Bevla Reeves is the member of the Phoenix Incubator and the founder of Hairconspiracy.com
What will you do with the unwanted gifts that you receive this Christmas? I personally will put mine in the pantry closet on the “re-gift shelf.” I love my re-gift shelf. It’s convenient! I save time and money shopping for others right from my re-gift shelf. It is full of high quality, interesting and some very expensive items. They are just gifts that my daughter and I do not have a taste for. Is that wrong? Are we bad girls because we're honest about our likings? Can we help it if our loved ones missed the mark on the presents that would have excited us? We love them dearly and appreciate their thoughtfulness and generosity, but should we fake our enthusiasm to avoid hurt feelings or awkward moments? Well, maybe. That would be the nice thing to do. Okay, yes. But then when we get home-- to the pantry it goes! LOL I for one would not be offended if my gift were given away. I would hope that it would be! I’d rather it go to someone who may truly love it than it sit in a closet never to be used, wasted, unappreciated by someone. Most of the times we give gifts that we ourselves would like to receive rather than think about what that person would truly want. I actually learn a lot about a person by the gift they give me. Sssh, I even think I know when the gift has been re-gifted. But that’s fine with me! I don't think less of my loved one for re-gifting; I just pass it along if it’s not my taste! LOL I almost always give gift certificates now. I find them even more thoughtful than a feeble attempt at guessing someone’s pleasure and who re-gifts gift certificates? But really, isn't it better to recycle? Where exactly did we get this notion that giving away an unwanted gift was improper etiquette or offensive? Who got to make up that rule? I say we change the rule and just know that if we give an unwanted gift, that it will be re-gifted, re-cycled, re-issued! Let’s just make that a given! LOL
Regifting got a bad name due to Seinfeld. Well that is so last century.
RECycle. Put your not- -quite--right-- for-you item in a cabinet where it is safely saved for someone else.
Renew.
Each of us has too much stuff anyway.
Pass it on.
Be thoughtful.
Will this person like this item?
Make sure the packaging is in pristine condition. No dusty old things with glop hanging from it will do.
Remove the cards, tags and old paper remnants.
Use a fresh box, new tissue paper.
Make it special.
Who knows that hot pink pleather mini-skirt might just have found a happy home.
Posted by: Nancy | December 26, 2006 at 06:03 PM
Re-gifting is fabulous way to navigate the right gift to the best matched recipient. It is absolutely fine to re-gift as long as 1. the present is unused and 2. the giver genuinely believes the recipient will enjoy the gift. Happy Re-Gifting!
Posted by: Shanna | January 04, 2007 at 07:00 PM