Re-Gifting Presents: Is It Really Such a Horrible Thing?

Re-gifters have been called everything from rude to tacky, to just plain cheap. Re-gifting is scornfully labeled as the lazy person's gift giving. And those unfortunates who are "caught in the act" have been chided, derided and made to feel like second class citizens. Well, I have a slightly different view, and it's one that might make you tempted to throw rotten tomatoes at your computer screen (but just remember, it's your own screen you're mucking up).

Personally, I think the disdain and "horror" most people have over the practice of re-gifting is a little silly. Re-gifting is not cheap, it's frugal (yes, there is a difference!). Granted, there are times when re-gifting is tacky, such as when a person unwittingly gives the same gift back to the original giver. That's not cool. But in many situations I think re-gifting makes sense, and re-gifters shouldn't be made to feel like social pariahs for doing it.

If the purpose for giving someone a present is to bring them joy, and you have such a thing in your possession, what is so wrong about giving it to them? Regardless of where the gift came from to begin with, if it will bring someone else pleasure, how can it be such a horrible thing? Perhaps it's a perfectly nice gift, but it just doesn't match your style. Or maybe it does suit you, and you already have one. If you know someone who you think would like it, why shouldn't you give it to them instead of throwing it away or stashing it in your junk drawer?

Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that I think re-gifters should try to pass along a gift under the assumption that they ran all over town trying to find just the perfect thing for someone. Just be honest with the person, for pete's sake! If you know them well enough to want to give them a gift, then it shouldn't be so hard to tell the truth. You don't have to concoct some elaborate explanation. Just say, "I received this blouse but it's too tight, too itchy or too whatever, and I thought that you might like it." If they don't like it, they can do whatever they want with it.

If I were independently wealthy and could buy anything I wanted no matter what the price, I would never re-gift. I'd just donate any unwanted gifts to charity. However, I'm not independently wealthy and there have been (gasp!) occasions where I felt it perfectly acceptable to re-gift. But here's the thing- I will never be "caught in the act" of re-gifting, because I never lie about it. Honesty really is the best policy. And frankly, if someone is offended because I gave them a recycled but perfectly nice gift I thought they'd like and appreciate, I think it says far more about their tackiness than my own.

Go ahead, get those rotten tomatoes ready now!