Regifting presents: what are the rules?

When every stocking filler and present under the Christmas tree has been duly unwrapped, it’s not uncommon to end up with a gift or two that leaves you wondering: “What were they thinking?”

There’s no question that throwing an unwanted present away would be wasteful. So, as Good Housekeeping asked, “is it tacky and inconsiderate” to regift a present to someone to whom it might be better suited?

In principle, it may seem like a “faux-pas” to re-wrap and pass on an unwanted item, said Town and Country. “But there are very specific situations in which it’s okay to pass along a gift that you won’t use.”

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When regifting is acceptable

Regifting used to be something of a taboo subject, but it shouldn’t be a “dirty festive secret”, said Jessica Evans in The Independent. Saving unwanted items from ending up in landfill and creating extra unnecessary waste is a “natural evolution of our increasingly mainstream focus on the planet”.

The key to regifting is knowing which items can be passed along to new recipients without anyone batting an eyelid. A “beautiful candle or plain scarf” makes for excellent “generic” gifts, said Town and Country, and “universally-loved presents” can come in handy when you need to give something at short notice.

And if an item “doesn’t fit, if it’s not your sense of style, or if you simply have no use for it” then regifting is certainly “appropriate”.

Many people may be feeling “overwhelmed by the cost of Christmas” this year, noted The Yorkshire Post. Regifting “is one of the easiest ways to cut costs”, as long as you do it thoughtfully.

The rules of regifting

“Like most socially acceptable things, there are rules” to regifting, said financial consultancy Ramsey Solutions. “Don’t be cheap”, and be sure to “take the gift tags off” to conceal that the present has been passed on by its intended recipient. Even better, “give the gift new life” with fresh wrapping.

Good Housekeeping warned against the cardinal sin of giving an unwanted item “to someone who knows or interacts with the original gift giver” – let alone back to the giver themselves.

With personalised presents “more popular than ever”, look out for “monograms or hidden messages” that could also trip you up, added the site. “A heartfelt note tucked in some nook or cranny” could give a regift away.

“This should go without saying”, said Ramsey Solutions, but giving away a family heirloom is “a no-no”. It’s probably best to keep hold of “handmade or extremely thoughtful gifts” too, especially when you know that “time, energy and love” has gone into the selection process. “Moderation” is key.

When regifting is an outright no

Regifting is “often associated with insultingly impersonal hand-me-downs – the kind of boringly crap gifts that say nothing about the receiver or their relationship with the giver”, said Stylist. Avoid any chance of offending a gift recipient by only passing on an item that “you think will be genuinely appreciated”.

If an item looks a little worse for wear, be transparent about why it doesn’t look brand new, the magazine advised. “Attempting to portray something that’s clearly been around the houses as brand new is a sure-fire way to look cheap and disingenuous”. Explaining the reason for gifting the present is a “thoughtful” way to ensure the recipient isn’t offended by a regift.

Ultimately, some presents just aren’t worth regifting. “If you’ve been given something and you honestly can’t think of anyone close to you who might like it, then it’s time to make a trip to the charity shop,” Stylist added. And if you’re veering towards regifting “underwear, food products that are out of date or opened, used beauty products”, just don’t.

What to do if you receive a regift

Etiquette expert Myka Meier told Town and Country that it’s best to keep quiet if you think you have been given an unwanted gift, “as it could horribly embarrass” the giver. “At the end of the day, you were given a gift, which we should only ever show gratitude for.”

And if you find out an item you lovingly gave has been regifted, Meier pointed out that “you never know the circumstances to why they regifted. Perhaps they already had something similar.”

“Naturally your feelings may be hurt”, but try not to take it personally. Opt instead for “the high road of silence”, and “assume the gift-giver has the best intentions”, said Good Housekeeping.