July 15th is National Give Something Away Day! Put simply, it’s the nationally-recognized day to give things to others. You could pay for the person behind you at the drive thru, you could send a special fruit basket to someone who could need a pick-me-up, or you could do some regifting. It’s a great way to clear out your closet, and make someone happy in the process.
However, there’s a few things that you ought to know about regifting. Here are 5 tips you need to remember if you choose to do regifting on Give Something Away Day.
Consider the Original Owner
Do you remember who gave you the gift in the first place? Think about how tacky it would be if you accidently re-gifted the item back to the person who gave it to you. If you get an item that you plan on regifting, consider adding a tag to remind you who gave it to you.
And when you re-gift an item, don’t just refrain from giving it to the original owner. You need to give it to someone from a completely different social circle. Otherwise, you run the chance of the original giver finding out about your regifting actions. So, if your mother gave you a scarf that you want to re-gift, consider giving it to a friend on your softball team rather than your cousin.
Keep the Item in Its Original Packaging
If you’ve opened the item, you probably shouldn’t give it away as a gift. Items to be re-gifted should be in their original packaging. Make sure that the item hasn’t been opened, broken, or used before giving it away.
Refrain from Regifting Unique Items
Family heirlooms and homemade items shouldn’t be re-gifted. Also, refrain from giving away items that were personalized for you. Check books for personalized messages, and make sure that there isn’t anything on the item to make it unique for you. Giving your friend Brian an item with “Emily” written across the top is going to come off incredibly tacky no matter how nice the gift may be.
Don’t Give Away Unwanted Items
Your regifting stockpile is probably full of unwanted items. However, be careful about choosing items to give away. If the item is something that you think is the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen, chances are that your friend will think so, too. Don’t just give something away to give it away. Choose items that your friend or loved one will actually enjoy receiving as a gift.
Be Honest
You don’t have to tell your friend that you’re regifting the item, but you shouldn’t lie about it. For example, don’t say that you just bought it at the store for them. You don’t have to tell your friend that you re-gifted the item. If you feel uncomfortable regifting, however, you could tell your friend that you had this item that you didn’t have use for (or didn’t need because you already had one) and thought that they may like it.
A great way to celebrate national Give Something Away Day is to re-gift some awesome items from your home to your loved ones. Choose items that fit the person and bring a smile to their face. This in turn will make you happy (and help you make space in your closet).
Happy Give Something Away Day! Tell us about your regifting experiences in the comments below.