How to Regift
Re-gifting has gotten a bad reputation as a dirty little secret of gift-givers everywhere. This practice of receiving a gift you don’t really want and then giving it away to someone else can seem rude, but it’s not under the right circumstances. Re-gifting doesn’t have to be a bad thing as long as you follow a few simple rules.
Re-gift to someone who won’t know the person who gave you the original gift. This is where re-gifters get into trouble. If you get a gift from your friend’s sister, don’t re-gift it to your friend. Take that gift to a completely new circle of potential gift-getters. If you get a gift from a friend, re-gift it to a co-worker. A gift from your mother-in-law can be sent out of a state to an old friend. Re-gifting is not wrong, but it should be done under the radar of the original gift-giver. You are trying to give a gift, not hurt someone’s feelings. If you slip up and the person who gave you the gift finds out that you gave it to someone else, you can always try telling them that you liked yours so much that you got another one for someone else. Or you can just be honest and say that it wasn’t the right item for you, but you knew someone you thought would want it.
Re-gift for the right reasons with thought to the right person. Yes, your intentions matter. Re-gifting is rude if you are simply trying to unload a gift you don’t want and just give it to the next person who happens to have something to celebrate. Consider the gift and try to think of someone who will want it. Keep it in your closet for a few months if you have to, and then give it to someone who will appreciate it.
Consider the practical stuff. Is there a card inside the box? Is there a tag on the gift showing that it was given to you? The easiest way to avoid an embarrassing situation is to rewrap the gift for the next person. Re-gifting is fine, but don’t advertise it.
Re-gifting can still be giving from the heart as long as it’s done with thoughtfulness and care. A gift given to you is yours, as if you bought it from the store. It is yours to keep, yours to sell or yours to give away. Just be sure you take everyone’s feelings into consideration and that you re-gift with a loving spirit.
Happy re-gifting!
