Does anyone else regift?

[geojen]

Okay, so I may be a horrible person for this, but I like to regift. I mean, I get all these smelly lotion thingys that I can't use because smelly lotion thingys give me a headache. And, tons of candles and mugs that people keep giving me. I only need so many mugs people! So, I keep a little shelf full of things I want to get rid of, as well as gift bags and tissue paper that I reuse, and presto, gifts in a pinch. Does anyone else do this?

[Kris10Leigh]

I do. I have no problem with it and they're nice to have on hand when a friend gives you an unexpected gift. You just have to make sure you don't give it back to the original gift giver.

[tgavin71]

Yes. It is a good idea. I kkep the card with the gift so i don't give it back to the same person or somene close to them.

[geojen]

I didn't think it was really terrible either, but you never know. I don't want people to think I am ungrateful when they give me a present. Its just sometimes, I can't use what they give me.

[Thrifty Ray]

Ah, regifting....

I have visions of gifts going from one person to the next to the next...never getting used, just being regifted forever...and for that reason, I try really hard to pick gifts that wont end up in the endless cycle of recycled gifts...

I do not usually regift, but rather try to plan a special occasion to use the gift that was (hopefully) picked with me in mind....Like a weekend home alone and a long bubble bath...or some new lotion to take on vacation....whatever that gift is.

I do not have an extensive list of people who give these types of gifts, so I do not receive an abundance of them. (I suppose if I did, I would reconsider regifting.)...but I also do not buy myself those specialty soaps and liotions so that when I do receive them, I am more inclined to use it for myself.

I have no problem with folks who regift, so long as the gift is matched to its new owner and hopefully used eventually.

Funny- but I often ask myself "how likely is this to be regifted" when picking something out...and if it is too likely, i will keep looking for a more suitable present.

[meaghanchan]

I've never regifted. I could never understand why you would give someone something that you didn't like enough to keep. When I'm short on money I don't give anything, or give something small but thoughtful (depends how short on money I am). When I'm not, I give something thoughtful but pay somewhat less attention to price. If I don't know the person well enough to pick out something they'd like rather than some lotion or a candle or a mug, well, why am I giving them a present?

Of course, I realize I'm in the minority here with this opinion.

[Bookie]

We had a family fruitcake that circulated for years. One of those big affairs in a metal canister was passed around Christmas after Christmas. It became something of a holiday tradition -- and a standing joke.

Regifting -- The past several years I've been the grateful recipient of gift cards from specialty stores I never frequent. These I cheerfully pass along to friends who will have use for them. No qualms about it whatsoever.

With gifts, I understand that it's the thought that counts. As the receiver of an unneeded donation, I appreciate the thought and pass on the item.

[getforfree]

I regift too. It's a big moneysaver. Whenever I get something nice to have, but completly useles, I regift it because I don't want to spend money when I have to give someone a gift.

I admit, sometimes I give gifts, so they wouldn't think bad about me, that I am ungrateful, and didn't even give them any gift for like birthday, babyshower, christmass etc.

I have a few people to give gifts to for christmass, but I don't really want to do it, I do it only because they gave me gifts last year. Maybe I don't have to?

One time I got a candy basket from one friend on Christmass, and I regifted it the same day to another friend, and kept the candle that I was going to give to the second friend. They don't know each other, and I figured, a candle will make it untill next year or nearest birthday, but candy won't.

Sometimes I buy baby clothes on 90% off clearance for the baby showers, even when I don't know if any of my friends will have a baby. That way I can give 2 ourfits which cost me $4, and they will think I spent $20.

Maybe I have a thing, that I am greedy, and don't want anybody to know about it. But you, guys, are special, you know more about me than some of my friends.

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by meaghanchan

I could never understand why you would give someone something that you didn't like enough to keep.

I hear what you are saying. I think those of us that thoughfully regift match the item to the person. For example, I will regift stationery. No matter how beautiful the stationery is, I will not use it, because I rarely write letters. I know people who write letters and cards all the time. It's not a matter of me not liking it, it's a matter of me not using it. I also regift the rare alcohol gifts I get; I do not drink at all, and I have drinker friends.

I wouldn't regift something that I actually thought was shoddy, broken, ugly, etc. I only regift something that I really believe the other person will appreciate. I have no problem being the "regiftee" either.

I no longer keep gifts that I don't use or love. Sometimes I give to Goodwill instead of regifting. I do really appreciate the thought behind the gift, but after having a couple things I really disliked prominently displayed in my house for years I realized I could not keep these things just because they were gifts. Not liking the gift did not mean I did not like, or love, the giver. I think even if we attempt to get the right thing for each person, all of us have missed in our gift giving at some point. If I gave someone something that they didn't like, I'm hoping they feel comfortable not using it, and regifting or otherwise disposing of it.

