I'm cheating....but don't tell anyone!
By jillhill
@jillhill (37354)
United States
November 25, 2008 7:08pm CST
We have our family Christmas party in just two weeks. We have a gift exchange. The woman bring a woman's gift...the men a man's gift. I always make a little something for everyone in the way of crafts...and I buy all the little ones a gift to put under the tree. Well a couple of years ago I bought this two tiered serving plate thing. It has two plates where you can stack candy or cookies. I have never used it and it's still in the box. Yesterday I took it out with the intent of using it for Christmas but I don't really like it. So I decided to give it as my woman's gift. It's not really regifting though I don't think anythings wrong with that....but I feel a little funny using it as my gift as it's sat in the closet for maybe five years. Do you regift or give someone something you bought for yourself that turns out you really don't like? I feel like I am cheating not buying anything...but I'll get over it! LOL
9 people like this
25 responses
@nilugo (348)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
Yes I have done that -especially some of my wedding presents! I know its really notappreciating what others had given the gifts after putting thaught into it, but the way I feel is, if I am not going to use it, might as well give it to some other person who can make use of it and enjoy the gift. At least I didn't throw it away.
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
27 Nov 08
I haven't but my ine has regifted. As she gave me the candie dish I gave her a a little girl. Now that was the best regift I have ever gotten better yet the best gift I have ever gotten. Now I laugh when I tell people to give her something you want back. I give her cash now. Well, I got her a cheap car. she blow it up.
It was only $600.00 so it did last her a little over a year. But she drove it all over MN. She was only to use it at home. But no it is not wrong or cheap. I think it is great. Your friend onlydia
It was only $600.00 so it did last her a little over a year. But she drove it all over MN. She was only to use it at home. But no it is not wrong or cheap. I think it is great. Your friend onlydia2 people like this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
27 Nov 08
I don't think there is anything wrong with it. You bought it intending to use it. When you finally got to it to use it, you decided that you didn't really like it. You haven't used it so there isn't anything wrong with giving it to someone for a gift! I say do it!
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
26 Nov 08
You don't need to feel bad about giving this as a gift. You did buy it and put it aside and it has never been used. I have never regifted and I am trying to think if over the years if I have ever given anything that I have bought for myself and never used. That one is hard for me as I very seldom buy things for myself and when I do it is something I really really need or might want. I hope you do give the gift instead of keeping it in the closet for more years.
2 people like this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
26 Nov 08
Hehehehe...
I don't think that's cheating. I think you're just being honest. It's better to give away something rather than let it sit there for another 5years right? I do that too. But it doesn't take me 5years to decide to give it out. I do that whenever I see that I don't need something or have a double in the 'gift section'. Like this one year, almost three (3) people gave me coffee mugs, and the irony is that I don't even drink coffee! Anyhow, I didn't need them, well at least I only need one of them. So the next year or several months after, I gave the two to other people.
I think it's a good thing to recycle these gifts rather than to keep stacks of something you know you won't need anyways.
Just be careful though, don't give the gift back to the owner. That would certainly create fumes.
Good luck! Happy Mylotting!
Good luck! Happy Mylotting!2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
27 Nov 08
No, I don't think you are really cheating. You have not used it so it is still a new item. It has just been sitting in your closet for a while. Think of it this way - you just bought it super early, that's all.
Any gift is a good gift. It is something she didn't have before and it is from you. Hopefully she will love it and use it for many years to come.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
Any gift is a good gift. It is something she didn't have before and it is from you. Hopefully she will love it and use it for many years to come.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Well, this year we are purchasing used items that are in excellent condition to give as gifts. It will be a very frugal year and I doubt anyone will mind getting used gifts as long as they can use them too. I have received gifts that I didn't care for and have given them to others I knew would love them. But, they were never given to people who knew of the gift I received.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 08
I do not think it is bad at all that you are doing this, I mean it is still new never been used and I think I would do the same Jill, so don't worry about it you bought it yourself so there is no harm done there at all, it doesn't matter that you have bought it 5 years ago, you bought it, so it can be classed as being bought early
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I have done this in the past but also felt terribly guilty. I got over it too..lol Look at it from this standpoint: you're not cheating, you're sharing.
I recently received a gift from our son-in-law's mother and will never use it. Did his family a favor and his mom thought she should repay me somehow. Was a nice thought. The box itself is taking up space and the red bowl will probably never leave the box.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Well maybe someday you can give it away! LOL.....I do feel kind of guilty about this but it's never been used and I bought it for myself....so it will be new to someone else too! I think my neices entertain more then me....so it will get some good use.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
26 Nov 08
One year I received a sweater from a friend and it was the wrong size for me. I gave it to another friend and she loved it. I saw the friend that gave it to me and she wanted to know how much I am enjoying the sweater. I told her it was really warm. That day I ran out and bought the sweater felt really guilty.
I rarely re-gift knowing how guilty I would feel. Its easier for me to donate the item to a charity knowing somebody will enjoy the item. The next time I see the friend will think of that charity and hope it kept somebody warm that night.
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
26 Nov 08
It's new and there's no sense keeping it in the cupboard when there's someone else who would like it. It's a gift and a nice gift. I think you should wrap it up and you're good to go!!!
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
26 Nov 08
You say you bought it for yourself and never used it that is not cheating nor is it re-gifting. It is actually perfectly acceptable to buy things early. I have actually won things or seen things new in the stores and bought them as Christmas gifts early so I can avoid the last minute rush. My mother used to have a drawer with generic gifts so that if someone popped in at the last minute or her children brought a friend over at Christmas she would have a little something to wrap and give as a gift.
If it was a case of re-gifting you have to be very careful and not give it within the family or you might get it back next year.
