Are you a gift giver?

Given a gift? - Gift giver

@Humbug25 (12540)

March 31, 2009 12:30pm CST

Sometimes I have received gifts from close friends or relatives that I don't like or would never use which is a bit disappointing because I feel that they should know me better than that. Anyway, the gift never goes to waste and I usually re-wrap it as a gift for someone that would appreciate it more. I am always very careful never to send it back to the same person or someone they might know as I would hate to upset them. Recently my brother and his wife did just that and gave a gift to my mum that I had given them a few years back, I guess they had forgotten that it was me that had given it to them! Are you a gift giver? Has it ever happened to you where someone has given you a gift that you gave them previously? Do you think it is wrong to give someone a gift that you have been given or do you look at it as being frugal?

9 people like this

25 responses

• China

1 Apr 09

I don't it's right for you to give someone a gift that you have been given. The gifts show their loves and respects for you.So you should keep them company forever.Even if you didn't like it ,you should not give it to someone else.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi there fengmulee I thank you for your honesty, opinion and response

Welcome to myLot and happy mylotting

@i_limantara (66)

• Indonesia

1 Apr 09

it's better than they wasted it... it's just like me.. i just has a son.. and my friends give me a lot of gift.. of course i will not use all of them... so i just give it to my friends who has a baby as a gift :D

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Thanks again for your response

Andrealoves7and8

@rogue13xmen13 (14403)

• United States

1 Apr 09

Yes I am. I love getting gifts for my boyfriend and giving him gifts. I love buying things for people.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi rogue13xmen13 Me too!!

Thanks for your response

@comfort55 (1574)

• India

1 Apr 09

Hi Humbug, there's no harm in recycling the gifts, provided it does not go to the original giver of the gift for which we have to take care. I like to give gifts only to my close friends and family members. Most of the gifts I recieve, I recycle them as they are of no use to me. Cheers!

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi ya comfort55 I guess the only thing is that you do actually miss out on a gift yourself but then it's not the end of the world eh?

thanks for your response

@gjsmile616 (62)

• China

1 Apr 09

No I donot send any gift to my close friend as I know they will reback one to me !

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi ya gjsmile616 Yeah and that wouldn't be good huih?

Thanks for your response

@i_limantara (66)

• Indonesia

1 Apr 09

i think it's not wrong... that what i am done... i just has a son... and my friends give me a lot of gifts... of course i will not use all of them... so i just give it as a gift to my other friends who just has a baby.... better than we throw to the rubbish in the next few years... :D that's why i like to give a money as a gift like angpao in chinese...

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hello i_limantara That's nice that you have someone to pass these sort of things onto.

Thanks for your response

@moondancer (7433)

• United States

31 Mar 09

I am a gift giver. I love giving gifts to family and friends as well as others. I love seeing the smile and wonderment in their eyes. I see nothing wrong with regiving a gift. If you are not going to use it then why not let someone else have it that will love it. I have not had cause to do this but once or twice in my lifetime. They were from family that I'm not around much and they don't know my needs, likes, or wants.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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31 Mar 09

Hi moondancer I think some people might see it as wrong but then I guess those are the sort of people that don't have any money issues at all! Thanks for your response

@littleowl (7157)

•

1 Apr 09

Hi Humbug, yes I have had the same thing happen to me when really the present isn't wanted or needed so I have either given it to someone I know who would like it or to the charity shop where someone who wants it will have the pleasure of the unwanted present..I don't think it is wrong, the present is still going to someone who would like it or make use of it, as the saying goes 'if you don't use it-then lose it', and I would rather someone else have the pleasure of an unwanted present given to me to someone who would like or want it...hugs littleowl

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi ya littleowl I like that saying, 'use it or lose it'. I think that should go for the things in my wardrobe, not that there is an awful lot in my wardrobe, but it would help me decide to put in those charity bags that frequently get posted through my door!!

Thanks littleowl!

@dawnald (85135)

• Shingle Springs, California

31 Mar 09

close friends or relatives that I don't like ??? Almost makes it sound as if you don't like the friends or relatives. lol But seriously folks... I don't think I've ever received anything back from anybody. I did regift something that I really liked only to find out that she gave it to somebody else, darn it. I rarely regift things though. Usually they sit around gathering dust until I either yard sale or donate them.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hey dawny Shove them on e-bay!! Hahahaha

Cheers dawny

@ANTIQUELADY (36440)

• United States

31 Mar 09

i definitely believe in being frugal w/everything. i have to be. i have re-gifted gifts but don't get that many now. when i was working i got alot from my customers at christmas & it just wasn't something i would use sometime. i see nothing wrong w/re-giftig but it might hurt my feelings if i saw something i had given a family member come around again. thaat's why i give my kids money at christmas. they can buy what they want. can't please them anyway. lol

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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31 Mar 09

Hi ya ANTIQUELADY Good idea to give money or even gift tokens!!

Thanks ANTIQUE

@jesssp (2712)

• Canada

31 Mar 09

Re-gifting is an art and definitely nothing to be ashamed of. It bugs me when people who know me well give me stuff that I would never in a million years use but it makes me feel good when I'm able to use it to make someone else happy. I always try to politely stress that I don't want anymore candles or nick nacs because I have a house over flowing with them. I also try to casually mention that I don't want body wash or bath sets because I can't use 'cheap' soaps and things (they irritate my skin). But under the tree this year was a huge set of about eight different full size body washes from my sister. I just said thankyouverymuch and am now using them as refills for the bathroom hand soap!

