What To Do With Unwanted Christmas Gifts
What’s that? You’ll not bother reading this as you never receive unwanted gifts?
Are you sure? Because I could have sworn I just saw your nose grow an inch. Must be my imagination.
Admitting you’ve received an unwanted gift doesn’t make you ungrateful and it’s nothing to feel bad about. It might be a CD you already have, a t-shirt that doesn’t fit or in my case a pair of running trainers I’ll never wear because I just ‘don’t do running’ (I just hope that was a genuine mistake and not a subtle hint).
There’s no need to hide your unwanted gifts in the back of the wardrobe until you feel less guilty about throwing them out, there are plenty of alternatives.
Take it back to the store
Many stores give gift receipts at this time of year, I’m guessing for their own sanity as well as ours. A queue of customers on Boxing Day all hoping for a refund without a receipt is every shop assistants nightmare. You may be lucky and find the gift receipt with your present in which case, go ahead and swap it for something you really want. No gift receipt? Dare you ask for it?
Sell it
Get some cash for your gift by listing it on one of the many online auction sites or in the classified ads section of your local newspaper. A low starting price will attract more buyers. They walk away with a bargain and you walk away with some cash in your pocket – smiles all round.
Swapsies
Never had a ‘swapsies day’ at the office? You’re in for a treat.
Your musical tie might be just the thing for Janet’s piano playing nephew while burger loving Mike’s vegetarian cook book is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
One person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure so get rummaging. Even if none of the cast offs catch your eye, I’m sure the office banter and giggles throughout the day will make up for it and bring some much needed fun in those early January weeks when we all feel a little deflated to say the least.
Donate it to charity
‘Tis the season of giving so why not donate the unwanted gift to one of your local charity shops. Swap the warm fuzzy feeling of mulled wine for the warm fuzzy feeling of doing your bit for the community. (Don’t worry, the mulled wine will still be there when you get back).
If Grandma asks to see the cardigan she knitted you after seeing one exactly like it in the shop window, you could tell her the truth or just say you liked it so much that you wore it three days running and now it’s in the wash 😉
Re-Gift it to someone else
Know someone who would love you’re unwanted gift? Why not save it for their next birthday? In a way you’d be turning your gift into cash. You would have had to buy a present anyway, so the money you’ve now saved can be used to treat yourself – guilt free. Everyone’s a winner, unless you accidentally give it to the same person you received it from in the first place – then you might have some explaining to do.
I have a friend who did that (it definitely wasn’t me) and she told them she liked it so much that she wanted them to have one too. I, I mean she, received a suspicious “hmmmmm” but she got away with it.
Whatever you unwrap this Christmas, be thankful you have wonderful people around you who cared enough to brave the stampede of shoppers, just for you. It’s the thought that counts. And remember don’t be offended if your lovely mother-in-law exchanges that One Direction CD you bought her, for the latest Barry Manilow album.
Merry Christmas!