To re-gift or not to re-gift?

Nov 26, 2025

FamilyMeans Financial Solutions urges you to work within a budget this holiday season. Budgets can help prevent overspending and keep you on track to your financial goals. Re-gifting can help to stretch your budget and bring joy to another. But sometimes it is seen as taboo. That poses the question, to re-gift or not to re-gift? Our expert staff say “Yes, it’s ok to keep a gift that isn’t right for you. And passing it on to someone who would enjoy it can be an act of kindness.”  

Here are some re-gifting tips for you to consider this holiday season:

Do

-Make sure the item is new, has no sentimental value for you, and isn’t personalized or damaged
-Re-wrap the item with fresh paper or place it in a new gift bag
-Remove any gift tags or price tags, or anything else that might indicate that it’s been re-gifted
-Make sure you’re re-gifting for an appropriate occasion
-Consider bringing it to a “White Elephant” gift exchange, as long as the original gift giver wouldn’t find out! (See below)

Don’t

-Give the gift to someone in your family or social circle who knows the original giver; this could be embarrassing for all involved
-Re-gift the item if it looks used (for example, if it came in plastic packaging that you have discarded)
-Force it, if you’re having a hard time thinking of someone to give gift the gift to. Instead,  donate it to a thrift store or sell it online or to a consignment store
-Re-gift free items, such as swag or promotional items; consider placing these in a “free” pile or donate them

Don’t feel guilty about re-gifting, if you’ve been thoughtful in letting it go. It just might bring joy to someone else!