AIBU - Do you re-gift unwanted Birthday / Christmas presents?

[OCM19]

As the title suggests - I would be interested to know who re-gift unwanted presents and who thinks it's unreasonable .

I'll happily regift if the gift is suitable for the person I'm regifting to. Otherwise it goes to the charity shop, school fete etc. No point in hanging on to something that we don't want or doesn't fit etc. I don't mind if people regift to me in the same way.

Yep no problem doing that here. If you won’t use it, give it to someone who will. It’s only an issue if it’s not suitable for the person you’re giving it to, but you’re just being lazy/cheap/thoughtless

Yes, I often regift if it's a quality item and would suit the recipient. Otherwise goes to charity shop. FIL frequently buys bizarre gifts which end up there!

I have a large family though and have to be careful to regift to the right side!!!

Yes if I think they’ll like it. Far better than something going to waste!

Also, my MIL buys me an enormous quantity of bath stuff. I only occasionally have a bath and she knows this (I do shower btw). I’ve still got all but one of the Christmas bubble baths unopened in a drawer, and she’s given me 4 more bottles of bubble bath! I can’t keep up! My work friends may be getting bubble bath for Christmas this year….

I regift a LOT - it's brand new stuff and often duplicates of what we already have

Depends on the present, if it's something consumable like wine I don't like then fine to regift as long as the person it's going to would like it (not just passing on the burden of dealing with an unwanted gift) and doesn't have a conneciton to the original giver.

If it's something like a item for the home that the giver would expect to come around and see in use then no, either I politely tell the giver I appreciate the thought but it's not my thing and offer them the chance to return it or I suck it up.

I tend to just send it to the charity shop. If it was something I knew someone would particularly like I might give it to them, but as a random extra present, not in place of a birthday/Christmas gift I’d be buying anyway

I don’t think it necessarily unreasonable but I haven’t done it mostly because I have quite catholic tastes, so there’s not much I wouldn’t like that someone else would like, and anything I don’t like I don’t want to foist on someone else.
What I have done is regift something I do like when I have been caught out, or haven’t been able to afford to buy a gift. When I was younger and had no money I used to regift work freebies, like chocolate and wine, but not because I didn’t want them myself, just because they were nicer presents than I could afford.

Yes of course. If yo ur not going to use it, it’s far better being re gifted or charities to someone else who will use it.

I normally give away items such as unwanted toiletries etc. Especially to the vulnerable or take it to work with me (I nurse) for anyone who wants them. Most of the time I hoard the rest until I find them two to three years later

I regift, but not for a specific occasion.

So if I get an unsuitable birthday present, I’ll offer it to MIL/SIL etc the next time I see them.

I wouldn’t regift instead of buying something specifically for the recipient for their own birthday or Christmas present.

Bigold why don't you use the bubble bath for shower gel or handwash? Just decant it into pump bottles.

I don't wrap stuff up for people's birthdays, but will mention that Aunty Winnie kindly got me XZY but it's not something I can make use of, and ask people if they want to give it a home. Otherwise the school fete gets them.

I no longer display presents that aren't to my taste out of politeness after this backfired. SIL once got me a small print by an artist I don't like, but it was a kind thing to do so I found an unobtrusive space for it. Roll on my next birthday, and four friends had clubbed together to get me a big piece by the same artist, as a friend had noticed the little print from SIL on display, and figured I must like this chap's work.

I would pass a gift on if I knew someone else who would enjoy it, but as not as a gift from me and never instead of actually buying them a birthday/Christmas present etc. I think that's cheap and cheeky unless you're struggling to afford something. I would never palm tat off on someone else.

Only if it's suitable and to someone with no connection to the original giver.

Absolutely. But not just for the sake of it. If it’s tat and they also wouldn’t like it then absolutely not.

I also have no problem receiving regifted items (as long as it’s not tat) and wouldn’t see it as cheap or cheeky like @CallMeMabel suggested.

I don't regift as a rule but I will dontate things I dont want to the Charity shop. In fact I usually have a bag of stuff ready to go the the Charity shop on 26th December.

@TheTurn0fTheScrew

I don't wrap stuff up for people's birthdays, but will mention that Aunty Winnie kindly got me XZY but it's not something I can make use of, and ask people if they want to give it a home. Otherwise the school fete gets them.

I no longer display presents that aren't to my taste out of politeness after this backfired. SIL once got me a small print by an artist I don't like, but it was a kind thing to do so I found an unobtrusive space for it. Roll on my next birthday, and four friends had clubbed together to get me a big piece by the same artist, as a friend had noticed the little print from SIL on display, and figured I must like this chap's work.

Ha, yes this can be an issue!

My brother keeps giving me hideous necklaces from a particular artist and I always say thank you how lovely so I don't hurt his feelings!

I'm dreading my birthday this year, I really should tell him but he's a sensitive soul...

I found an unobtrusive space for it. Roll on my next birthday, and four friends had clubbed together to get me a big piece by the same artist
This.

One item on display soon leads to a few of similar but not nearly as nice i.e. clutter

I might give it to a friend but not regift it if that makes sense. So I'd pass it on openly saying it was a gift and I won't use it, but wouldn't wrap it up as a birthday gift. Otherwise I'd give it to charity.

Yes, why not? As long as you haven't opened or used it obviously

When I was teaching, most parents were not aware that I did not drink alcohol, and I regularly received very nice bottles.....my wider family always drank a toast to the school at Christmas, and urged me not to change jobs!

Yes, particularly the year we had a whole class party and got several nice presents that were unfortunately duplicates of things he already had. I did a swap with DS1, swore him to silence, wrote charming thank you cards, and the unopened gifts went into the present drawer.

Normally save all the unwanted stuff till the school start sending their bring a bottle and wear your own T-shirt, send in candy wear your own trainer days etc.

@TheTurn0fTheScrew

I don't wrap stuff up for people's birthdays, but will mention that Aunty Winnie kindly got me XZY but it's not something I can make use of, and ask people if they want to give it a home. Otherwise the school fete gets them.

I no longer display presents that aren't to my taste out of politeness after this backfired. SIL once got me a small print by an artist I don't like, but it was a kind thing to do so I found an unobtrusive space for it. Roll on my next birthday, and four friends had clubbed together to get me a big piece by the same artist, as a friend had noticed the little print from SIL on display, and figured I must like this chap's work.

Did you tell them?? This is both funny and awful!