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If you’ve received a pile of gifts you simply don’t need or want, here are some suggestions for what to do with them!

We’ve all been there. You wake up on Boxing Day to find that you’ve received 8 candles and 5 boxes of hand cream that you could never possibly use even if you had the driest hands in the world. You don’t want to bin gifts that are in perfect condition, but you also don’t want a house full of clutter. Thankfully, there are plenty of options that will put a smile not only on your face, but someone else’s as well.

Re-gift

Perhaps the most obvious option for unwanted Christmas presents – regifting. Got a housewarming coming up in January? Maybe a friends birthday in February? Re-gifters get a bad wrap (see what I did there!) for being cheapskates, but so long as the item you’re regifting is unused and undamaged, we don’t see the problem! You’re simply passing on something that you just won’t have the opportunity to enjoy so that someone else can enjoy it instead. Just remember that if it’s something you would never consider buying for the person in the first place, it’s probably not worth regifting!

Donate

If your children’s school holds charity fairs, or you know a local women’s shelter that takes donations, consider packaging up your unwanted gifts and making a contribution. Giving to a charitable cause can be a great way to counteract the overspending and overindulging of the festive season. Unfortunately, many people donate broken, damaged or used products, meaning that charities are left with excessive amounts of rubbish to dispose of, so donate your nice new things instead and do some good!

Be Honest

Often, people are too afraid to simply say they don’t need or don’t like a particular gift, but honesty is the best policy. You don’t have to announce it over family dinner, but quietly taking the person aside and telling them that it’s just not for you isn’t as rude as it sounds. All you need to say is that it isn’t really to your taste, or you don’t have any use for it at the moment, but you appreciate their thought and generosity. If they’ve included a gift receipt, you don’t even need to have the conversation – simply return it for something you’d like instead.

Have you received a Christmas gift you didn’t want? Or had someone tell you they didn’t like your gift? Share your stories in the comments!

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  • I dont get a lot of gifts so really dont ahve this problem.

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  • Regifting

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  • Giving to charity is always an excellent choice.

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  • I’m a fan of regifting and donating. In the past I’ve sold a few things on local buy sell Facebook sites. I have some serial offender interesting gift-givers

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  • I have re gifted before but not often most people know that I like Chocolate Flowers and perfume! easy!

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  • I don’t have that problem as I didn’t even get a single gift this year and it’s not the first year this has happened ???? but I love to see people receive gifs ❤️❤️

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  • We kniw each other eell enough, this doesnt usually happen. And if it does we are open enough to say something ????

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  • Fortunately, we all know each other so well, that there are no ‘unwanted’ gifts!

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  • We have re-gifted and donated before.

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  • I hate unwanted gifts, soap, cheap oil defusers and as usual, my MIL buys me hand and nail cream, each year.
    I’ve hinted that I’d rather a Bunnings voucher for $20 but always get multiple bottles of useless hand cream. I end up passing them on to friends for free

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  • I usually donate unwanted gifts to the charity.

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  • We do not gift outside our direct family, so the gifts under the tree are limited and usually on the Santa list. We do get a lot of wine/chocolates/gift baskets we would usually pass some of this on

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  • I usually get things that I like so don’t have issues. But re-gifting isn’t an issue. My husband gets so much chocolate and wine that he and all the other teachers often just re-gift it on

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  • I’ll regift but always make sure I’m careful not to give it back to the person who gave it. My aunty accidently done that once


    • Oops, that’s a bit embarrassing

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  • We regift some things to the kids friends for birthday parties during the year.

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