The Do’s and Don’ts of Regifting

Regifting is the practice of giving someone a gift that was initially given to you by someone else. This practice is most common around the holidays when people often receive multiple gifts and have the opportunity to regift something they may not have a use for. Regifting is an economical and eco-friendly way to give gifts since it reduces the need to buy new items. However, some etiquette rules should be followed when regifting. Here are some guidelines to regift in a tasteful and considerate manner. 

 

Do’s

 

Tailor the gift appropriately

Giving a gift should express thoughtfulness, not a means of slipping unwanted gifts off on your family and friends. Matching your regift with the recipient’s interests is important to ensure it is a heartfelt gift. The thought behind the gift is even more important since you aren’t spending any money on it.

 

Gift whenever you’d like

Unlike birthdays and holidays, regifting can be done whenever you please. Giving a gift “just because” will be a pleasant surprise if you keep the receiver in mind when regifting. It’s an excellent idea to regift sooner than later. Fashionable clothing styles and music go out of style quickly, and regifting becomes difficult if your regift was bought last year or the year before.

 

Gift whenever you’d like

Unlike birthdays and holidays, regifting can be done whenever you please. Giving a gift “just because” will be a pleasant surprise if you keep the receiver in mind when regifting. It’s an excellent idea to regift sooner than later. Fashionable clothing styles and music go out of style quickly, and regifting becomes difficult if your regift was bought last year or the year before.

 

DO regift valuable items that aren’t to your taste

Occasionally, we receive gifts from people that are useful or helpful to someone else but aren’t our style or taste. Make sure you don’t give it to someone in the social circle of the person who originally gave it to you.

 

Don’ts

Regift within the same social circle

When you regift an item to someone you previously received it from, it’s possible that either person could get offended. You can avoid this awkward situation by ensuring the giver and recipient of your regift aren’t someone in the same social circle as the person you gave it to. If you are honest with the giver and ask their permission in advance, you may make an exception to this rule. You could say, “This isn’t my style, but I know someone who would love it.” Stick a post-it note on the gift before putting it away so you don’t forget who gave it to you.

 

Use the same wrapping paper

Since you don’t have to spend any money on the present, you can splurge on new wrapping paper and a thoughtful card that will make your gift shine.

 

Regift to get rid of something

The idea behind gift-giving is intention and thoughtfulness, not decluttering. While this may be a beneficial aspect of regifting, it shouldn’t be the motivating factor behind your gift. It will be transparent, and you could end up hurting someone’s feelings. 

 

Regift meaningful gifts or gifts from influential people

If the original giver took great care in selecting the item or if the item is handmade, you should hang on to it. This is especially true when it comes to family heirlooms. Even if you never use your grandmother’s china or hand-sewn quilt, future generations may have a different opinion of its importance. You may even change your mind down the line, so don’t regift meaningful items that can’t be replaced.

 

Take any chances

As mentioned, many charities would be happy to accept your regift, so it’s not worth getting busted by your family and friends if there’s any chance the regift will come back to haunt you. It can be hard to pick out a gift that someone is sure to like (or doesn’t already own), but you can avoid putting others in the position of regifting by doing your homework before heading to the store. 

 

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