GIFTS/Regifting
"Monogrammed gifts are always remembered and never regifted!" Unknown
TIPS
Include giving services like massage, babysitting or home cooked meal instead of material objects
Learn the how to do "re-gifting"
Organize a secret Santa party where each attendee brings a used gift and swaps it for another
Establish a new tradition were you neither give or receive presents
Regifting gains popularity. Regift means to give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift. (Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6)). Regifting has gained in popularity since comedian Jerry Seinfeld first coined the term a decade ago. According to the Macmillian English Dictionary, the increasing popularity of the word and its recent link to online auctions has made the phenomenon of regifting more acceptable. In fact, more than half of adults recently surveyed find regifting acceptable. Even the etiquette experts at the Emily Post Institute approve of the practice in some circumstances. In an effort to get people talking about the financial strains of holiday shopping, an organization launched a Web site devoted to regifting at www.regiftable.com. The site features regifting do's and don'ts
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QUOTES:
Frugal Regifting Fun: Last year, my friends and I decided that we were short on time before the holidays and tired of asking "what would you like for Christmas." So we took a different approach. Each year, we all get together for lunch AFTER Christmas and exchange "regifts," gifts that we received for Christmas but didn't need, didn't fit, have tons of already, etc. We have a blast telling the story behind the gift, and everyone gets to pass of a gift they didn't think they could use and exchange it for one they need more. P. from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Gift-Giving During Tough Times: you're experiencing tough financial times, one big thing that can help is to tell relatives and friends you will not be exchanging gifts or going out to eat until you are back on your feet. This way, you will not feel obligated to spend money you simply don't have. Instead, find free leisure activities you can do with them. The goal is not to cut yourself off from others until you have more money but to find no-cost alternatives. Even in place of a gift, a loved one or friend likely will be happier spending time with you than getting some random gift from you. Judy from Dollar Stretcher Tips
If you're experiencing tough financial times, one big thing that can help is to tell relatives and friends you will not be exchanging gifts or going out to eat until you are back on your feet. This way, you will not feel obligated to spend money that you simply don't have. Instead, find free leisure activities you can do with them. The goal is not to cut yourself off from others until you have more money, but to find no-cost alternatives. Even in place of a gift, a loved one or friend likely will be happier spending time with you than getting some random gift from you. Judy via Facebook
Great Gift for Seniors: My parents are in their 80s, and their baking is limited, so I created cookie of the month. Each parent got to pick a cookie that sounded good to them. I then baked up a batch and mailed them, so this even works for parents that don't live close to your home. Mom and Dad told me they were always excited to get the packages. They even said that they rationed the cookies, so they could savor them. And I enjoyed baking the goodies. Kris from Dollar Stretcher Tips
One Gift for All: When you go to purchase your Christmas gifts this year, consider buying one gift for the family, rather than individual gifts. You'll save and the family will get a nicer gift that all can enjoy. Lynn from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Practical Gift Ideas: I have always believed money is the most practical gift you can give. Weddings are expensive and honeymoons will be even more so with inflation and the price of gas. Then there might be moving into a new place with the cost of rent and deposits on the utilities. When gifting cash, be sure to include a heart felt letter of good wishes for the couple's future and maybe a couple pictures with you together. 25 years ago these cash gifts, no matter how small, were greatly appreciated by us and it adds up quickly and it is much better than returning things to the store that do not fit your taste. My firefighter friend always gifts the new couple a a smoke detector and a small fire extinguisher. You would be surprised at how many apartments are still not protected by a CO2 and smoke detectors. You could also gift an emergency kit for the car or emergency supplies for the house. An EMS friend makes binders, including sleeves for documents, such as birth certificates, the wedding certificate, rental agreements or mortgage paperwork, car titles, listing of bank accounts, credit card accounts, investment and retirement accounts, insurance papers, medical information, warranty information, etc. If you need to evacuate in a hurry, it’s a great thing to have and because they will be changing names and addresses on many documents and setting up house, it would be the easiest time to fill this up with vital information. He also includes booklets he picks up from his insurance agent in which to list all their property. It is difficult to make a claim without the proper documentation. As they unpack they can take a picture with their phones and document it in the book with a photocopy of a receipt since store receipts degrade over time. One of the things that was a great help to me were Thank You cards and stamps. I also received them after my mother's funeral along with some gift cards for pizza and other take out. I was exhausted after her long illness and not having to run to the store for stamps or fixing dinner was a huge help. People used to stop by with casseroles and you always had to figure out where to return the dish, so if you are providing food, make sure it is in a disposable dish or a dish they will not have to return. Mary from Dollar Stretcher Tips
