Unwanted gifts? Here’s how to regift without offending anyone

One man’s junk is another man’s jewel. Make sure to give it politely, at least.

We all know Christmas is for giving, but let’s face it, not everyone got the memo that it should be gifts your person would actually want—or need.

How am I supposed to use that mug from your grandmother’s cupboard when I have 20 more left untouched, or even wear that fancy, bejeweled lanyard when I work from home every day? Don’t even tell me about that little bag of makeup that you brought home as a freebie from an event before handing it to me with an “especially for you” tag.

Christmas is definitely not just about the presents—and thank heavens for that!—but gift-giving is a tradition that most of us observe. Apparently, not everyone is good at it. In fact, professor Adelle Yang at the National University of Singapore told The Guardian that most of our mistakes in gift-giving is caused by a “natural perspective gap” dubbed as the “smile seeking hypothesis.”

Instead of choosing items your folks will actually enjoy and use long-term, we tend to fixate on the single moment of getting them surprised, or happy, when they open the gift. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology in 2017 discovered the same thing—givers would usually opt for “gifts with superficial attributes that match the preferences of the recipient” over those that would be “sentimentally valuable” to him or her.

This explains why some people would give out adorable Christmas-themed housewares, shirts, and whatnots during the holidays when, obviously, we can only use them during Christmas. Facepalm!

No matter how rubbish or ridiculous these gifts may be, it would only be polite for us receivers to practice an attitude of gratitude. We pretend to be surprised, if not pleased, at the very least. We must remain courteous and express our gratitude to the giver because, come to think of it, presents are just a small part of our relationship with them.

Now, what can you do with those gifts that do not fit? If it’s a perishable good or personalized item that cannot be regifted, it would be best to just dispose them, as they are likely to become clutter. And clutter costs you space, time, and money, as well as physical and mental stress.

You can also donate them, exchange them for another item if they come with a gift receipt, or create a Messenger group chat where you and your friends can swap unwanted presents instead.

Alternatively, you can always regift them to someone else who can use and enjoy them. And before you do, take note of the do’s and don’ts of thoughtful regifting to avoid offending the receiver or embarrassing yourself.

Do’s

Create a central space for unwanted gifts. This could be a box or a drawer where you can stash the items you choose to regift. Before keeping them, make sure to label them with the giver’s name, so you won’t end up returning it to them, or giving it in the same circle, the following year.

Regift with intention. Sure, you want to get rid of the rubbish gift ASAP, but that doesn’t mean you can just throw it out to anyone without a thought. If you don’t want to make a fool of yourself in front of your receiver—your entire circle of friends even—give the gift that will best suit the person. It may be recycled, but at least you know it’s one that they’ll be happy to receive.

Check it twice. You should only gift unused items. Otherwise, they should be donated. The best way to keep the item in mint condition is to keep its packaging and tags. And before wrapping them, make sure that all parts are included and remove anything that’s personal.

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Wrap it well. Just because the present came gift-wrapped doesn’t mean you should hand it over to the next receiver with the exact wrapper you’ve already peeled opened. Instead, make an effort to wrap it up with a new wrapper so it looks presentable and new.

Don’ts

Don’t regift in the same social circle. You already know how bad it feels when someone doesn’t like the gift you’ve given them. Imagine how worse it can be when they found out you gave it to another friend or family member. When you regift, do it outside of the circle it came from and do it quietly. No need to mention you’re regifting unless you want the receiver to think you’re rude or tacky.

Don’t regift when people are smoking at home. The smell of cigarette smoke is something you’d barely notice if you’re used to it, but others definitely can. It contains toxic particles, including nicotine and other carcinogens, that easily sticks to both hard and soft surfaces like furniture, clothing, walls, and yes, even the items you’re planning to regift.

Don’t regift if you’re living with pets. Some people are allergic to dogs and cats. Unless you’re a hundred percent sure that your receiver isn’t, might as well keep it, give it to another person, or donate it.

Don’t make it a consistent habit. While you may have a huge box of everything and anything you’d want to regift, it’s still best not to over it. Regift only with the intention that the item will benefit someone better. And when you do, make sure that you don’t do it all at the same time in one social circle, or year after year. You wouldn’t want people to think you’re flat broke or just plain stingy, do you?

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