Are you frantic about gifting right now?

We’ve got just a couple weeks left, and at some point in the coming days, your thoughts may drift to Re-gifting.

Regift: (verb) To give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift.

“Why go buy something when I can give something I was already given?” Well, in order to remain a person who is considered thoughtful (and has any tact) in your social circles/families there are a couple rules to consider, and questions to ask yourself:

Is the gift actually regiftable? Never regift handmade or one-of-a-kind items. Signed books and monogrammed items are off-limits. Do you have to be told not to regift free promotional items (cheap & tacky)? Some gifts that are good candidates for regifting include good (unopened!) bottles of wine, books, new household items and inexpensive jewelry.

How is the condition? Only gifts in good condition should be considered for regifting. Period. Never give a partially used gift. Don’t give items that you have owned for a long time. A general rule of thumb: if you have to dust it off, it is not regiftable.

Is this going to work? Successful regifters use common sense.

If you are going to regift, be sure you know who gave you the item, so you don’t return something to the original giver (hello awkwardtown). Only regift items to people who are not likely to see the original giver.

Another point to consider: social media. Is the recipient likely to post a pic of your gift, or of themselves wearing/enjoying it (Thanks for the rare jewel encrusted vintage necklace!)? Think through how that plays out before giving your gift. If it’s unique or notable enough of an item it can get dicey.

Do you have good intentions? Don’t just give a gift to give a gift. Give it because you know the recipient will actually appreciate the item. Remember, if you feel that an item is undesirable, the recipient probably will too. If you are regifting simply because you ran out of time, gift cards are simple to obtain and always well received. Thrift Town has gift cards BTW. Just sayin.

How does it look? When it comes to gift-giving, go for show! While gift bags in good condition can be reused, wrapping paper is a one-time thing. Always spring for a new card or gift tag and crisp tissue paper. Especially since you’re not spending dough on the gift itself, take time to write a nice card and wrap the gift well.

Can you handle it? If you don’t plan to announce the gift as a regift (pretty sure that doesn’t translate well as a general rule), ask yourself if you can keep the secret. If you’re regifting a bottle of wine, for example, don’t be clueless about the vintage and where it’s from. Never feel guilty about regifting once you’ve done it. If you’ve followed the above do’s & don’ts, consider it a successful gift!

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Kari Shipman is thrifty, eco-conscious, and knows the importance of supporting local charities. She has been our featured blogger since we started the blog in 2010, and has a serious passion for fashion. In addition to owning a Fashion Consulting Business, Juniper James, Kari is also the owner of her own boutique that carries all locally made clothing. Kari lives out her passions in Northern California with her wonderful husband Charles, and their black lab, Gracie.

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