Admit It, You’ve Done It
The holidays aren’t just about joy and pretending you like eggnog. They’re also about managing the “thoughtful” gifts that somehow miss the mark, such as that peppermint foot scrub, or a scarf in the color of guacamole.
Enter the unsung art of re-gifting: passing along those misfires to someone who might actually enjoy them (or at least, doesn’t know better). Done well, it’s a sustainable act of generosity. Done poorly, it’s a social disaster.
Here’s how to do it like a pro.
Rule #1: Check for Personalization
If it’s got your name or monogram, it’s not fit for re-gifting. Nothing screams lazy like handing your sister-in-law a tote bag embroidered with your initials.
Rule #2: Follow the Three-Year Rule
A re-gift must age like wine, not milk. It’s too soon if the person who gave it to you might remember it, or worse, spot it in circulation too quickly. You need at least three full holiday cycles before that sweater you got from your cousin re-enters the gift market.
Rule #3: Quality Control
A re-gift must be unused, unopened and not embarrassing. That lotion set from 2016 with the slightly yellowed ribbon and separated liquid? Throw that away. Trash is still trash, even if you wrap it in glitter paper.
If you wouldn’t proudly hand it to a friend at a gift swap, it’s not re-gift material.
Rule #4: Know Your Audience
You know your friends. You know who loves scented candles, who has allergies and who will re-gift your re-gift back to you next year. Match the gift to the person, not to your desire to get rid of it.
Think compatibility, not convenience.
Rule #5: Destroy All Evidence
Before re-gifting, inspect like a crime scene investigator. Remove gift receipts and the original tag that says “To: You / From: Jen.” Also, rewrap the item completely. Don’t reuse the same bag unless you’re 100% sure it hasn’t been circulated through your friend or family group.
Rule #6: Re-Gift Up, Not Down
Always re-gift laterally or upward. Your boss gets the nice bottle of Merlot you’ll never drink; your niece gets the novelty socks. Never re-gift down. That’s just tacky.
Giving a cheap spa set to your mother-in-law? Risky. Giving it to your coworker who’s been complaining about stress? Brilliant. You’re basically a thoughtful hero and you saved $25.
Rule #7: Have a Backup Story
If someone catches on, you have two options:
Option A: Own it. “Of course I re-gifted it! You seemed like you’d actually use it.” This makes you sound environmentally conscious and confident.
Option B: Deny everything. “No, I bought that just for you!” Then immediately change the subject to something no one wants to discuss, like colonoscopies or politics.
Rule #8: Keep Karma in Mind
Finally, remember that what goes around comes around. Someday, someone might hand your carefully chosen gift to someone else. Don’t take it personally; take it philosophically. The holiday universe is a closed loop. Today’s “meh” candle might be tomorrow’s perfect emergency candle.
Wrapping It All Up, Literally
Re-gifting isn’t cheap—it’s strategic. Think of it as a sustainable form of emotional and environmental recycling.
So this year, when you’re staring down that unopened box of bath bombs, don’t feel guilty. You’re recycling joy, saving the planet and giving yourself the gift of less stuff to donate.
May your wrapping paper be crisp and your regifts undetected. And remember, anything questionable goes to your husband’s office Secret Santa.
