by Schneider

Created on: November 29, 2008

Regifting. Acceptable or not? I suppose this is a personal issue, but when you hear this word do you immediately think...cheap, or thrifty and practical?

To regift or not, that is the question

I once received a little gift,

A tiny porcelain dove.

I didn't understand, as it was not my taste at all.

The tag read: To Mike my dear, with lots and lots of love.

(Who the heck is Mike?)

Here are ten simple rules you must follow if you opt to be a regifter.

1. Always and I mean always, keep in mind who gave you the original gift. It isn't hard to imagine the awkward situation that would arise if you wrapped up the gift and gave it back the following year. "Umm, thanks. How thoughtful of you."

2. Don't give it to anyone that knows the original gift giver, as that would cause problems as well. "Look, what Sally gave us this year, electric hand warmers. Wow, we love them so much." Uncle Bob is left wondering, "Did Sally love the hand warmers that I gave her so much that she went out and bought a set for Aunt Agnes, or did Sally despise them and get rid of them the first chance she got?" Poor Uncle Bob.

3. Take the original gift tag off. Nothing says cheap like a tag on the bottom of the gift with someone else's name on it.

4.Only regift if you are sure the person you are giving it to would love it. It's not a good idea to use regifting as a form of recycling.

5. Only regift new, unopened gifts. Torn, used, or half-eaten gifts are never a good idea.

6. Although you might desperately want to, do not regift fruitcakes.

7. If the gift was handmade especially for you, say a knitted scarf from your Grandma, don't regift-too obvious.

8. Monogrammed items should never be regifted. If your name is Michael Andrew Friedman, you will have a hard time convincing anyone that the monogrammed golf ball holder that you gave to them actually stands for: My Awesome Friend. Don't go there-t will never work.

9. Be sure you really want to give the gift away. Once it's gone, it's gone!

10. Last but not least, if you do opt to regift, don't tell the gift recipient that their present is something you once received and didn't want anymore. This will leave the impression that you didn't even care enough to take the time to find something special for them.

Should you regift? Only you can decide!

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