On re-gifting: Since the time is closing in on us to do some Christmas shopping, I thought I'd bring up the subject of re-gifting. I appreciate a good re-gift like most frugal people, but I also appreciate one that is thoughtful. I've gotten some interesting re-gifts — a half used jar of face cream, a cake that had been dropped in my gravel driveway and used books with sticky finger memories on them. I didn't mind the black towel set too much, or the Ziploc bag of matches, from every place the gifter had travelled to. They were mostly used. My point is that even though you got something for free and didn't like it or want it any longer, there should be some thought that goes into it. I took a box one year and quite a bit of food from my stockpile in my pantry and freezer and took it to a friend and her four children. She was most grateful. I journal, so one of my favorite re-gifts I received was a package of nice pens. The person that gave me those paid attention to what I like. Another one of my very favorite gifts was a large bar of dark chocolate and $5 in a card. That was from a senior that I took care of. I also always check discount carts for gift-giving. Just the other day, I found a very high end bottle of moisturizer that had already been discounted and a further discount of 50%! There is nothing wrong with it and I took a small amount of rubbing alcohol and removed the discount marks. I've also been known to bake a tray of brownies and cut them into large squares. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, tie it with a bow, print a little card and if you want to get really fancy, go to a thrift store or the dollar store and buy a mug and include that. A few years ago, I walked into one of my favorite thrift stores and bought a big bag of flannel for $11. For that $11, I made flannel tea towels for myself and for friends. I have made several PJ bottoms for myself and for others. I made baby receiving blankets and hooded bath sheets, shoe bags and my special project? A gorgeous patchwork duvet cover for myself out of the scraps. The total cost was a few spools of thread, ribbon and elastic or you could make drawstrings instead. I can't emphasize enough the value of being thoughtful and kind when you are giving someone a gift, regardless of whether it is new or used. Times are rough enough as it and it's nice to get something just because. Karen K. from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Creative Gift Giving: A few years ago, we started a new gift-giving practice that we call Goodwill to All. All gifts must be second-hand, i.e. from Goodwill or other thrift stores, garage sales, eBay, craigslist, etc., or homemade. It’s MUCH more fun to shop and to receive because there’s usually a story to tell about how you happened to find that gift. The first year we did it, my daughter found a new still-shrink-wrapped 30”x40” canvas for $5 at Goodwill. I’m an artist and those cost about $80 to $90! My son is a huge fan of Back to the Future and someone found a Back to the Future shot glass at Sally Amy. See how creative you can get! Our family is adults and teens. Rani from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Great Gift for the Elderly: I'm among the independent elderly. My daughter and son-in-law gave me for Christmas "Twelve Foods for Christmas." They gave me 12 individually frozen servings of lasagna, 11 individually frozen chicken pot pies, 10 chicken with wild rice dishes, 9 block party beans, 8 mac and cheese, 7 pecan caramel cookies, and on down to one bag of cheese straws. You get the idea. They came with heating directions. Just about the best gift I ever received! Mildred from Dollar Stretcher Tips Editor's Note: Some folks might not have enough freezer space for all of these servings. You might have to replenish their freezer a few times if space is limited.
A Year of Gifts: After a year of terrible financial hardship, I couldn't afford to spend very much on Christmas for my two daughters. I overcame the problem by printing out the next year's calendar and in the middle of each month, I printed a voucher for a gift with a value of $15. One month it was for clothing, the next month it would be a trip to the movies (their choice of which movie), and the following month it would be a book for them to choose each. Then I repeated the sequence all through the rest of the year. That way they received a dozen presents and we were able to spread the cost over a full year. Turned out to be an inexpensive Christmas that both my daughters enjoyed. Vic from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Declutter With a Junk Swap: I'm a part of a weekly Young Moms' Bible Study. Every now and then, we have a "Junk Swap." We get together and bring everything we usually put in a yard sale or donate to charity. We set our things out on tables and then look through each other's junk. We take things we think we could use, and then after we're done, we take all the things left and give them to Goodwill or some other charity. Since we are mostly mothers of young children, there are always lots of children's clothes that others can use, as well as kitchen things, household objects, linens, toys and books. And Goodwill gets a big donation that they might otherwise not have gotten. I may never have an occasion to "de-junk" if I didn't have the deadline for the "junk swap" event. It's always fun to see what other people bring, and it's free! It feels so good to be rid of "junk" cluttering up my house that could be useful to someone else. This idea could apply to any group (church, neighborhood, playgroup, etc.) as long as the group is not too big and as long as you have someone with a big van or truck who can take the "leftovers" to Goodwill when you're done. Betsy from Dollar Stretcher Tips