As much as we would like to have a Christmas, or other gift-giving holidays, full of sentimental gifts and good cheer, people will always shell out the big bucks every winter. It’s unfortunate but true. Even more unfortunate is that college students are also included in this exchange of sometimes pricey gifts.
Many of us have thousands of dollars of loans to pay off or rely on mom and dad, and giving your friends and family gifts this year puts a damper on your budget.
Of course, there are gifts that don’t require an entire paycheck, such as baked goods or framed photos. But if you have a closet full of recently acquired presents that you will probably never use, wrap it up and give it someone who would use them.
Still have that perfume that’s still wrapped in plastic? Regift it. Still have a beard trimmer that you got last month for your birthday still in the box? Regift it. According to the New York Times, 52 percent of people have regifted.
But be careful when regifting. First, don’t regift something you’ve already used.That’s just gross. Especially if it’s something like a set of wine glasses or clothes. Also, try not to regift something to someone who saw you receive it. If your hairy uncle was at your birthday party and saw you say how much you loved that beard trimmer you got for your birthday, he won’t be too fond of you when he unwraps his new beard trimmer (well, new to him, anyway) Christmas morning. Also, take off all name tags, cards or any bit of evidence that the gift was addressed to you.
Giving old gifts is also a great way to have less clutter. If you’ve recently gotten married and got three toasters as wedding gifts, give two away. After all, how much toast can you eat?
Regifting to people you’re not too fond of is also another good way of creating less clutter. If you have a cousin you can’t stand but are obligated to give something to, don’t feel guilty about giving a couple bottles of Bath and Body Works hand soaps that you got for Christmas last year.
Don’t feel obligated to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts this year. If you have something with the packaging intact, it’s OK to put a bow on it and let someone else have it. Letting something that someone else could use sit on your shelf is wasteful.
After all, it’s better to regift than to spend money on something that will just end up at the dump.