Guest Blogger – Jessica Ryan
1. During these troubled economic times, re-gifting can save us money. Just because something is not to our taste doesn’t mean your neighbor Nellie won’t go gaga over it. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
2. Presents for birthday parties cost a fortune. Unless your kids are absolutely certain that they love their gifts, don’t let them take off the packaging and start a birthday party stash. (Every year for the past 3 or 4 or so Rebecca has gotten the exact same beading/jewelry kit.)
3. The Hideous Purple Platter you received from Aunt Hilda can be used to bring canapés or cookies to a cocktail party… and left behind! (Pretend not to know what the party hostess is talking about when she asks you if you would like your purple platter back!)
4. The Thomas the Tank Engine socks meant to fit your 3 year old, but large enough to fit your husband from your well meaning mother-in-law, and other apparel that are not to your liking can be donated to Goodwill or other organizations that accept clothes for the needy.
5. Next year host an Ugly Sweater Party and everyone can wear the ugly sweaters they got for Christmas, including the one with the light up tree!
6. Have a tag/garage/yard sale in the springtime and make a little money off of your unwanted gifts!
7. Have a Boxing Day party. In Europe they celebrate Boxing Day. This holiday was traditionally for a day for the fortunate to box up their gently used items for those who were less fortunate. This is a great way to clear out your cupboards and closets and make way for the new.
8. Those food baskets you get as gifts from co-workers that you have no interest in can be donated to food shelters, your local fire department, police department, even a nurse’s station at a local hospital.
9. Get your children into the act. Instead of returning and exchanging gifts that they were disappointed in, see if they may be willing to donate a new, unused item to a less fortunate child. They might feel good about their generosity.
10. Have an Ugly Misfit Gift Christmas Swap Party in January. It’s a perfect excuse to get your friends together during a cold and dreary month.
Jessica Ryan is a List Loving Mom who is admittedly better at writing them than following them. A former freelance writer, she decided to put the professional world on hold to raise her three entertaining kids. (Jessica often wonders why the job of parenting isn’t a freelance one. Her hours are never-ending and she can’t collect overtime, or any pay at all for that matter!) Jessica was dubbed by some of her friends as the Entertaining Mom. Jessica has been blogging for about a year now, about her family and her life, documenting the good, the bad, and the funny!
Visit her blog, The Entertaining House, at it’s new location: www.EntertainingMom.wordpress.com
View Comments (3)
Definitely! I am not ashamed at all of regifting. And if you regift to me, more power to you!
If I know someone will love a regift, who cares if someone else bought it to begin with?? Thanks for sharing this list!
LOL! I love it, Jessica!
The only problem I have with re-gifting is if you forget who gifted you the gift in the first place! Don't re-gift me something I gifted you! Love the lost!