What can we do with unwanted Christmas gifts? Ways to get rid of their worry in an elegant way

Many Romanians find themselves after Christmas facing a difficult choice, often accompanied by regrets: what to do with unwanted gifts. Although keeping them may seem like the most convenient solution, there are numerous ways in which they can be put to good use.

Christmas presents should be treated with care, regardless of their destination. SOURCE: Freepik.com

Choosing the right Christmas gifts can be difficult, and many Romanians “fail” this test, failing to meet the demands of their loved ones.

After the magic of the holidays wears off (sometimes even earlier), many people find that the gifts they received do not live up to their expectations. However, there are many ways in which dissatisfaction with gifts can be handled: re-gifting, donating, selling or exchanging them are among the choices recommended by specialists.

Gifts, from symbolic things to complicated choices

In Antiquity, the Feast of the Nativity gradually overlapped with a much older celebration, Saturnalia, which took place at the end of December in the Roman Empire. Christmas took over, adapted and reinterpreted some of the traditions of the Saturnalia: the days off when work and commerce were suspended, the rich feasts, the festive dishes (from pies and ritual cakes to pork), and the custom of gifts, which ended the celebration.

The sealings, the last days of the Saturnalia, were dedicated to the exchange of gifts, and most of the time they had a symbolic role.

The first gifts, bought at fairs or from local craftsmen, were candles or small figurines made of wax or clay, representing divinities, animals, people or objects, all meant to bring good luck. Over time, symbolic gifts gave way to those with a higher material value or considered useful, and the rush for gifts began to take less and less into account the appreciation of the gesture of giving them.

Currently, according to recent research cited by Euronews, two-thirds of consumers claim to have received new gifts they didn't need or want.

Most of the things received as gifts are usually kept, even though their owners state that they will never use them or that they might use them only rarely, if necessary.

A quarter of respondents prefer to get rid of them, according to the survey published by the publication. The “guilt” of turning down a gift and indecision are among the reasons often given by those who receive them.

But there are ways people can be helped to ditch unwanted Christmas presents without feeling embarrassed. Playback is the most popular of them.

Unwanted gifts should be handled with care

An article published by Australia's 9Honey media network offers some advice to those who want to redirect the gifts they receive to people who need them more. Here are the steps you should follow:

Step 1: Unwrap all gifts carefully

Try to open all gifts carefully and avoid tearing the packaging. Ideally, remove the paper but don't open the boxes if possible. Sometimes, in our desire to appear excited about a gift we don't like, we go overboard and unwrap it, show it to everyone, and test it. If you keep the items in their original packaging, they are much easier to pass on. If you have opened a product, you can repackage it later, as long as you haven't used it.

Step 2: Note who gave it to you

It is essential to know who gave you the gift and from which circle of family or friends it came. The gift should be returned outside this circle to avoid situations where someone recognizes it later.

Also, if you suspect you won't keep a gift, avoid posing with it on social media. There is no need to leave a “digital footprint,” the publication notes.

Step 3: Store it carefully

Gifts should be kept safe until the time is right to give them again. It's important to store unwanted gifts carefully and in one place to keep them in the best possible condition.

Step 4: Complete the gift with something extra

If you feel a little guilty about passing on a gift even when you know the person will love it, you can top it off with something extra. You can add a bottle of wine, chocolate or coffee. It's a simple way to feel better. So you've given away an item you weren't using, but you've also added something small and new. Don't forget to repackage it nicely.

Step 5: Don't feel guilty

If you still feel a little guilty, think about the environment. In a world of hyper-consumption and fast fashion, we all have way too much stuff. It's much better for the planet to reuse unwanted gifts, the publication says.

Environmentally friendly gift giving

The BBC also offers some advice on repurposing unwanted gifts. The simplest solution is to give them back, in the period immediately after Christmas.

“The gift-giving habit could also help solve a much bigger problem. An estimated £42 million worth of unwanted gifts are thrown away in the UK every year, some ending up in landfill.” informs the BBC.

People are advised not to feel any guilt about returning the gifts received as this is a more sustainable way to celebrate the festive season.

In order not to cause upset, the original giver should not risk meeting the new recipient of the gift, warns etiquette expert Antoinette Akanji, quoted by the BBC.

“If your aunt gave you a sweater you didn't like, don't give it to your cousin. Auntie might see her wearing it, and that might make for a very awkward conversation.”says Antoinette Akanji.

She also recommends that any label or note that might be addressed to another person be removed before repacking. Another important detail is that the people returning the gifts make sure that the seals have not been broken and that there are no signs of wear.

Selling received gifts, a practical method

Second-hand sales sites see significant increases in offers after the holidays, one of the reasons being the resale of gifts. For those who give them up, online trading is a practical way to capitalize on them, bringing in extra income.

“I think if you get a gift that you won't use or don't like and will probably sit in a drawer or end up in the landfill, I don't see a problem with giving it away or selling it online. Selling unwanted gifts can help someone else get something they want for less, which is all the more relevant in today's tough economic climate.” says Kirsty Quinn, a young woman who makes hundreds of pounds a month selling second-hand items online.

At the same time, she adds, the seller can use the money for something they really need, that improves their life, or that they will actually use.

Recommendations from online sales platforms for reselling gifts without offending the person who bought them include using a username that is not easily identifiable and keeping a neutral background in photos.

Donating gifts, an extremely useful gesture

If the idea of ​​repurposing or reselling an unwanted gift doesn't seem right, there are other ways to put them to good use. Donating them to charities, NGOs, institutions or educational centers are among the most useful options.

“If you've got decorations that didn't match your theme, a board game you got twice or a Christmas sweater you no longer like, why not let them brighten up someone else's home or wardrobe by donating them to us?”, says Allison Swaine-Hughes, retail director of the British Heart Foundation, which owns charity shops.

Libraries, prisons, senior centers, churches or religious foundations are also among the possible recipients of initially unwanted gifts. For those who find this too complicated, there are other solutions.

Returning gifts, in a way that does not offend the giver, may be one choice. Also, reusing them for a purpose other than the one for which they were intended can be rewarding.