What do you do with unwanted gifts?

Yet another pair of ‘novelty’ socks? Whether you’re selling, recycling, up-cycling, donating or other – there are a multitude of things to do with your unwanted Christmas gifts that avoid un-lovingly leaving them to sit in a landfill for millennia.

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Sell sell sell

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Selling your undesired goods is a win-win, as the saying goes – one mans garbage is another mans treasure. Platforms like ebay have seen over 3000 listings with things like fragrance and toiletries coming up top.

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Alternatively you could use sites like Amazon or Gum Tree, and apps such as Depop. Facebook also have a handy market place for goods in the local area.

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Depending on how many items and how much energy you have, you could even take them to a local market and sell them on the wider community.

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Repurpose and regift

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Save yourself the black Friday and boxing-day sales nightmare by keeping a present box in the utility room. Collect everyone’s undesirables and regift them for birthdays, thanks yous, or valentines – it’s the thought that counts!

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Just make sure not to give the gift back to the same person you received it from…

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Return to sender

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Well not quite to sender, but to the store. Self-aware relatives that may have insight into their poor choices could leave your present with a trusty gift receipt. With proof of purchase, you may be entitled to exchange or refund them item from whence it came, so long as it’s unopened and in good condition.

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Alternatively of course, you could politely ask the gifter for the receipt, tactfully mentioning that you would like to exchange or refund.

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Give the gift of giving

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Exchange your gift for good karma and donate to your local charity, to spread the joy beyond the community and give the gift that keeps on giving!

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Up-Cycle

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Perhaps your gift doesn’t fulfil your needs with its intended purpose, but you may be able to get crafty and transform it into something that does. Perhaps you have enough mugs, but not enough places to put your makeup brushes? Or that strange novelty item from uncle bill could become an interesting indoor plant pot.

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Have a little browse online with the help of mr google, who will no doubt shed some enlightening suggestions for re-purposing your pieces.

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Swap Shop

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Rather than selling your item, swap it. There are plenty of online platforms that make this easy in your local area such as facebook market place.

Alternatively you could invite your friends to a swap party, whereby everyone brings their unwanted goods and exchanges with each-other over food and nibbles.

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Host a giveaway

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Have a little fun on your social channels and host a giveaway or competition, perhaps you or a friend have a little side hustle you’d like to promote, or simply want to have fun and connect with others!

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Hosting giveaways are simple and easy tutorials can be found online for your preferred platform.

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Spread them round the office

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What better way to be rid on unwanted presents than to dump them on your colleagues at work – if you think they might enjoy them…. Perhaps it could be part of an office quiz or team exercise.

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Recycle

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Whatever you decide to do, any of the above is easier and kinder than the easy option of tossing items away. But if you do decide to chuck it, ensure that it’s recyclable and take it to the local recycling bank. Santa Claus will thank you, and grant you protection from a lump of coal next year.

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