In Defense of Re-gifting: Finding New Value in Unwanted Gifts
We can’t deny it, getting and giving gifts is one of our favorite pastimes, but sometimes it’s also our greatest nightmare. Whether it’s your office Secret Santa, the gift from your downstairs neighbor, or the gift from your mother, sometimes presents just miss the mark. While it’s great to have gratitude for the thought, sometimes it’s even better to regift that sweater you hate to someone you love who will appreciate it. Out of sight, out of mind, with no unnecessary waste created.
The holidays are wasteful AF
In the US, household waste increases by 25% due to packaging, wrapping, shopping bags, and food waste.
We can cut back on waste by using reusable bags and alternatives to wrapping paper, by limiting our food waste, and by re-gifting.
When we re-gift, we limit our packaging waste, our wrapping waste, and our shopping waste.
What's the problem with re-gifting? (Hint: nothing)
Corporations don’t want us to! Holiday consumerism in the United States generates more than 900 billion dollars of revenue annually.
If we decide to reject buying new, and instead start gifting old or unwanted items, our corporations and businesses would take a hit (boo hoo)...which might be why re-gifting is deemed as impolite or tacky.
Let’s make #ReGiftThat a thing
Instead of tossing that duplicate gift in the trash (gasp), think about who in your life might need one (also, matching gifts is such a slay).
All those meant-to-return items that never made it to the Post Office: someone in your life will be so lucky to have them!
Many people in our lives have similar tastes to us; if we bought something for ourselves or were gifted something, chances are high that a loved one would cherish that leftover gift.
So, let’s reject consumerism, save some money, and still give a gift that comes from the heart.