The Ultimate Guide to Re-gifting

Blogmas 2020 Day 12

I know we’ve all been conditioned to think that re-gifting is tacky, but there’s a right way to do everything! As you assess your holiday gift roundup, there may be duplicated/similar items, things that are not your size, or style. All these things are definitely eligible for re-gifting, especially if you want to remain bougie on a budget and avoid the hassle of returning.

Here are my top 5 tips for seamlessly re-gifting without being tacky:

1. Be selective about the items you re-gift. Everything is not eligible for re-gifting! If you received an all around trash gift (like a Chia Pet, for example) just cut your losses and toss it! But if the gift is new (unopened/ unused) and on-trend, and just happens to be the wrong size (or not your style) then I’d say go for it!
2. Don’t re-gift within the same group. This should go without saying, but don’t re-gift a sweater from your mom to your sister. Not only will you sister know it wasn’t originally purchased for her, but you’ll run the risk of offending your mother as well. It’s best to re-gift in different groups so no one is offended.
3. Be intentional about re-gifting. You should take the same care when re-gifting as you would buying a gift. When you select someone to re-gift an item to, it should be because they would appreciate the gift more than you do. If you automatically think of someone else when you receive it, that’s the person it should go to!
4. Change the packaging. I know this seems obvious, but don’t re-gift the item in the same packaging you received it in! Chances are you’ll be gifting for a different occasion anyway, so make sure to re-wrap or re-bag the item nicely for it’s next owner.
5. Don’t make re-gifting a habit. While I want to remove the stigma from re-gifting, don’t walk into every occasion looking for a gift to give away! Re-gifting should be done sparingly, and as mentioned before, intentionally.

Re-gifting doesn’t have to be tasteless or offensive. In fact, intentional re-gifting can be a useful tool to stay bougie on a budget. I hope these tips can help you find a great new home for some of your misplaced Christmas gifts and keep you within your budget for future occasions!

Thoughtfully,