[kealina]

we regift as long as it's appropriate... similarly, we also keep our eyes open for brand new things at yard sales that we might gift to somebody... we try to stay away from generic stuff but if we see something we know a family member/friend will enjoy we will usually end up buying it to stock up for christmas or birthdays... for example, SIL collects figurines and is into a particular japanese video game... when we saw a brand new boxed figurine (retail $20+) of her favorite character that the owners had just brought back from japan we of course bought it and considered it a great gift addition (to things we already bought) for under $5... and part of my MIL's mother's day gift, in addition to dinner out (we used a gift certificate that was given to us), was a heritage hawaiian sea turtle frame (retail $15+) which we bought brand new in the box for less than $2... it was great since she loves to display pictures, loves the hawaiian feel and really loves her two turtles... IMO it doesn't hurt to regift as long as you are giving it some thought and know the giftee will love it...

[meaghanchan]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

I hear what you are saying. I think those of us that thoughfully regift match the item to the person. For example, I will regift stationery. No matter how beautiful the stationery is, I will not use it, because I rarely write letters. I know people who write letters and cards all the time. It's not a matter of me not liking it, it's a matter of me not using it. I also regift the rare alcohol gifts I get; I do not drink at all, and I have drinker friends.

I don't mind when people _thoughtfully_ regift, but I've never received a gift and thought, "wow, Jane would just LOVE this!!". And that's the only way I'll get a gift for someone in the first place- if I see some book, or DVD, or sweater, or whatever- that when I see it, I think, 'this is PERFECT for them".

I don't mind when people pass stuff along that they're not going to use- not as much a gift as a 'hey, do you want this?'- and that I've done, myself, on occasion, but making it a gift?

Maybe I'm just in a place in my life where I don't need to buy a lot of gifts for people, and my opinion may just be coming out of that.

[geojen]

I've never received a gift and thought, "wow, Jane would just LOVE this!!".

I don't think this either. What I think is this: This person has spent their time and money picking out a gift for me. I appreciate that gesture, but I cannot use this item. Rather than it going to waste, I'll give it to someone who could use this item and love it.

[poundwise]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with regifting items that you do not suit you or that you will not use to other people who will enjoy, like, and/or use them.

What else would you do? Take the item back to the store? Stick it in the closet, attic, or garage with other stuff you don't use?

Regifting in this manner is nothing more than being non-wasteful and thoughtful at the same time.

[meaghanchan]

Maybe I should just consider myself lucky that I almost never receive gifts that don't suit me or that I cannot use.

[poundwise]

Originally Posted by meaghanchan

Maybe I should just consider myself lucky that I almost never receive gifts that don't suit me or that I cannot use.

Neither do I. In fact, I can only think of a couple of times that I actually had opportunity to 'regift' an item.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

I hear what you are saying. I think those of us that thoughfully regift match the item to the person. For example, I will regift stationery. No matter how beautiful the stationery is, I will not use it, because I rarely write letters. I know people who write letters and cards all the time. It's not a matter of me not liking it, it's a matter of me not using it. I also regift the rare alcohol gifts I get; I do not drink at all, and I have drinker friends.

I wouldn't regift something that I actually thought was shoddy, broken, ugly, etc. I only regift something that I really believe the other person will appreciate. I have no problem being the "regiftee" either.

That's pretty much my take on it too. Sometimes we'll get a perfectly nice gift that just isn't well suited to us. I occasionally get wine (we don't drink), pins (I don't usually wear much jewelry), or candles (open flames and my cats don't mix!) that I'd much prefer to pass on to someone who would appreciate them.

I would never regift anything substandard, the same way I would never donate something substandard. It's more a matter of finding a better fit for the gift (and if it saves me a dollar or two in the process, so much the better! )

[justbee]

Now there's also regifting a regifted gift. My MIL regifted a chocolate fondue thingy to me which was a gift to her. It was a thing to put melted chocolate in and keep it warm over a tealight. I kept it for almost a year and realized that it was completely useless.

I repurposed it, the design of the thing made more sense as a potpourri holder/warmer. I had a sibling over for Christmas who brought a date, didn't know the date very well so she got it along with potpourri and candles. She seemed to geniunely like the gift and maybe it would have actually gotten used rather than sitting in a kitchen cupboard.

At Christmastime a lot of odd things show up as gifts in the store, go to the Goodwill acouple of months later and there they are to be repurchased by a bargain shopper to be given as another gift. It's like the circle of bad gifts. By the way if I hadn't figured out a way to repurpose it as something of use, then I wouldn't just pass my bad gift on to someone else.

[funnyvalentine]

I run the largest Freecycle in New Jersey, so that's where my "regifts" go. I would add though, that many objects, especially household things, would be welcome at your local battered woman's resources. Most of these women leave with nothing, and when they get to transitional housing, they need everything. Even "frivolous" things like jewelry, perfume, etc, can make a difference in a life built on survival.

[PrincessPerky]

If I don't know the recipient, but they are here when others get a gift (like the date brought for christmas dinner) I will regift a generic, 'girly' and 'boyish' gift...

otherwise it has to fit the recipient..but if I don't know the recipient how will I know what fits? so generic it is.

generally if i havn't found a home for it in a month or two (or if it is really a stocking stuffer-I might save it for chirstmas) I will donate it and forget it.

[Ima saver]

I don't regift, but i get and receive very few gifts. I found an enexpensive gift for some one like the cleaning lady on her birthday, it just a cheap vase with a single flower! Cost about $2 and makes her feel special!