone who will appreciate them.
Every year someone in my office gives me a HUGE basket of Bath and Body works Cucumber Melon products. I can't stand the stuff but I know other people LOVE it.
Last year I returned it, but I almost always regift it.

[jodi]

I keep a regift pile in the closet too. This year I went through it and pulled out all the items that have been hanging out there a little too long (meaning I can't find anyone they would be appropriate for) - I am going to find a Christmas donation program that can use some toys and clothes.
I like to grab things from there for quick non-personal gifts, like gift exchanges through work (we draw numbers, so no one knows who is going to get what).

[zakity]

I regift. I try to be very very careful and make sure the person who gave it to me doesn't get it back (or ever finds out).

[PrincessPerky]

I honestly do not get to many gifts I do not like....Some for the kids around when they are born, and those I aim to regift ASAP, or donate, I would never rememeber who gave what to who for a whole year.

[januarymarch]

I don't see anything wrong with it, if you really believe the person could use it. I don't want to do what someone just did to me--gift me with something I have no use for. Other than that, sure.

If the gift is not appropriate for anyone I know, or ever will know, I donate it to goodwill and take it off on income tax.

[vishenda]

yeah there's nothing wrong with it, just make sure you give them to the "appropriate "persons this time, or else the items will fall under stage 2 re gift

[Hez]

I don't re-gift, but I do give gifts away if I don't want them. I'm always upfront about it though, I would feel guilty if the person I was giving it to didn't know that I received it elsewhere.

[pretty cheap jewelry]

Thank you all for the 2 cents. It helps to hear supportive answers, as well as other points of view.

See you all in the forums!

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by frugalmomof1

Every year someone in my office gives me a HUGE basket of Bath and Body works Cucumber Melon products. I can't stand the stuff but I know other people LOVE it. Last year I returned it, but I almost always regift it.

So weird...I found unopened Cucumber Melon bath stuff all over garage sales this year, mostly Bath & Body...lotion, spray, bath gels...I think about 6 items from 3 sales...and I bought it all because my dad loves the stuff. Really.

I myself am a thoughtful re-gifter who appreciates that there are re-gifters who do it well!

[mbhunter]

We re-gift often. Some of my relatives really just don't listen that my wife doesn't like smelly bath stuff. Soooo, into the closet it goes for our friends who do!

[Mabuisakura]

I love re-gifting! It saves us money!!

[crazyBMB]

Absolutely! I don't know about anyone else but, with kids it happens all the time. Something doesn't fit, wrong color, too big, too small, duplicate item, etc......
I do try not to re-gift back to the person who gave it to me. That has happened to me. I was really laughing!
I also have given things like that to charity.