Regift, Donate or Auction the Gift You Didn't Like

Sometimes at the holidays we all get a gift we don't want. You get a sweater that you already own, or a book you've read before. Or maybe you get something that just isn't your cup of tea, you'd really rather drink coffee instead so to speak. So what can you do with these gifts that you have recieved?

Return them. The most obvious idea is to return them to the store they came from. The gift may have a tag or a box that identifies what store it came from. Sometimes you may need to ask the person who bought you the gift where it did come from. Most stores after the holidays are very lenient about returns, and will offer you cash or at the very least - store credit. This is a great option because you can just select something else you might like.

Put it up at an online auction. If the gift doesn't appeal to you, it may appeal to someone else. Sell it at ebay.com or at Yahoo! Auctions. Both are very easy to use, with a low cost fee to list your item. I have listed items at ebay.com for about forty five cents, and then there is a percentage that you pay when the item is purchased at the end of the month.

Keep it for possible regift. This is a great idea and can be perfect for birthdays and other celebratory events coming up. Keep the item and the box in a warm and dry place so they won't be in the way, and consider them as a possible gift item when you need something for someone's birthday or other special event. The basic rules of regifting are very simple, don't regift to the same person, or to someone within the same social circle (who could identify the gift when worn or displayed in the person's home). But most importantly just use The Golden Rule: do unto others as you would like done unto you. That's pretty easy to follow.

Donate it to charity. If the gift doesn't appeal to you, there are many charitable organizations that would be thrilled to have the item. Organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army have thrift shops of their own. There are also smaller organizations such as domestic violence shelters or day care centers that may need items for their clients, and depending on what the item is, it could certainly be something useful.

Save it for a tag sale. Another idea is to hang on to the item for the future and consider it for a possible tag sale that your family will hold. Some families hold an annual tag sale every spring or summer. This can be a fun event for your family to hold and is a wonderful way to clear out your closets and earn a little extra pocket money. Keep the item in a warm and dry place, preferably in the box so it stays in excellent condition and you'll get the best price for it.

So you can see, a gift that you don't want isn't so bad after all. There are lots of things that you can do with it!