How to re-gift stealthily

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: CREDIT: 'GIFTS' BY LILIA, FLICKR.COM/LILIA_ANN IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY-NC 2.0
Spend some time wrapping if you didn't spend a dime on the gift.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a dollar was spent on your father’s new spouse. But how do you show your loved ones you care, when you have not even a cent to spare. “Why don’t you re-gift a present?” I said, I’ll show you the tips and tricks, don’t worry your little head.

1. Be sensitive to feelings

You want to make sure that the person who gave you the gift will not notice that it is missing. If it is from someone whom you see often, you may want to consider stashing it away in your closet to pull out every now and then to wear or quickly put on display when they come over. Also, be sure to not re-gift to someone who may know the original gift giver.

2. Be aware of the condition

There are certain things that should never be re-gifted. Check the gift over to make sure that there hasn’t been anything engraved on it or any other personalization such as gift tags. Also, don’t re-gift something that is not in brand-new condition. Be sure that this is something that you would be proud to give to someone else. Don’t give items away just because you don’t like them; give them away because you know that the person receiving it will appreciate it.

3. Be generous with the giftwrapping

Since you haven’t had to spend any money on the gift, be sure to put effort and some money into the wrapping. Buy a new gift bag or wrapping paper and include a personal card with it. You want the person to remember your card more then they remember your gift.

4. Be careful how you store them

The key to re-gifting without getting caught is in the storage of the gifts. When you receive something that you know you are going to regift, place a note on the packaging with the name of the person who gave it to you. Doing this avoids the embarrassment of giving it back to the person who gave it to you. You should also make a list of the people who would have seen you open it and be sure to re-gift the present within a different social circle so no one catches on.

Re-gifting is not something to be ashamed of. As long as you are still giving thoughtfully then nothing else matters. Remember, the holiday season is about giving back to those who have given so much to us. By following these tips you will be able to save money while you do that.