Is Regifting an Acceptable Way to Save?

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Is Regifting an Acceptable Way to Save?

Submitted by: Tip Hero 01/02/2009 11:05 AM

Have you ever regifted a gift?

Over the holidays we witnessed a family member give a friend a gift that she had received as a birthday gift from an aunt. The friend was thrilled with the gift, but it got us thinking: Is it okay to "regift"?

Where do you stand when it comes to regifting? Have you regifted or been the recipient of a regift? Share your stories below and thanks for being a TipHero!

Editor's Note: We did a little research of our own and discovered that regifting is quite the hot topic. Here are some related links on the art of regifting:

Regiftable.com - an entire site devoted to the topic of regifting

Newsweek: Is Regifting Wrong?

Money Central: 12 Rules for Regifting Without Fear

Motley Fool: The Dos and Don'ts of Regifting

NY Times: The Ins and Outs of Regifting

NPR Radio: When to Regift

getrichslowly: The Regift Friend or Foe

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Comments:

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I got married last summer and received more gifts than I knew what to do with. I live in a small apartment in NYC and just couldn't keep it all. Am ashamed to admit it, but I gave away some of my gifts as Christmas gifts this year. Making sure to give to opposite sides of the family. But in my defense I got a lot of relly nice things, but things that I would never use and gifts that I knew the new recipients would love.

Posted by anonymous on January 02, 2009 11:57 AM

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Regifting is just another form of recycling. If I cannot use or enjoy something, but know someone else who will, by giving it to them I am keeping that item from becoming either clutter in my home or going into a landfill. It makes sense.

Posted by anonymous on January 02, 2009 2:33 PM

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Why not re gift if someone else can use it.
Would it not be the same to take it back to the store and buy something different and than give it away.
I as the giver would rather have someone else have it verse sitting in a closet collecting dust or just be thrown out.

Posted by mary on January 02, 2009 3:04 PM

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regifting is a good thing.people get the things they need.I think there is alot of this going on that people don't realize. hope this site can help.you can get 1 a week without joining

Posted by cindy on January 02, 2009 4:02 PM

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Money is very tight at our house and this is the second Christmas in a row that we gave no gifts. A family member's birthday is close to Christmas and I made her a gift. At the last minute I decided also to "re-gift" something I have only used once or twice and knew she would love to have. I felt such guilt - I cannot tell you! A couple days later she called and left me a message to call her there was something she needed to discuss with me. I just knew I had been found out. I was miserable and vowed never to "regift" again. Whew! That wasn't what she wanted to discuss at all. Not sure I will ever do that again. Personally, I would not be offended either by "re-gifting" or by being given something purchased at a yard sale or thrift shop - as long as it was useable and in good condition. However, not everyone shares my sensibilities.

Posted by anonymous on January 02, 2009 7:42 PM

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I often regift children's gifts. My sons are 1 and 5 and receive so many gifts for Christmas and birthdays that they often forget who gave them what or even what they received. Sometimes they receive things that are too young for them that they would never play with. So, I never open the package and re-gift. As long as I know the recipient will enjoy it, I think it's fine.

Posted by Michelle on January 02, 2009 9:07 PM

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i have a few friends that I exchange gifts with at christmas. The stipulation is that we spend no money on the gifts. We give each other things we already have. It works nicely. We all know we are getting recycled gifts, no hard feelings when something comes back around.

Posted by anonymous on January 03, 2009 1:18 AM

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I think regifting is okay as long as you don't do it in the same place. For example, a family member gives you a cd that's not your taste. I say regift it to someone in the office or someplace else. I tell people if they don't like what I give them it won't hurt my feelings if they regift it to someone else, just please don't do it at the same place.

Zig

Posted by zig on January 03, 2009 8:26 AM

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I LOVE regifting. I don't mind receiving a re-gift it is thoughtfully chosen for me, and by the same token I think it's fine to give something that I know the other person will enjoy. I do not understand the shame about this at all. Of course, if you are giving trash or something dirty or messy or that is a bad fit for the recipient....well, that's not o.k. But a thoughtful regift trumps a thoughtless new purchase in my book anytime.

Posted by kathleen on January 03, 2009 9:53 AM

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I asked for socks for my birthday and received 2 packages from my spouse and daughter. I opened one package and found them not really to my liking. My daughter then asked for socks at Christmas, so I gave her back the package I had not opened. She was thrilled and did not notice they were the same ones they had given me. I really think it's common sense to re-gift if it's something you won't use and if the receiver either does not know or does not care about the item being re-gifted. It's a great form of recycling.

Posted by Karen Koenig on January 03, 2009 1:40 PM

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I too love regifting. It is a shame in todays world to pack something away, or throw away something you are not going to use. So I regift new items if appropriate to the person on the receiving end.

Posted by annonymus on January 03, 2009 4:47 PM

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re-gifting is absolutely fine. Our society is one of waste, the worst sin.
I volunteer at a re-sale shop that in December donated l.3 million, yes, million dollars to many different charities, schools, fire stations, etc.
Hope people get over their "me, me me" attitude.

Posted by anonymous on January 03, 2009 6:47 PM

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I think re-gifting is fine. As long as you don't re-gift it to the person who originally gave it to you. It is also a money saving idea. Times are tight now and re-gifting makes it easy on the pocket and can be used for someone who could really appreciate it.

