There are two camps of re-gifting, those who think it’s completely tacky and those who think it’s worth the money you save on buying new gifts. I’m in the second camp and think if done correctly, re-gifting can save hundreds of dollars each year.
We all get gifts that are just not quite what we like. While we LOVE the thoughtfulness from the gift-giver, the gift just may not be our style or we’re trying to cut out clutter or we already have something similar at home.

Here are my personal re-gifting rules and a sample chart to track gifts and re-gifts.

•  Track every gift you receive and from whom – you shouldn’t re-gift back to the giver or anyone in that circle of friends or family.
•  If you re-gift, think about whether the recipient will actually like the gift you’re giving. If not, don’t give it!
• Wait at least a year to re-gift something given to you.  Who knows, you might end up liking it and using it? And, just in case you make a mistake, give people time to forget what was given.
• Don’t re-gift just to get things out of your house. Be thoughtful about who you give to and what you’re giving.
•  If you re-gift, add a personal touch. Are you re-gifting matching holiday coffee mugs? Consider packaging with a local coffee product or some decadent hot chocolate.
•  If what you have to re-gift is not appropriate for anyone you’ll give to this year, donate old gifts to a local non-profit. They’ll love the surprises and you get the tax deduction.

Sample regifting chart:

Do you think re-gifting is totally tacky or a great way to save during the holidays? What’s the best gift you’ve ever re-gifted?