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During the holidays we give and receive a multitude of gifts that range from small tokens to big ticket items. With all this exchange among friends, associates, coworkers and family members it is more than likely someone will receive something they do not want. When this happens it is still important to accept the gift graciously and not embarrass or hurt the feelings of the person who has given the gift.

Not everyone is good at choosing just the right gift. Likewise, not everyone has an unlimited holiday gift giving budget. Even though you may receive something you don't want or feel you don't have a need for the person giving the gift may have put effort into choosing it and may even have been excited about giving it to you.

When you receive a clothing item as a holiday gift that is not your taste and you know that the person who gave you the item will expect to see you wearing it, you can either say the article is not the right size or doesn't really match anything you own or in the case of "special occasion" garments you can say you would probably never get a chance to wear it and ask the person if you can exchange the item for something in a different color or size. This way the person knows you appreciated the gift and are sorry you can't use it.

The same holds true for jewelry. Perhaps you have a coworker who loves big, chunky jewelry but you are more on the conservative side. Thank her for the item, perhaps wear it to work once and then set it aside. After the holidays have passed, if you have another friend or a sister who likes something in that style pass it on to them and if the coworker asks about the item you can say you loaned it out or gave to someone who really needed it.

In the case of little knick knacks and figurines and things that are not functional that you may see as more clutter for collecting dust in your life, it is still in good taste to thank someone for thinking of you at the holidays, even though you have no use for what they have given you. Perhaps you know someone else who collects items like the one you were given whom you can pass it along to after the season is over.

If you have received a piece of original art that "doesn't fit your dcor" or is something you just can not live with, find out who the artist is and see if you can possibly exchange the piece. If the artist is the person who has given you the gift, unless the piece is completely unseemly try to find a place for it even if only temporarily. You can always move

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