ALT-2 When is it Acceptable to re Gift
Hands up if you've never opened a gift, suppressed a shudder and then exclaimed, 'It's just what I always wanted!' At the same time, both fingers are crossed behind your back, and you're hoping against hope nobody will notice your total lack of sincerity. Most people can identify with that scenario.
Back in the day, the unwanted gift would gather dust in a cupboard far from human sight, but these days, when recycling is almost mandatory, it's okay to recycle gifts as well. Re-gifting is a modern phenomenon, but it brings its own ettiquette. So when is it acceptible to re-gift an unwanted present? Here are some instances when re-gifting is okay.
When it's an 'anonymous' gift
If Aunt Shirley bought you a hideous ornament with the legend, 'A present from Shirleyville,' you can't run the risk of re-gifting amongst your circle, because somebody will backtrack that gift to your no-longer-favourite aunt. However, if she bought you an equally hideous sweater from a reputable chain store, there's nothing wrong with passing it on to someone who will suit the style or colour better.
When the twain shall never meet
If you receive an unwanted gift from a family member who's a couch potato, re-gift it to a friend at your belly dancing class. It's highly unlikely that they'll ever meet and discover your subterfuge - unless they're related, but you'd know that anyway.
When it's more useful to someone else
Someone who was obviously fed up with Christmas shopping has given you a barbecue cookbook, when you live in a 3rd floor apartment with a tiny balcony just large enough to hold a couple of - very small - chairs. Next time you visit your sister at her finca in Spain, take the book as a 'thanks for having me' gift. She'll love it, and the person who gifted the book to you was probably so distracted, they can't even remember what they bought for you.
When it's a 'Secret Santa' gift
The whole point of 'Secret Santa' giving is that nobody knows what they're getting, or who's doing the giving, so it's odds-on that most of the gifts will be totally unsuitable for the recipients. Unless your gift is easily identifiable, or the donor is likely to be there, lose it in a 'Secret Santa' session.
If your conscience won't allow you to re-gift, hang on to the unwanted present for a while and then donate it to a bring and buy sale, or give it as a raffle prize. The main thing is to make sure that someone gets some benefit from the gift. If it sits gathering dust in a cupboard, it benefits nobody.
