UPcycle: Regifting the right way

‘Tis the season to start thinking about those holiday parties, those family and friend get-togethers and coping with the fear of spending way too much money on gifts.

Ease your mind this year by recycling gifts you‘ve already received. Regift those items that didn’t really work for you, that antique you couldn’t really find a place for or get creative with something you might not need anymore.

It’s the thought that counts, so make sure to follow some simple rules that will keep you from looking like a cheapskate.

1. Make sure you are giving a gift that hasn’t been used. It should be in great condition. You definitely don’t want to give something to someone that would have gone into the yard sale pile the week before. If you’ve got something still in the packaging, that’s the best bet way to go.

2. Keep track of who gave YOU the gift you are regifting. Don’t slip up and have someone unwrap a gift only to find it is something they gave you first!

3. Also, try and regift in different social circles. It’s also polite to make sure you don’t regift something to a friend that’s also friend who gave it to you.

4. Re-wrap your gifts. Don’t just reuse the old wrapping paper. Use fresh, unwrinkled, holiday-appropriate paper on your gift. Giving someone a gift that has already been opened is quite insensitive. It only takes a minute for you to rewrap with fresh paper.

5. Don’t regift just to get rid of junk. Try and gift something to someone that you think they will use or enjoy.

One of the best ways to regift with full disclosure and no hurt feelings is to require your gifts be a “regift.” Make sure you follow the above tips to ensure a happy holiday party!

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Twinkle VanWinkle ponders, creates and discovers cool stuff about music, movies, food, fashion and so forth. Her thoughtful writings and interactives give great advice about healthy food, cooking tips, DIY projects, fashion and more. She’ll teach you a thing or two about music as well. Along with producing dynamic entertainment content for LIN Media, she is a mother, musician and social media fanatic.