How to Keep Up the Spirit with Regifting This Christmas Season

Chances are you already know on December 20 we celebrate national regifting day. Not exactly an official day, but one started by Money Management International (MMI), the largest nonprofit credit counseling agency in the United States, and already becoming popular through out the country.

More and more people seem to be catching on this idea every year and accepting regifting for the practical reasons behind it. For one, we all seem to get from time to time a Christmas present we don't exactly like and know someone who would really like this type of present. Second, regifting seems to keep the joy of giving flowing without feeling guilty about it when done right.

According to a recent poll by MMI this year, more than 60 percent of people say they regift, up from 53 percent two years ago. And 42 percent say they do it because it saves them money, an increase from previous years too.

So, who are the main recipients of regifts?

At the top of the list are coworkers, followed by family members and friends; then teachers and mates or companions

And as the idea of regifting becomes more mainstream, rules are starting to develop along with it. For example, you regift first and foremost because: you did not like your present as much as someone else you know would have liked, had that person received the gift.

Second: when regifting, make sure the present will go into a different social circle where the gift came from. There's nothing more embarrassing then regifting to the same person that gave you that very same present. Believe it or not, it actually happened once when the person regifting could not remember who had given her the gift.

Third: make sure the gift is still in its original package along with instructions.

Finally: do not regift something that was probably hand made or autographed specifically for you.

These are general guidelines. There might be situations where it may seem appropriate to break a rule if you know there won't be any problem and the idea makes sense. But before doing that, ask yourself if you are regifting with the best intentions in mind.

Don't regift to get rid of something you did not like or just to save yourself some money (although more people are regifting exactly for this reason). The idea of regifting could backfire if the circumstances are not right.

If there is a possibility the recipient could find out he or she has received a present that was originally given to you, is this going to compromise your relationship to that person? These are some of the things you should consider.

In some rare cases, if there is enough trust between you and the person you intent to regift, you might want to reveal up front that your present is a regift and your reason for doing it. You might get more appreciation for it.

Of course, there are more options for those Christmas presents you did not like. You can always donate or sell them. But, if there is someone you know may benefit from a present you did not exactly like, think of a way to keep on the gift of giving this Christmas season.