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The Art of Regifting  "Green Gift Giving" by Nikki Willhite What do you do when you receive a present for which you have no use? Ever had a neighbor come over with a bottle of wine when you don't drink? How about a box of chocolates for a diabetic? These gifts are a little easier to decline if you wish than something that is just "taste specific", doesn't fit, or you can't or don't want to use or display. Most of us have been faced with this dilemma at some time in our lives. Perhaps we disposed of the gift in the trash, or took it to Goodwill. However, there is another option, and it is called regifting. Some people raise their eyebrows at the thought. I have to admit that when I saw my first daughter-in-law take all her wedding presents back to the store, I was shocked. I didn't even know you could do that. However, once you get use to these kinds of ideas, you realize that they are just practical. If you are trying to save money, they can also be frugal. What seems to have no value to us, can have value for another person and save us money when we give it to them instead of spending money to buy them another item. I guess you could say that was "Living Green". You are recycling an item you just can't use. Regifting is a skill Not only do you want to give your gift to someone who will appreciate it, but you don't want to embarrass yourself in the process. There are rules to follow to help you in this process. Here are the basics: 1. Always attach a note to the gift you are planning on recycling, with who gave it to you and the date you received it. Obviously you don't want to give an item back to the person who gave it to you (or one of their friends). The date will remind you of the occasion of the gift. If after a few years you still haven't found anyone that you think would appreciate it, you may want to donate it to a thrift store. 2. Never pass around an object that has no value or that you don't think anyone would like. You can try to sell it on Ebay, or give it to a thrift store. This includes items with any sign of damage, of having been used, or missing the appropriate wrapping or tags. I toured a thrift store a few years ago. At that time, they were taking anything made with fiber. They bundled it and sent it overseas, where it was reprocessed and made into clothing and blankets. 3. Never regift items with sentimental value, including gifts from close family members and homemade items. There is too much risk of hurting feelings. 4. Don't give items to people that were obviously free things that were given to you. This would include things like items with logos from companies. 5. Make sure the items you give are clean, and do not have dust on them. 6. Check to make sure the item you are giving is still being manufactured and sold, or could reasonably be expected to be found on a store shelf. I stock popular wedding presents in my home. If you do this, use them in a reasonable amount of time, especially if the gift may become "old technology". 7. Do pass along unwanted items to friends that you can't regift, letting the recipient know that you thought of them and wondered if they would like it. ' Forget the jokes about the "Circulating Fruit Cakes", and use regifting as one of your frugal tools. With proper thought, one person's "trash" can become another's "treasure". About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!  Article first published at www.allthingsfrugal.com

 

 

 

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