BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Did you know that National Regifting Day is next Thursday, December 21st?
The Thursday before Christmas was chosen because so many office parties are held that day. And research shows that 40% of gifts received at an office party are regifted.
Regifting is a fancy term for something very simple. We pass on as new, a gift someone else gave us. If you do regift there are some guidelines to keep in mind though.
You don’t want to regift to the person who originally gave you the gift. Stick a post it note on the gift with name of the person who gave it to you and when.
Use the original packaging if possible or a new plain box for you don’t want the recipient thinking you bought the sweater at a Macy’s and then have them stand in line to return it. Use new wrapping paper and tissue paper as well.
The gift should not be tacky, old or used. You want new condition and new means you did not wear it even just once nor did you run the juicer to see how much work it would be to make carrot juice!
If used, sell it on Craig’s List or eBay or better still give it to the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Wine or champagne are ideal items to regift unless someone is a teetotaler or they are the $5 buck variety.
Items that should never be regifted; that special holiday CD you got free from the bank or a partially used gift card. And do not even consider re-gifting those cheese balls or smoked sausage from a gift basket.
Now there are some of you out there who feel this practice is tacky and you would never do it and then there are others of you who do it all the time. If you threw a party and you received 10 Christmas candles as hostess gifts, how many Balsam & Cedar candles can you use this season?
One more thing: A fun way to get rid of those gifts you don’t want is to have a party and create a white elephant gift exchange or a Yankee Swap. Everybody wraps something they don’t want (you can make it new or used) and brings it to the party. Everyone draws a number and the person with #1 picks a gift and unwraps it. If the next person wants that gift they can take it, and the first person selects another gift. If not, the 2nd person selects a wrapped gift. And so forth, until all the gifts are gone.
Sometimes you get something you like. Sometimes you end up with something for the Goodwill bag. And the best part is that no one had to spend any money to generate this fun. It’s just a matter of looking around and finding something you’re ready to pass along to another owner.
You can hear Dee Lee’s expert financial advice on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 each weekday at 1:55 p.m. and 3:55 p.m.