Rarely am I given a gift I don’t like. However, it would seem unreasonable to travel to the store/use up gas and wait in a long line unless it is very expensive. Regifting…I would do that if the person I am giving it to does not know the person who gave it to me. Unless it is a very practical gift, I probably cannot make use of it. One year my mother and I gave a bakery gift card as a gift to someone. She went there frequently. We found out that she regifted it to someone we were close to. That felt personal and on purpose.
For Christmas this year, I got a shirt and a book, both which I will put to good use.
My wife and I both are trying to downsize even more. After living out of our car as we traveled the past few months we realized how little we actually need to live comfortably.
When people ask me what I want for a gift I quickly tell them that I am not in need of any “stuff” and if they absolutely must get me something I would prefer something such as a book which has more value than just some random “thing”. I also always say silver 
because that is really valuable!
By doing this, less people get me a gift because they do not feel inclined to do so which I am totally okay with.
But this also means that when someone does get me a book for example, I do not have a problem re-gifting it if I already own a copy and even after I have read the book it can still be a gift because it holds its value even after being “used”.
When it comes to clothes or other items that have a size, re-gifting might not be as practical donating them to a thrift store or homeless shelter would probably be the best use of that gift.
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I can’t think of a gift I’ve ever returned. Like MsKimberly it’s a lot of trouble. I’m also pretty sentimental so it would bother me to return a gift that someone close gave to me. That said, it doesn’t bother me if someone regifts or returns something I gave if it’s store bought. Something I make might bother me if I found out. I try my best not to find out!
The adults in our family do very little gifting, but that doesn’t apply to the kids. At Christmas, what we would spend on material gifts we donate to a charity of our choice, and the choices each year are part of our Christmas brunch celebration. We announce our choices and share a bit of information about that charity.
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I think that is a wonderful idea to donate the money to a charity you feel close to and share about it.
Moore Income posted:
For Christmas this year, I got a shirt and a book, both which I will put to good use.
My wife and I both are trying to downsize even more. After living out of our car as we traveled the past few months we realized how little we actually need to live comfortably.
When people ask me what I want for a gift I quickly tell them that I am not in need of any “stuff” and if they absolutely must get me something I would prefer something such as a book which has more value than just some random “thing”. I also always say silver
By doing this, less people get me a gift because they do not feel inclined to do so which I am totally okay with.
But this also means that when someone does get me a book for example, I do not have a problem re-gifting it if I already own a copy and even after I have read the book it can still be a gift because it holds its value even after being “used”.
When it comes to clothes or other items that have a size, re-gifting might not be as practical donating them to a thrift store or homeless shelter would probably be the best use of that gift.
I love to receive and give books for gifts. It is a toss-up between books and a really good fruitcake. Seriously! I love fruitcake. Never would I give fruitcake as a gift unless I know the person loves it as I do. Used books are welcome, too.
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MsKimberly posted:
I think that is a wonderful idea to donate the money to a charity you feel close to and share about it.
Most of the people in my family are fortunate to have things. Most of us have learned “things” become unnecessary stuff. While all of us have to count change and be frugal, stopping the gift exchanges at Christmas (but doing gifts for just the kids) was practical, not so traditional…I think we all miss it a bit. But if we are seeking emotions, the giving gives back 100 times more!
My DIL took it the hardest, she loves to shop and select “just the right thing” for people, and she’s great at doing that. There are plenty of other opportunities for her to enjoy gifting at birthdays, etc.
Good read and the jump start for the charity vs gifting is the book Unplug the Christmas Machine.
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I have never heard of that book. I am looking it up now! It looks like there are two copies. One was written in the '80s and then updated in the '90s. It is listed on Amazon for anyone who might want to take a gander at it. It’s New Year’s Eve and that is what I am going to do. Thank you so much!
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We give consumables in the form of gift cards we know a person(s) like. By giving this we are either assured they will enjoy it or know they will re-gift if there is a need.
Once given, it is out of your control and it can go where it is best appreciated.
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If you can afford gift cards, that makes sense to me.
By using Penny Hoarder methods, a little builds into a little more, by using apps. Scanning items at stores this is a way to build up points for gift cards, that way there is no money out of pocket for a welcome treat of a gift.
The 3 apps are ShopKIck, Coin Out, and Fetch work great!
Shop Kick offers gift cards as rewards by scanning items in stores. These points build up quickly & you get even bigger rewards for actual purchases .
Coin Out is a bit slower, but it gives cash for receipt scans. The number of receipt scans is limited/day.
Fetch is a receipt scan app that gives you points for gift cards, points under this app build up quickly too and many extra points are given as rewards.
As a way of thinking, the Christmas machine is literally being turned off. If people are genuinely interested in you, it will be because they like you and the interest is there, rather than for what you can give them (money or items). A relationship based on sharing what you can is the best way of finding and keeping true family and friends.
If you try to keep someone around by giving them money or things, you are better off without that person in your life-even if it is family. When the continual giving is stopped, see where the relationship heads. It heads where it should.
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Each person has a different way of sharing at Christmas. One thing I like to do and think it is appreciated is baking.
Oh, that is so nice and so appreciated by many, a gift from the heart and the kitchen. They must just adore you!
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I think they do!
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