I wonder what this person received. jessamyn / flickr
Okay, so you didn’t get exactly what you wanted for Christmas or Hanukkah. So what’s a cheapskate supposed to do? Below I share five options to deal with unwanted Christmas gifts and gift card.
Re-gifting
I’m not a fan of re-gifting because I’ve received really bad gifts. But, I confess I’ve done it – the right way. The trick is to make sure you pass the gift to the appropriate person that will appreciate it. When done properly, it
shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Note that not everything can be re-gifted. Don’t pass along one-of-a-kind items or anything that is monogrammed, unless you know someone with your initials. If you’re going to find another home for a gift, make sure to read my five rules for re-gifting.
Returning / Exchanging
Heading to the mall after the holidays can be a hassle, but if you feel up to the challenge make sure to take your gift receipt with you (if you got one). Otherwise, before you head to the mall, go online to familiarize yourself with the store’s return and exchange policy. Some stores are lenient with their return policies after the holidays, but others won’t budge. Doing some research will help you avoid the crowds. Head to the mall pronto! I’ve stood in the checkout line for about 45 minutes to get the right size of a gift I loved, but was too snug. If all that waiting is not worth it for you, how about you make some dough from that gift?
Selling
Try putting the gift up for sale on Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. There’s someone bound to like it and want it. Don’t expect to make back the full price, but, hey, a few bucks is more than what you had. Someone give you a gift card to a shop you’ll never patronize? You can also sell gift cards online. There are several sites where you can put the cards up for sale, if there’s no one you know who can use them.
Trading / Swaping
Today is gift card exchange day, scheduled for Dec. 26 because “cardholders will receive the best rates from resellers,” according to GiftCardGranny, which arranged the event. Christmas yields one or more gift cards for most Americans, and recipients are eager to part with unwanted cards in exchange for cash. You can also trade your gift cards for ones you’ll actually use online. Sites to try are GiftCardRescue.com and PlasticJungle.com. We’ve mentioned these before as you can buy discounted gift cards from them. If you have clothes or electronics, you can also swap or trade them. Check out Swap.com as you’ll find local swap enthusiasts looking to exchange goods. I’ve also hear that Best Buy has a trade-in center online and in-store where you can get gift cards for your electronics.
Donating
Gag gifts that include cleaning supplies can be donated to local homeless or animal shelters. A good website to check is TheGivingEffect.com, which lists about 1,450 charities that are in need of a wide range of items like blankets, books, and even art. To boot, you may qualify for a tax deduction.
Trashing
Any homemade goodies that look past their prime should be trashed. Don’t even think of donating them! Giving volunteers at soup kitchens or other donation centers more work by going through useless donations is a big no-no.
I’m dying to know… What’s the worst present you received and what do you plan to do with it?
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
good tips, thankfully i didnt receive anything this year that i didnt absolutely love, but i have gotten some pretty awful presents before, everyone that knows me knows i hate costume jewelry and any type of bracelet, watches, anything on my wrist besides a scrunchy is a no no, lol and my mother in law decided to buy me a chunky monogrammed bracelet for my birthday last year…of course i cant regift it has my name on it.
@Betty Glad you received things you wanted this year! If you want to get rid of the bracelet I’d try selling it on eBay – this works only if it has your first name. If it’s going to cause friction, then forget it – use it around your home for decoration if you don’t want it on your wrist.
Years ago a family member gave us VERY ugly candles. not only were the candles bad but they were waxy with no smell and had dust on top. I don’t know what happened to the others, but my sister and I have sent the gift back and forth for years sometimes not at Christmas. It could be a Birthday or just a gift in the mail, but we have had the best time with it. Last year, I gave my VERY fashionable niece a do-rag as a joke and low and behold, I got it back this year. Now I just have to find a crafty way to get it back to her unexpectedly. I recently read a story where a family had exchanged the same Christmas card for 43 years.
@Angel Sounds fun! Do you also send a good gift or just the candles? I would have wanted to see your niece reaction – bet it was priceless!
I got a gag gift that was a bobblehead of the guy from the mattress store that says “You’re killing me Larry”. I will probably give away my unwanted presents on Freecycle.org
@Christina That’s funny! If I see the commercial I won’t be able to get that phrase out of my head. Freecycle is always a good option.
Ha, ha. I was once re-gifted a candy dish that I had given to the gifter the previous year! So, also keep track of who originally gifted it to you.
Thank you for the last tip!
“Giving volunteers at soup kitchens or other donation centers more work by going through useless donations is a big no-no.”
As a social worker, I’ve had to deal with donations of dirty used clothing, broken toys, torn books, food past expiration date, and half used toiletries. Not only does it waste the time of staff stretched thin by budget cuts, it sends a message that the donor thinks our clients aren’t deserving of dignity.
My father (in his 50s) was given a child’s kalidoscope by his sister (who is OBVIOUSLY notoriously bad at gift giving) — it got sent to the donation pile (which if I did this list would be #1 always) because an actual child would love a toy like that (notttt a 50ish year old man)