Fri, 26 Dec 2025

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 I have no regrets - What to do with unwanted Christmas presents

How to regift without getting caught and other options for dealing with unwanted presents.

* Some people prefer re-gifting as a more sustainable way of celebrating the festive season
* Estimated £42m worth of unwanted presents are thrown away in the UK each year, with some ending up in landfill
* Dawn-Maria France from North Yorkshire passes on unwanted gifts to friends and family without feeling any guilt
* To avoid causing offence, experts advise removing labels or notes that might be addressed to someone else, inspecting the gift carefully for signs of wear, and re-wrapping it discreetly Regifting Etiquette
* Louise Minchin from the BBC's Rip Off Britain programme warns against getting caught out by leaving any evidence of a previous recipient
* Reverend Kate Bottley accidentally forgot to remove a card from a gift she passed on, causing an awkward conversation
* Antoinette Akanji advises regifting outside your social circle to avoid provoking uncomfortable conversations Selling Unwanted Gifts Online
* Kirsty Quinn makes £500 a month reselling items sourced from car boot sales and charity shops on eBay and Vinted
* Vinted says the first Sunday of each year sees a spike in listings of unwanted gifts, with women's toiletries and perfumes being among the most-listed items Donating Unwanted Gifts to Charity
* Charity shops eagerly await post-Christmas clear-outs, when unwanted gifts become someone else's treasure
* The British Heart Foundation says donating decorations, board games, or Christmas jumpers can brighten someone else's home or wardrobe
* Shopping in charity shops over Christmas can also make a difference and help people in need Inclusive Giving
* Including a gift receipt with the present can give the recipient more options and make life easier for them
* Some retailers may offer refunds or exchange items without receipts, but this depends on their individual policy
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