Re-gifting used to be taboo. It was the sort of thing you would never do, or at least never admit to doing. But in the last few years, the stigma has lessened and the act of re-gifting has become more commonplace. Gift-giving is about intention and relationships, not how much we spend. So if you are going to re-gift, there should be some ground rules so that no one gets hurt. Here are just two of them:
- Be sure to closely examine the package for signs that it is a re-gift such as old cards, tags, hand-written inscriptions, remnants of old wrapping paper, or tape. Nothing gives a re-gift away like dusty wrapping paper or someone else’s name on the packaging. In fact, since you are saving time and money on the gift, a thoughtful, hand-written, personalized card makes this re-gift a must!
- Never give within the same circle of people. Just to be safe, even if you think that their paths will never cross, it’s best to disclose the re-gift to anyone with whom you are very close. For example, tell your mom when you give her the scarf that you got at the office gift exchange, “I knew you would love this as soon as I saw it. I had to give it to you.”
Share your thoughts on and experiences with re-gifting.