Re-gifting: Good Idea or Does it Make You Look Like a Cheap Skate?

Re-gifting - we have all done it at one time or another. Perhaps the sweater you received for your birthday was a terrible color on you but looks lovely on your red headed friend. Or you received too many blenders for your wedding, so why not pass one on to the next couple getting married? Whether re-gifting is a good idea or not depends on several things.


First, can the item be returned to the store for store credit or exchanged for another item? This is not always possible if the item wasn't purchased locally, came from a specialty store, or you don't have a gift receipt.

Is the item something someone would want? Is it good quality and in working condition? If the item is cheaply made and you are sure you have no use for it, you may want to donate it rather than re-gift it.

Could the item be used by someone other than another bride and groom or a person near your age? Perhaps your grandmother would like a new blender or a preteen relative would have fun with the pizza-shaped sleeping bag. After all, it comes with it own mushroom pillow. How cool is that?

If you decide to re-gift an item, be sure to re-wrap it and remove any identifying (or incriminating) evidence. A mother of a bride told me about re-gifting an item and later discovering that the original givers had signed their names on the wrapping paper. Oops.

Whether you decide to re-gift an item is up to you. If you do it, be sure the recipient will appreciate the gift. Some people are offended when they discover that they received a "second hand" gift. Others don't mind. Just don't clutter someone else's home with useless items that won't be appreciated.