Does anyone else regift?

[pearlieq]

Re: Does anyone else regift?

I hear what you are saying. I think those of us that thoughfully regift match the item to the person. For example, I will regift stationery. No matter how beautiful the stationery is, I will not use it, because I rarely write letters. I know people who write letters and cards all the time. It's not a matter of me not liking it, it's a matter of me not using it. I also regift the rare alcohol gifts I get; I do not drink at all, and I have drinker friends.

I wouldn't regift something that I actually thought was shoddy, broken, ugly, etc. I only regift something that I really believe the other person will appreciate. I have no problem being the "regiftee" either.

That's pretty much my take on it too. Sometimes we'll get a perfectly nice gift that just isn't well suited to us. I occasionally get wine (we don't drink), pins (I don't usually wear much jewelry), or candles (open flames and my cats don't mix!) that I'd much prefer to pass on to someone who would appreciate them.

I would never regift anything substandard, the same way I would never donate something substandard. It's more a matter of finding a better fit for the gift (and if it saves me a dollar or two in the process, so much the better! )

[justbee]

Re: Does anyone else regift?

Now there's also regifting a regifted gift. My MIL regifted a chocolate fondue thingy to me which was a gift to her. It was a thing to put melted chocolate in and keep it warm over a tealight. I kept it for almost a year and realized that it was completely useless.

I repurposed it, the design of the thing made more sense as a potpourri holder/warmer. I had a sibling over for Christmas who brought a date, didn't know the date very well so she got it along with potpourri and candles. She seemed to geniunely like the gift and maybe it would have actually gotten used rather than sitting in a kitchen cupboard.

At Christmastime a lot of odd things show up as gifts in the store, go to the Goodwill acouple of months later and there they are to be repurchased by a bargain shopper to be given as another gift. It's like the circle of bad gifts. By the way if I hadn't figured out a way to repurpose it as something of use, then I wouldn't just pass my bad gift on to someone else.

[funnyvalentine]

Re: Does anyone else regift?

I run the largest Freecycle in New Jersey, so that's where my "regifts" go. I would add though, that many objects, especially household things, would be welcome at your local battered woman's resources. Most of these women leave with nothing, and when they get to transitional housing, they need everything. Even "frivolous" things like jewelry, perfume, etc, can make a difference in a life built on survival.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Does anyone else regift?

If I don't know the recipient, but they are here when others get a gift (like the date brought for christmas dinner) I will regift a generic, 'girly' and 'boyish' gift...

otherwise it has to fit the recipient..but if I don't know the recipient how will I know what fits? so generic it is.

generally if i havn't found a home for it in a month or two (or if it is really a stocking stuffer-I might save it for chirstmas) I will donate it and forget it.

[Ima saver]

Re: Does anyone else regift?

I don't regift, but i get and receive very few gifts. I found an enexpensive gift for some one like the cleaning lady on her birthday, it just a cheap vase with a single flower! Cost about $2 and makes her feel special!