Flip That Gift! the Art of ReGifting

Have you ever flipped a gift? You know, turned around and given someone a gift that you had previously received, but you didn't want it or like it, and couldn't or didn't return it? In the vernacular, the street term, it is called "ReGifting".

We're heading into the home stretch with only five more shopping days before it's time to open those gifts under the tree! Are you still a couple gifts shy of being finished with all the shopping? Are you starting to ponder those dark sinister thoughts..."what if I gave that thing-a-gig I got last year to so-and-so?"...they'd never know. Well, you're never going to use it or enjoy it! It's the wrong size, not in your pallet, not your style, not whatever; so, don't berate yourself, give it to someone who will enjoy and appreciate it!

The Dirty Dark Secrets - or the Art and Etiquette of ReGifting

• Make sure whoever you ReGift to doesn't know the original gift giver. It would be awfully embarrassing if your ReGift receiver would happen to mention how absolutely wonderful some unusual gift is to the person who originally gave it to you. And obviously, you shouldn't ReGift a gift back to the person who originally gave it to you!
• The item needs to truly be in good-as-new condition. If you brutally opened the box, tried it on, tried it out, it is not something that should be ReGifted. If you used it, it is now ready for the garage sale or Goodwill box!
• ReGift things that you really think the recipient will like and enjoy. Don't ReGift undeniable "turkeys"! There are gifts you receive that just aren't your style, color, size, but they are someone else's! But please don't saddle your family, friends, or even barely acquaintances, with the truly ugly, completely impractical, or utterly useless turkey! (See garage sale/Goodwill advice above.) Exception to the rule, you have a friend who collects tacky-turkey kind of stuff. Well, don't stand there with a goofy look on your face, that person is your salvation, go load them up. They will love for it!
• ReGifted items should get a new wardrobe. It may be an old gift to you, but this is going to be a new gift for someone else! Always wrap the ReGift in fresh new paper and ribbons. The gift is about to get a new life, so dress it up for the occasion.
• The deepest and darkest secret of ReGifting. Don't ever spill the beans! Never ever tell the person who is receiving the ReGift that they are being ReGifted. Likewise, never tell the original giver that you passed along their gift. You are giving them a gift that you feel they will appreciate more than you ever could have. There is no need to cheapen the gift in their mind.

There you have it, the dark art of ReGifting! Don't forget when opening your gifts this season to evaluate them carefully after removing the bows, ribbons and paper, and before tearing into the packaging...it may have a new life next Christmas as a ReGift!

¡Feliz Navidad!

!Merry Christmas!

!Happy Holidays!

!and a Joyous Yüle!