Don't Re-Gift Without Knowing The Rules
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Christmas -- a day where family and friends exchange gifts!
But wait -- not every gift is one you want to keep.
So are you already thinking -- re-gifting?
"Re-gifting used to be a negative term, but it isn't any more," says Lisa Iadicicco, a manners consultant with Mother May I.
In 1995, a Seinfeld episode first introduced the concept with a re-gifted label maker.
Elaine: "I just got one of those for Tim Watley for Christmas."
Jerry: "Tim Watley?"
Elaine: "Yeah. Who sent you that one?"
Jerry: "One Tim Watley."
Elaine: "No. My Tim Watley?"
Jerry: "The same. He sent it as a thank you for my Super Bowl tickets."
Elaine: "He recycled this gift. He's a re-gifter."
And then…
Elaine: "You don't have the label maker, do you?"
Tim: "Uh, no."
Elaine: "I knew it. You're a re-gifter."
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Twenty years later, an American Express survey found that 3 out of 4 of us think the practice is perfectly acceptable, although there is still a tinge of concern.
"I kind of feel guilty about that," one shopper admitted.
But not enough to stop re-gifting that gift you really don't want.
"I do it whenever I can," another said.
This year, more people will re-gift than any Christmas before, but that doesn't mean that every gift is re-giftable.
The top eight gifts that get recycled are: candles; gift cards; housewares; clothing; bath soaps, shower gels and lotions; fruitcake; gift baskets, and booze.
But there are re-gifting etiquette rules, says Iadicicco.
Some are obvious.
"You can't give that hand-knit sweater that your aunt gave you to your cousin who she might run into next Christmas," she said.
And then watch out and remove anything that gives away it's a re-gift.
"A lot of times, they'll put cards in the bottom or gift receipts or something in the bottom of the bag or the basket," Iadicicco said. "Make sure you've gone through everything before you decide to give it to somebody else."
Always re-package the gift and be sure it's right for the new recipient.
"As long as it's mindful and it's authentic and you've really thought it out, there's nothing wrong with that at all."