Posted by Anonymous on January 04, 2009 2:09 AM

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Regifting is absolutely fine & the only reason it is even an "issue" is that "retailers" who want your $ or for you to get into debt to get even MORE $ want to place "guilt" on you! The whole "buy buy buy" for Christmas was made up by them; most folks have gone to a "make it yourself" only gift: instead of "buying" into the whole "buy buy buy" routine. Others have opted to give $5 or whatever amount they can to folks in STOCKINGS so that the person can get what they would like at 50% off or more the day AFTER Christmas! Still others opt to "gift" on New Years Day! & others like me almost always get throughout the year from Salvation Army or Goodwill; thrift stores folks: & gift when they see the person whether it is their "birthday" or Christmas; MINE is always given ahead of time! & if i ever sent Christmas cards out, it would be in July!

Posted by MzScarlett on January 04, 2009 9:15 AM

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*A great way to Regift without fear is to give those un-used Gift Cards and Gifts to a non-profit organization. Dream Bigger uses those gift cards as gifts to Women and Children fleeing and/or recovering after Family Violence. These famlies are SO blessed by this - even if we think it's a small gift card, they are THRILLED !

*Another great way to Give without Giving is to use GoodSearch.com to search the internet and GoodShop.com to shop (all your favorite stores are there). Just type in Dream Bigger on that first page and they will donate money to help these women and children recover & rebuild after Family Violence.

Posted by Laurie on January 05, 2009 6:33 AM

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I have a box in my closet of gifts that I was given that I have not idea what to do with and felt guilty about giving away. But now think I'll find a worthy recipient and regift them! thnx

Posted by christyp on January 08, 2009 1:35 PM

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Make VERY sure that all 'tags' are off the gift before you give it, and that you know not to give it back to the one who gave it to you. I know this is common sense but my former boss would regift items to us employees as Christmas gifts, and it became an office joke as some of us - each year -would find tags left inside our gifts and knew it was something she received but did not want ( some were to her and her husband from other Board members no less!) It made us feel unimportant but we would all laugh about it because it happened alot. Also a relative who i gave nice towels to at Xmas one yr. . was cleaning out her linen closet in May of that year and ended up giving us things she didn't want, including the nice towel set we had just given her 5 months earlier. Luckily we just chuckled over these things and didn't get upset, but others might. So be very very careful when you do regift.

Posted by Bev on January 09, 2009 2:32 PM

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I would definately regift an item if I found someone who I thought would enjoy the gift. After all it's the thought that counts. Otherwise, I just donate to the Goodwill and take the tax write off.

Posted by Kathy on January 11, 2009 9:36 PM

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No doubt about it. Ditto about making it a thoughtful gift, just as you would if you'd make a purchase. I also put in my Gift Box those things I've purchased that for some stupid reason I bought and then decided not to use and couldn't return it. Who knows but me, anyway? It's the thought that goes into a gift that counts the most.

Posted by Pinky212 on February 12, 2009 8:24 PM

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I have regifted for years; I was a proffesional student and had no money for way too long. I have a gift tub that I place the gift in so it wont get dust on it and write the gifter on it. IF I CANT RETRUN IT OR USE IT I regift it. if it is smelly I place it in plastic bag. it only takes one time of giving it to the same person do you forget to write the persons name on it.

Posted by Wendy on February 16, 2009 6:35 AM

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When we were first married 26 years ago, we were given many nice wedding gifts, especially many sets of towels. All my husband's college buddies were getting married, and we didn't have one extra dollar to our name. They were all brand new sets, and we regifted before it was a buzzword. I made sure not to give a gift back to the one who had given it to me. For years money was tight, and I regifted.

I still do if I receive gifts that are not my taste. I hold them until I find someone I think will like it. I don't like regifting if I know someone is cheap and pulled out some old thing just to save a nickel. I do try to give people something I think they would like.

Posted by Melissa on March 04, 2009 4:19 PM

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Wow,all of these comments. It's obviously a hot topic or sensitive subject. A lot of guilt. Why? Is a gift only good if we had to take money out of our wallet for it? That's what really bugs us. We only attach value to money. If someone missed the mark on a gift for me but I know someone else else would like it, how can that be wrong?

Obviously caution is the word of the day, because it would be terrible to hurt the gift givers feelings. I agree with the recycle theory. It would be okay to simply give it away to someone who would enjoy it as well. Or donate it. Again, the gift giver's feelings should be protected whatever we decide to do with the gift.

Posted by anonymous on July 30, 2009 3:46 AM

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Whenever I give a gift, I always let the receiver know that if they do not like the gift or if they have "too many" (gives them an excuse if they don't like it and don't want to hurt my feelings) that I wish for them to give it to someone who can use it. I have never been offended if someone gives away my gift I have purchased for them. My mom does that all the time with presents I give her; she will give what she doesn't want or like to my sister. Why spend extra money when it is the THOUGHT that counts, not the actual gift itself??? Materialism is a sin that should not come between loved ones and friends!!

Posted by Lisa in Naples, NY on July 31, 2009 10:18 PM

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Pay attention. Think carefully about what someone would really like and you can give an appreciated gift. Just look at their interests, food preferences, etc. I don't believe anyone has ever given a candle away or regifted it. Think about things anyone would like and appreciate, if you are unsure.

Posted by anonymous on August 01, 2009 2:36 AM

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