8 Things to Do With Gifts You Didn’t Love

Whether you knew it the second you opened the wrapping paper, or you’ve only realized it this week, you probably don’t want all of the gifts you received over the holiday season. Perhaps the cologne gifts your wife a headache, or those soft silky pajamas are just too big. Maybe you got a lot of chocolate and wine, but it goes against your New Year’s Resolutions. We know you don’t want to be rude, but sometimes you just can’t love every gift. Here are 8 things to do with unwanted gifts.

1. Thrift Shops

The first and easiest option is to donate your gifts to thrift shops in your area. There are many charitable thrift stores around the country that provide items to the public for very cheap, and donate a percentage of profits to various charities. Check out which ones support communities and charities in your area and drop your extra items off there.

2. Re-Gift It

Some may balk at this suggestion, but re-gifting can be a lifesaver, especially when it comes to kids’ toys, bottles of wine, and other relatively generic items. Not drinking wine or eating chocolate in 2014? Take those gifts to your next dinner party (as long as the giver isn’t attending). You can also save unwanted kids’ toys for the next birthday party of the year. Re-gifting is a thing, and it’s okay. At least your items aren’t going to waste!

3. Charitable Care Packages

Many people don’t realize that instead of dropping gifts off at the local Goodwill (and giving them a way to make a profit), you can cut out this middleman altogether and find someone who needs your unwanted gifts. You can use Charity Navigator to look for suitable charities in your local area, or contact Children’s hospitals and youth homeless centers to find your items a home.

4. Repurpose It

Okay so maybe you didn’t like the jewelry your aunt bought you, but that doesn’t mean it has to go to waste. Many necklaces and bracelets can be used to embellish other fashion items, and are great décor items and can be used to adorn candles, vases, and even shelves for a unique addition to your home! When it comes to repurposing unwanted gifts, it’s important to think outside the box.

5. Return It

The most common option is to just return the gift. This is good because you still get a little present from the giver in the form of money or a gift card, and you don’t have to waste anything. If you’ve missed the return-by date, give it a shot anyway. There are plenty of retailers who use that as a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule. If you don’t have the receipt, you might end up with the lowest sale price or a gift card, but it’s better than nothing.

6. Sell It Online

Looking to make a little money off of your unwanted gifts? There are plenty of places online where you can resell them – think eBay and Craigslist. It’s a relatively simple process, and there’s a good chance someone will pay a decent price for a brand new item.

7. Host a White Elephant Exchange

There’s a good chance that you will have many friends and family members with plenty of gifts and no need for them. To try and give these gifts a home, consider hosting a white elephant exchange party. Everyone has to bring an unwanted gift to participate in this part of the party . Who knows, maybe someone else really does want that egg separator or the extra-large ugly sweater.

8. Give it Away

When all else fails, you can always just give your items away. Leave them in a box outside your house with a “Free” sign or post them on free boards like Freecycle. There’s always someone willing to give purpose to free items.

Image Source: Freecycle