It’s the season of giving, and with that comes gifts you might not want or need. When you’re left with unwanted gifts, it can leave you feeling awkward and uncomfortable. We all know that dreaded feeling. Maybe a shirt does not fit, you have no use for it, or you don’t like it. Of course, you want to be grateful and respectful, but the truth is, you know that you will never make use of this gift. Here are five ideas for what to do with an unwanted gift.
Donate It
What better route to take with an unwanted gift than to donate it. After all, it is the season of giving. You can donate clothes, books, or devices to the Goodwill or Red Cross. They resell the items at a discounted price, and whoever buys it will actually want the gift! You can even donate it to a good cause that supports your community and accepts clothing, toiletry, and toy donations for families.
Regift It
We all have been to a White Elephant Party, those holiday parties where you blindly exchange gifts within a specific price range. If you are looking to get rid of an unwanted item, wrap it up and bring it to the next holiday party as a white elephant gift. Another option is if you know someone who might love the item, you can regift it to that person directly.
Resell It
Another alternative for alternative gifts is to resell them. If the gift is new and you think someone else might love it, try selling it on OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. Depending on what the item is and its quality will dictate how much you can charge and how quickly the item will sell.
Recycle or Repurpose It
We love making choices to save the environment. Repurposing items and textiles is a great way to give new life to an unwanted item. Perhaps there’s sweater or dress that you can use material from to knit something else. You can repurpose a gifted plant potter or kitchen serving dish to store other items. Get creative and brainstorm ways to turn your unwanted gift into something new.
Exchange It For Something Else
If you received the gift receipt for the unwanted item, a simple solution is to return the gift or exchange it for something else. If the gift giver did not give you the reciept, feel confident enough to ask for the gift receipt to make an exchange.