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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31 Mar 09

Hi ya jesssp I think it is really, really hard to tell someone that you don't like or don't want their gift but it can be done in a subtle and diplomatic way like you suggest! Thanks jesssp

@elmolovesu (814)

• Philippines

1 Apr 09

Hi humbug. I am more of a giver,too. I like buying gifts for family and friends. I'm also the one buying gifts for my husband's associates and my daughter's friends. It's so much fun especially when I'm looking for kids' gifts. I like going around the toys' section.

My daughter gets a lot of gifts that she doesn't like so much and some that are of the same kind. What I would do is to give them away as prizes when they have games in school. I don't see anything wrong with recycling presents. It's better to give them to someone else who would have a use for them than just keep them. Just like what you said, we have to be careful not to give it back to the sender. Thanks. Take care.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi ya elmolovesu Well I love to buy gifts but not when I have left it a bit late and am short of time, then I seem to do what I call panic buying but I usually give myself lots of time in advance of the event to buy gifts so I get the right thing for the right person.

Thanks for your response

@boying2004 (59)

• China

1 Apr 09

I seldom give the gifts given by my friends to the other people.I think most of people want their presents to be loved by the receiver.But sometimes we don't like the presents.Usually i put them away.I don't think it's a waste of money and resources,because it's the expression of friends' heart.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi there boying2004 So what do you do with them when you put them away? How long to you leave them 'put away'? Thanks for your response

@camhiliciouz (196)

• Philippines

31 Mar 09

well if i have money why not give people something they can use and remember me of, but unfortunately, life isnt always that good, sometimes your up, sometimes your down, its a matter of luck.. a sincere thank you and smile would definitely matter. always give people some sweet thoughts to remember and they'll be much happy..

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi there camhiliciouz Unfortunately sometimes some people are not always grateful for the simple things in life that cost nothing yet are from the heart!

Thanks for your response

@laglen (19759)

• United States

7 Apr 09

I am a big believer in regifting. I do not get offended if somebody regifts something I gave them. It is better than throwing it out! I love to give gifts, so if you get me something and I regift it, it is still a gift for me because I saved money!

@xParanoiax (6987)

• United States

7 Apr 09

I love giving people things. Especially books. Regifting doesn't happen much in my family or among those I'd call my friends, especially 'cause most of us don't have much and now eachother all very well. I don't think regifting is wrong, but I think it's better to have an open gift policy with your family.

@Wizzywig (7847)

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31 Mar 09

I'm not in a position to give expensive gifts so I like to try to give gifts which have some thought behind them. for a friend's 60th birthday, I shopped around for small toys and sweets which he would have enjoyed as a child and wrapped them all separately and put them in a plain blue carrier bag. I am more likely to give someone an amusing bag of 'junk' than go for something generic and predictable. I dont think its wrong to 'recycle' gifts. my son & I have an agreement that, if we dont want the gift, we dont feel obliged to hang on to it.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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31 Mar 09

Hi ya Wizzywig Sometimes I just give people a gift that I don't want or give them to my son's school for their summer fete or Christmas raffle so it is then going to a good cause!

Thanks for your response

@cynthiann (18602)

• Jamaica

31 Mar 09

I bet that it was your brother's wife that recycled the gift! I have recycled gifts when I am in hard times but the gift has to be in spanking good condition and it would not be to my children or anyone close. I recycled a gift just last week as my daughter keeps me supplied with body lotions etc (it's her weakness) so I always have plenty and I was happy to give some away as a birthday gift. I do not think that there is anyhting wrong in recycling gifts and it can cut down on expenses. No one has given me back the same gift that I gave them though. I'm glad for that!lol

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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31 Mar 09

Hi ya cynthiann It probably was my brother's wife as I think my brother lacks the sense to do that sort of thing!! LOL Oh yeah I will only recycle a gift if it is in A1 condition and not to close family or friends either! I think it would be really hard to hide your embarrassment and hurt feelings if someone gave you a gift that you had given to them previously! When I saw my mum's gift, I just left the room and put the kettle on! Cheers cynth

@jcay_lorna (433)

• Ireland

31 Mar 09

I am not gift giver myself. But I make it a point to make upwhateeverr it is I can t afford to give in cash I give in action. I also think that re-gifting presents you don't use or have never and will never use is great way to de-clutter your house of things you don't need. But you really really have to be careful not to give it to somebody who is closely related or to someone wherein theres a possibility they will re-gift it to somebody who owns it or recognizes it.

@Humbug25 (12540)

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6 Apr 09

Hi there jcay_lorna Yes you really do have to be careful of that because you could really hurt someone's feelings! Thanks for your response

@MaryLynn321 (2680)

• United States

31 Mar 09

I am a gift giver and maker. I haven't had your problem. But, I have found that things that were given or made, are never used. You never see them around, or on a person. If the person doesn't like something it would be nice to know, as it is a waste of time, creativity and money. It is your own judgment whether to give something you have received. I guess one could say it is better not to waste.

1 person likes this

@Humbug25 (12540)

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31 Mar 09

Hi ya MaryLynn321 I totally understand where you are coming from and would not want to upset someone by lying to them but a lot of the time these sort of unwanted gift have been given to me with little thought. It's not that I am ungrateful but I just wished that people would put in as much thought as I do when giving a gift then I wouldn't be giving gifts away!! LOL Thanks for your response

1 person likes this