It may be the thought that counts, but it doesnít stop your house from getting cluttered up with all kinds of kitsch and caboodle when well-meaning loved ones present you with an exceptionally unappealing present. From Christmas and birthdays to weddings and house-warmings, here are some serious (and some satirical) suggestions of what to do with those six identical pastel casserole dishes everyone bought you on sale, these rather remarkable legwarmers Grandma knitted, or that combination electric toothbrush and lint remover from good olí Uncle Bob. We hope this What to do with Gifts You Don't Want post inspires you.
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Thank goodness for eBay and its brethren, and garage or car boot sales. Hopefully, your trash is someone else's treasure, and selling online in particular is relatively stress-free and easy to do plus you might be fortunate enough to make some reasonable cash out of it!
Okay, so you hate it, but you know someone who legitimately loves that kind of thing. No problem ñ pack it away for their birthday or Christmas. Just make sure they are not likely to come in contact with the original gift-giver, unless you are prepared to cross your fingers behind your back and regift it with the explanation that you received one just like it, and have loved it so much that you were sure they would too.
This is the real kind of Christmas giving. If you have nowhere to put it, and a dozen like it, someone else who needs it will appreciate it this Christmas. Charity drives, hospitals, and opportunity shops will welcome new, unopened gifts with delight, and you get a warm Christmas glow out of it too.
Some big stores will accept goods that are theirs as returns without receipts, or the giver might be kind enough to have included return cards or receipts (or be close enough to ask). Simple truths that you have one, or it doesnít fit prove the gift-giver had an awesome idea that you appreciated, but it just needs a slight change: you can even organize a shopping expedition together to exchange the item if they still would like to keep the gift personal.
That hideous dinner set will make great outdoor pot plant plates, the scary wool sweater looks cute lining the dog basket, and the book on the wonderful history of accounting fits under the wobbly bookshelf nicely. If you're stuck with it, get creative: just make sure the giver wonít be offended if they see it fulfilling an unexpected function when they drop by.
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This is a super-fun post-holiday tradition to start up: have a swap party or an ugliest-ever party. Everyone either brings an unwanted gift to exchange with others (the more the merrier), or more fun still, bring along the most utterly awful present you received, and Kris Kringle it with your guests. The hilarity is rife, and there is nothing funnier than when one particular item (that fluro orange teapot with the lurid pink and green roses for example) becomes a recurring joke each year and does the rounds as someone new passes it on each time
Oops. What a shame. Fell off the shelf, got shrunk in the wash or hit itself with a hammer. Multiple times At least you can tell the giver how their gift is really brightening up your house by decorating the inside of the rubbish bin.
Didnít you lend that to someone? Or leave it in the back of the taxi on the way home? Or pack it away when you move house? Who cares? ñ let it stay wherever it ended up, because itís now no longer your unwanted problem.
Under the house, in the attic, behind the fridge, down the back of the couch ñ at least this way you could always potentially drag it out when the gift-giver comes over for a visit, and the rest of the time you donít have to look at the hideous thing. Just remember where you put it, or be prepared to resort to the option above.
Look. Someone did give you this. Possibly someone you care about. So what if it is the most revolting, ridiculous, redundant thing you ever received in your life: it is symbolic of the honest affection you inspired in others, right? Aw. So put it out on display in a place of honor, and make it a cute conversation starter ñ if nothing else, it gives you a giggle every time you look at it and reminds you someone likes you enough to give you gifts. Or perhaps hates you enough to give you stupid stuff? Either way, it is a fruitful source of entertainment and contemplation!
Now, in all seriousness though – if receiving unwanted presents is a recurring problem for you, think about actually changing your gift-giving traditions. Make family wish lists, always ask for things you specifically need, instigate giving charity donations or experience vouchers (IOU a coffee date/free babysitting session/chore-free day) instead of presents, or just shout someone drinks or dinner instead of buying stuff they donít need.
We live in a materialistic, highly commercialized world ñ stuff is just stuff, and if you donít need it, pass it up, pass it over, or pass it on because in the end, life is just too short! We hope this What to do with Gifts You Don't Want post inspires you. Good luck!
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