How to Make the Most of Your Christmas Gifts

This article is about how to get your holiday gifts to work for you. What this means, is that you won't let any present go unused. No matter what it was. It doesn't matter how disappointed you were to get ten pairs of Christmas socks, or ten sweaters for Hanukkah. This article will show you what to do with them.

1. Find out where your gift was purchased. If the Christmas socks are of the name brand Dosido, you can do an internet search to find out what store sells Dosido socks. Or, perhaps it's more obvious. Your Old Navy sweater obviously came from Old Navy.

2. Were you about to purchase an item from that store? Were you about to buy a scarf from old navy or some gloves? If so, you can take the gift back to the store, and ask to do an exchange. Usually, you won't need a receipt for this. Sometimes, however, you'll have to be satisfied with accepting the sale price if the item went on sale.

3. Do you have the receipt? Some gift givers are nice enough to attach a gift receipt with the item. If you have this, you may be able to take the gift back and get cash.

4. If cash is not an option, and there's nothing you want to buy, consider getting a gift certificate for later.

5. If you totally hate the store, and don't want anything from there ever, it's time to find another option. Return the item, and get a gift certificate for the value of the item. Then, find someone else in the store about to make a cash purchase. Ask them to buy the gift certificate from you. You might sell it at a slight discount to make the offer more attractive.

For example, let's say you return a sweater to Old Navy and get a $15 gift certificate for it. Find someone about to purchase something, and ask them if they are using cash. If so, ask them if they are willing to give you cash for the gift certificate. Be willing to stay there with them to verify the gift certificate is actually worth what you say it is. This will make the person more willing to make the transaction.

6. If your gift was a gift certificate, and you can't find any buyers, some stores/ malls will actually allow you to return the gift certificate for cash. You have to contact the mall or outlet and ask how to do this. Sometimes it can take a month or two to get the cash back, and there is often a transaction fee. However, it's not bad to get back $140 for a $150 gift certificate to a store that has nothing you could ever use.

7. Give the gift as a donation to the Goodwill to get a deduction on your tax return. If you do this by December 31st, you'll be able to use the tax deduction for this year's tax return! Make sure to get a receipt when you donate the gift.

8. Regift. Okay, I said it, do the unthinkable. If your cousin gets you a gift certificate to a coffee shop and you don't like coffee, regift and give it to your uncle for his birthday who loves coffee. This works even better if your name is not written on the gift certificate, of course. You can go to the store, and get a new envelope for it if need be. Many stores will just give you an envelope for free.

9. Come up with a creative use for the gift. For example, a large throw can be made into a decorative table covering. An unsightly Christmas sweater can be made into dish towels or even a Christmas tree skirt for the bottom of your tree next year.

10. Give the gift to someone who needs it. If you got a coat you don't like, give it to a needy person who needs a coat. You'll feel good about yourself and help someone out.