I am not sure who makes up the rules about gift giving but what you are doing is probably not against any of them.
I am not sure who makes up the rules about gift giving but what you are doing is probably not against any of them. @mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
27 Nov 08
Then do not do it. Gift giving is supposed to make you feel good, not guilty. Give it to me instead.
@bravery2008 (73)
• China
26 Nov 08
but now ,you tell it to me.don't hurry,i am your frieng,trustful friend
1 person likes this
@army_gunzz (36)
• United States
26 Nov 08
the question is, WHO HASNT DONE THAT lol, i know i have regifted items i know ill never use! its ok to do it as long as if you know the other person will use it lol
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
27 Nov 08
It is not regifting at all because it is something that you have bought yourself. As it happens you no longer like it and if that is the case, I can understand why you would not want to use it on Christmas day. The fact that it has been put away in a cpboard for a number of years is a true sign that it is not something that you would notmally use anyway. So why spoil your Christmas day by poutting it out on display, even if you have something on it.
Actually it is the ideal sort of present tp give to for someone. The person you give it to will no doubt like the present and be happy to use it as well. Then when you visit their place or a special occassion you can see that it suits them very well. The age of the serving plate does not matter at all because if it did then we would be throwing out things every year because they are out of date or no longer the latest fashion.
As a matter of fact my sister-in-law actually goes out and looks for certain types of things to give as presents to some people. They have some friends who collect certain types of things or might like things from a certain era, i.e. 1950's or whatever. So she scours the second hand or Opportunity/Thrift shops to find those particular things. She knows that these friends appreciate those gifts and are not worried that they are not brand new. She does make sure though that the item she is gifting is in good condition and then cleans it uop nicely and packages it all up into a gift. She is one of those people who just has the knack to know what people want and/or like. Her forays are very often successful too as she keeps an eye out for them all year round. One year she found a very nice depression glass vase for my partner who was extremely happy as she had admired them.
So whatever gift ou give does not need to be newly purchased or even brand new to be appreciated by the recipient. It is the thought that counts really. This serving plate is worth nothing to you as you do not even like it but it could be priceless to the recipient.
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
13 Dec 08
Yes, someone gave me somthing that I already have 5 of..ok so I did give it to someone else. I kinda hate to do that but I cant use 5 of something like a robe, and didnt want to hurt anyones feelings. I think there are times when its ok and it goes to good for someone else. Thats just my belief, because you cant always keep everything .
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I haven't ever given something away I got as a gift. But I must say that I think this is a fantastic idea. I mean, think about it, we've all got a bunch of stuff in their original boxes and packaging that we know we either 1--don't like or 2--will never use. Why not give it to someone else whom we know will most likely appreciate the gift?
One year I got a gift from someone (I won't say who) and it was an absolutely lovely scarf. But it smelled very strongly of perfume. To this day, I really think that person had been wearing that scarf in the past and that is how the perfume smell got on it. It was just a beautiful scarf. (Alas, I don't have it anymore as the box with all my lovely scarfs got lost in our move from up north, it was the only box that didn't show up in the moving van.)
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Oh, gosh, that sounds like a terrible loss! That is just awful. And it's so upsetting because you just don't miss things right away. It was literally months before I even realized I didn't have my scarves.
The moving company had sent 2 packers to pack our house and one of them was a young woman. For some reason, I've always thought she probably kept those scarves. And my husband had bought me so many over the years, some of them from places we had visited or cruised to. I still miss those scarves and I bet your daughter misses those quilts...
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I think I've regifted a couple times, I think I would rather calling it re-gifting than cheating, even though it was something you bought and never used, I would still call it that, cheating sounds so bad..lol. I've got a few things in my closet that I bought for myself and never used, so maybe I'll re-gift them, nobody's ever seen it before so they wouldn't know where it came from...Have a good day
@trisha_nava82 (1379)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I have done that before. I think that it is quite okay especially when you are not using it. There is no point of having it lying around and you don't use it and let it collect dust. It would be better to give it to someone that you know would use it. If someone may have given you the gift then it would be regifting, but its quite okay just as long as you don't regift to the person that gave it to you. I made that mistake once.
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
27 Nov 08
Sometimes when we go to check out the Opportunity/Thrift shops, there will be a whole lot of shelves full of stuff which is brand new and in their boxes. One day my partner asked how it could happen and the volunteer working at the shop said that a lot of people received presents they did not want. So the person would stick them away in a cupboard out of sight and every so often these peoole would donate the goods to a Charity.
The Charities sell these things and raise money to help those who are in need of a helping hand. The volunteer who was in her 70's said that often the recipient is an older person who does not have a need of the gift that was given to them. She said that it took her a long time to convince her family not to give her things as she does not need or want heaps of fancy things. She has all that she needs and anything more is simply a waste.
We have bought some of these things in the past from the Opportunity Shops and in fact got a very old dinner set for my stepdaughter when she got married. It was at least 50 years old and looked like it had never been used, as there was not a mark on any of the pieces. She was very happy as she has aways enjoyed those sort of things but never thought they would be able to afford one. It cost us about 30% of the actual value of it, which was all we caould afford anyway. But for both couples it was wonderful - they got what they wanted and we got it for them as a price we could afford.
However I digress, the goods which can sometimes be found in the Opportunity or Thrift shops are/can be brand new, still in the original box and both the goods and box are in pristine condition. Those sorts of things can be given as gifts and nobody would feel "guilty" when they gave it to someone as a present. After all you paid the asking price for the item, so what is the difference in giving this serving tray to someone else. Basically it is the same thing except that it has been sitting in someone else's cupboard and not yours. Either way you paid for the present with your own money, so go for it in the knowledge that someone will use and enjoy the serving plate.
