When is Regifting Appropriate

Regifting is a personal decision.  Sometimes, people regift due to lack of funds, or because they lack time to find a gift.  Sometimes, people regift gifts because they are given gifts that do not fit their lifestyle.  The person would rather re-gift it than throw it away. 

How to Regift

Make sure the regift is personalized by you in some way.  Common faux pas to regifting include leaving the original gift card on the gift and using the same wrapping paper on the gift.  Do not re-gift hand-me-downs, scarves, candles, soaps, and random books.  These can be dead giveaways that they are regifts.  Make sure you keep track of who gave it to you first, and determine if they could see the regift in some way. 

For more tips on regifting go here:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/
Advice/12RulesForRegiftingWithoutFear.aspx

When Does Regifting Work Well?

Regifting can be fun and even funny.  Often, people hold regifting parties called White Elephant parties where people bring gifts they were given that they did not want and pass them on to others.  If you have some good-natured friends, regifting that frog vase Aunt Millie gave you can give everyone a chuckle, as it gets passed from person to person at various functions.

To learn how a White Elephant Party works:
http://www.partygamecentral.com/pgcstandard/
gametmpstd.asp?gn=WHITE+ELEPHANT+GIFT+EXCHANGE

Is it Ok to Tell?

The most important thing to remember when you regift is make sure that the gift you give is appropriate for that person.  You may consider telling your friend that an expensive vase you gave her was re-gifted, so she does not feel obligated to give you an expensive gift in return.  If you are asked outright if it was a regift, it is best to preserve your relationship and be honest about the regift.

For stories about regifting check out this regift website:
http://www.regiftable.com/Default.aspx

Make sure what you give is given in love.  Thought always goes a long way, no matter what gift you gift to someone, even a regift.  Just make sure that you use common sense when you do regift.