It’s fine to regift, as long as you make sure the feelings of others are paramount: Below are six guidelines:
- Do not regift to people in the social/professional circles you and your friend (the gift giver) share. This way, you are likely to sidestep an embarrassing scenario such as the following: Ed gave you a vase; you regifted the vase to Anna. You’re socializing with Tom and Ed at Anna’s house and the following conversation takes place:
Tom asks, “I like that vase, Anna. Where’d you get it”?Anna replies, “Oh, Leslie (you!) gave it to me for my birthday”.
Ed pitches in with, “Leslie that looks just like the one I gave you for your birthday”. (Or, Ed says nothing and wonders if you regifted the cashmere sweater he gave you last year).
- Make sure the gift is in just-purchased condition. Nobody wants to receive an obvious passed-on masquerading as a thoughtful purchase.
- Remove the gift tag (to you) that reads. “Love, Aunt Emma”.
- Regift within a reasonable time period. If you regift the platter you received a year ago, your memory around who gave to you may be off track. You don’t want to end up regifting the gift Bob gave you back to Bob!
- If the gift is unique or meaningful, i.e. the scarf your neighbor knit, keep it. The smile that appears on her face when she sees you wearing the scarf will far outshine any reservation you have about the fact that the colors really don’t work with your coat.
- It’s best to regift items that have general appeal. These include candles, an unopened bottle of wine, hardly touched book, or gift card.
We can regift as long as we make sure that those who gave us the gift and receive it continue to feel valued and appreciated.
Happy holidays!
