Receiving presents can be a delicate situation. Throughout the years, we’ve all mastered our artificial and pleasantly surprised faces, and we found the best way to segue into the most innocent “but what is it?” clause. Because, no matter what people’s intentions are, we all end up with gifts that we don’t want.
Post-Christmas leaves us with the predicament of what to do with these items, and while exchanging objects for cash seems like the best way to stoke our need for consumption, it may be more beneficial to simply exercise regifting.
This sounds like a cheap and thoughtless way to handle gift giving, but au contraire.
Regifting makes use of the old adage that “one man’s trash is another mans treasure,” and if we perpetuate such giving habits, then the present will eventually find its way to someone who appreciates its worth.
True to form, this holiday debacle began as such, with the gifter recognizing some initial value in the item when they bought it. It just so happens that you view it with a different perspective.
In passing gifts forward, you play the same game of roulette, but with no cost to yourself.
But when used to its highest potential, regifting can have philanthropic results. Instead of returning an item in order to purchase something that better suits your desires, why not re-gift to the homeless and less fortunate.
Lōkahi Tree is always looking for donations around the holidays, and under privileged families could benefit from many of your unwanted presents. In this way, you help perpetuate gift giving instead of personal consumption.
Regifting has the possibility to not only save you a lot of money, but benefit those less fortunate.
If the holidays are indeed the season for giving, then perhaps it’s time to decide whether you want to give a gift back to a store, or forward and toward someone in need.