Now that the holidays are over and you’ve ushered in the New Year, it’s time to sends thanks to those who thought of you during the season. While you take inventory of the presents you received, you might find a few that don’t particularly suit you or that didn’t come with a gift receipt. Have no fear; you can almost always regift these items. Follow these five basic rules to avoid any awkward regifting situations:
1. Keep the tags on, save the gift receipt and use a proper turnaround time frame.
The easiest way to regift is to give it to someone else quickly with the tags and a gift receipt. If you don’t have either of those, a good rule of thumb for gift turnaround is about one to two months. Be careful because if you wait too long, items go out of style or gifts get dusty and dingy in storage. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your regifted gift feels specially hand-picked.
2. Never regift lightly used items.
Even though the scarf from Grandma isn’t a style that works for you but came without a gift receipt, that doesn’t make it okay for you to use it once or twice before you regift it. Presents, especially clothing and books, will lose the crispness that comes with being brand new immediately after the cover is cracked or the clothing item is worn around. No one wants to receive an item that feels secondhand. If you know that you want to regift, keep your items in mint condition.
3. Always rewrap with fresh paper.
Recycling gifts is a great way to save you money and a shopping trip, but don’t forget to rewrap the gift with new paper! Regifting a gift without tags or a gift receipt can already be a giveaway, and reusing the same paper that you opened and wrinkled will definitely make a gift appear sloppy. By using fresh wrapping paper, the receiver will get the same special feeling of appreciation from the giver that comes with any gift, whether it’s hand-picked or regifted.
4. Think about the receiver of the gift.
It’s acceptable to regift that kitten sweater from crazy Aunt Martha or the book on insect species from your third cousin twice removed. But when you are regifting such unique items, make sure you give them to someone who will appreciate them. The purpose of giving a gift is to spread joy to your friends and family; therefore, regifting an embarrassing or uninteresting gift just to get it out of your room doesn’t show your loved ones that you had them in mind when you picked out the present.
5. Double-check who gave you the gift.
Everyone regifts now and then, but you never want to be caught! Make sure you know whom the gift came from because you don’t want to give the present at a gathering where the original giver will be present. Guests will remember the gifts you received, especially if it’s unique (such as the neon green backscratcher you got from a friend’s friend). You also don’t want to be passing the same gift around a small social circle. If one of your best friends gave you some perfume that isn’t your favorite scent, don’t turn around and give it to another close friend a few weeks later. Let’s face it: People talk, and you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Happy 2011, and happy regifting, collegiettes™!