Raise your hand if you’ve ever had to fake a delighted facial expression when receiving a gift you’ve never wanted and, most of all, you will never want.
But you love the person who gifted you the item, or you are polite and sensible enough to spear their feelings, so you grab and hug it like it’s the best thing you’ve ever touched in your life and silently pray for a change of topic because… how long can you keep up the happy face on for, right?
Once you’re home or at least away from the gifter, you seriously wonder: What to do with that unwanted gift I never thought I’d receive?
Let’s clarify that “unwanted gifts” might be very nice items you just cannot put to use for various reasons – they don’t fit your aesthetic or your lifestyle, aren’t functional enough, don’t fit (when it’s clothing or shoes), you already have that item, you do not wish to support the brand or simply don’t like it. There is no judgment in not liking something someone gifted you with as long as you show respect towards that person when receiving it.
Here are 15 creative ideas that would come seriously handy around the holidays on birthdays. Right after that, you will find a little bit more detailed list of things to do with 12 of the most commonly received unwanted gifts. Use the table of contents for convenience.
15 Creative Things To Do With Your Unwanted Gifts
1. Donate to a charity shop nearby.
2. Put it in the “future gifts” cupboard. Write a note about who you received it from and place it in a special cupboard in your house where you usually keep gifts. When you find a person who would like to get this item as a gift, just wrap it and gift it to them.
3. Host a Swap Party. Invite friends and/or family members to your home and ask them to bring their unwanted gifts.
4. Sell online. List it on eBay, Facebook Market, or whatever other online platform you prefer.
5. Upcycle the gift into something useful for your home. Let’s say you don’t like candles, but you just got one as a gift from your Secret Santa at work. Remove the wax from the jar and use that jar to collect change; turn it into a small vase or a candy jar.
6. Return or exchange if possible.
7. Gift to shelters or to homeless people in your town.
8. Contribute to a Raffle or Bingo Prize. Your unwanted gifts are perfect as prizes for community events. Contact the people responsible for the events and ask them if they would accept your items.
9. Give to schools or daycares. This one is perfect for unwanted stuffed toys, books, or art supplies.
10. Offer to coworkers or neighbors. You don’t like or have any use for the item you got, but you know someone who would love having it. Don’t wait for another occasion, just ask them if they would accept it.
11. Donate to nursing homes. They would be especially happy if those items were puzzles or cozy blankets.
12. Use in your office. Maybe this item doesn’t fit in your home, but your workplace really needs it. Why not take it there and share it with everyone?
13. Gift to children’s hospitals, especially if the item is either toys, puzzles, art supplies, or cozy slippers.
14. Offer to teachers. Ask your children’s teacher if your item would be beneficial for a school project.
15. Donate to animal shelters.
What to do with these unwanted items?
Books
- Donate to libraries;
- Offer to schools;
- Book swap with a friend;
- Offer to book clubs in your area;
- Sell online.
Toys
- Donate to children’s hospitals;
- Give to daycare centers;
- Offer to shelters;
- Donate to community playgrounds;
- Repurpose them as pet toys or donate them to a pet shelter.
Slippers
- Donate to homeless shelters;
- Offer to elderly homes;
- Regift to other family members;
- Create a guest comfort basket for your guest room.
Kitchen Appliances
- Sell on online;
- Gift to a new homeowner;
- Donate to community centers;
- Offer to college students;
- Regift to cooking enthusiasts.
Fruit Bowls
- Repurpose as planters;
- Use in an art project;
- Donate to thrift shops;
- Use as organizational containers.
Notebooks
- Donate to schools or art programs;
- Offer to coworkers;
- Offer to someone you know who is obsessed with stationary and notebooks;
- Use for home management (because you can always repurpose an empty notebook in at least 100 ways).
Games
- Donate to after-school programs;
- Sell online;
- Donate to pediatric wards;
- Offer to friends with kids.
Mugs and Cups
- Donate to homeless shelters;
- Use as planters;
- Regift with a personal touch (like adding a hot chocolate bomb, marshmallows, a small candle, and a small beauty product).
- Take it to your office and use it there, or leave it in the break room;
- Use in a craft project.
Candles
- Regift for housewarmings;
- Keep it for creating self-care baskets for friends and family;
- Use in emergency kits (because power outages happen)
- Offer to friends who love home decor items.
Diet Plans
First of all, ew, how rude of someone to gift you with this. Now, let’s think of what to do with that diet plan.
- Offer on online marketplace;
- Donate to community health centers;
- Use as reference material. Even if you don’t wish to follow the plan, there might be some knowledge to gain from reading the leaflets or the books it comes with.
Clothes
- Trade with friends;
- Donate to charity shops;
- Offer to drama clubs or art schools;
- Sell online;
- Repurpose fabric for your home DIY projects.
Beauty Products
- Regift to someone who uses that product;
- Donate unopened products to women’s shelters;
- Swap with friends – maybe they have unwanted beauty products, too;
- Add it to a welcome basket in your guest room.
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