My now four year old daughter received so many Christmas gifts one year that I decided to only give her a few gifts, then bring another one out every so often. I figured that this would stretch the gifts out so that she would not get too overwhelmed with so many at once. Well, needless to say, there are a few gifts that we never got around to giving her and she was so young at the time that she would never recognize/remember them. We also have an 18 month old daughter. There is one "unopened" toy that our older daughter received from a friend of the family two years ago that we forgot to give her to play with and we were thinking of putting it in our younger daughter's Easter basket. The friend of the family that gave it to us would never find out...we see her maybe once every two to three years. Is it okay to "re-gift" something to my younger daughter (from the Easter Bunny) that was originally given to my older daughter, but never opened? Is it also okay to use another of the unopened gifts to re-gift to another child outside the family? In today's economy, we would rather use what we have (completely unused, unopened, in the original package, brand new) then go out and buy something that we already have just to say that it had never been "gifted"? I hope this makes sense :-)
Go ahead! And never give it another thought!
All happiness (sounds as if you're already there!)
S. F.
The Easter Bunny even has to be wise in this economy. If neither child knows it has been up on the shelf, I say go for it.
I would say also say it is ok to do between your own kids or friends (just have to make sure that you don't give back to the same ones that gave it too you, lol). But between other family members it is rude. I had it happen to me this Christmas when we exchanged gifts with my siblings children. The first thing my daugther opened you could totally tell it was a regift. All the animals were not attached anymore in the box (also the toys were a little young for her age and I think they were suppose to go to my other niece who was there). It was almost like my SIL let the kids play with it and then put it back in the box. Then my daughter got an Elmo stuffed doll that I know had been around for awhile(she had the same one at home)and it was a freebee. Then she got clothing that the top was 3T and the bottom was 18 months. It made me fell like they just didn't care. I just got under the deadline of the clothing to take it back. Because the reciept was from the beginning of October and they didn't have the outfit anymore because it was on clearence. I am not ungreatful by any means, but when it comes down to Christmas gift exchange it is a little of a sore spot with me. I would rather my daughter not get anything from my Brother and SIL. Which I have told them that I think we should stop the christmas gift exchange. But they feel that it isn't right for the kids not to get gifts for christmas from family members (or anyone else for the matter, they are materialistic (sp)). This year we said that we would spend $25 on each child since there are lots of them and there will be 3 more this christmas coming up. I spent my time shopping for the right thing for each of the kids and then too see my daughter got gifts that were regifted. It didn't sit well with me, since it was family. Especially since I know my brother has a good job. I have other family members who are struggling and they seem to not regift and go out and buy something. My god my other SIL and BIL have 3 kids and she finds stuff for my daughter that is on sale and she tells me about the sales, I am just glad she is thinking of my daughter. Sorry for my rant, lol.
Definitely OK to regift between your kids!
Regifting to another person is different. I'd say it would depend on who the gift was for, what kind of person they are, and what kind of gift it is.
Some people would be OK with it, others would be very offended. If it's a duplicate toy and you know the other kid would love it then by all means! But if you're not sure if they have it (meaning they would ask for the receipt and you wouldn't have it) or the parent is the kind that would be offended then I wouldn't.
I've found that out because I love to give handmade gifts. Some people are actually offended if I give them something handmade! And others think it's wonderful that I've taken the time and love to make something for them.
Choose the gift depending on the receiver. :)
I do that and see nothing wrong with it, especially in this economy. If your youngest will enjoy the item, by all means give it to her.
do it! no need to even ask! being frugal and wise is a gift in itself to teach your family!
I say DO IT. The only time I would advise against it is if the original giver will find out.
And, with the gift to your younger child, even if the original giver saw the child with that gift, they wouldn't know that you just didn't purchase another of the same item. (As in, the first child like it so much we bought one for the younger. Or that someone else purchased the gift.)
Absolutely! Personally, my kids are so overwhelmed with gifts it's impossible for them to appreciate them all. We return/share/donate/re-gift frequently.
I don't see a problem with it. I also don't feel that they have to be brand new. Most of our toys are used since I like to rummage sale shop to save some money and keep unused, but good toys out of the landfills.
I have re-gifted toys to my younger one that my older one grew out of. As long as they are clean and in working condition, kids don't care. We actually find that it is upsetting to our children to receive toys that are in packaging since it takes so darned long to get them out. So even if we do buy a new toy, we unpackage it first.
I think it is fine. the children won't notice and even if they did, I would explain that we hadn't gotten to that present yet and it is too young for her now etc etc.
You bet!
The kids won't care--they will be happy with their gift, and that's what truly matters.
It's better for something to be put to good use rather than sitting in some closet collecting dust. And as you said, these are tough economic times--you will NOT be the only one re-gifting!
When my kids receive doubles of something, or something they don't want as a gift, we often save it as a gift for a future birthday party.
Go for it! We all do it. As for what to do if someone asks for a receipt, it rarely happens. But if it does, just tell them that you purchased it online with other items so you don't have a receipt. Then offer to take the gift back n either give them a gc or purchase a new gift.
Absolutely! I think it's perfectly fine and wise to re-gift between your children (and others). My oldest has so much. I've started putting some of her unopened things away for my new baby due this month.
Yes, perfectly fine. I do this with my kid's christmas presents, birthday presents, easter bunny presents and new baby gifts (rattles, etc.) also. They are all on a shelf unopened and they get to open one when they are good... when it's a rainy day...and when I (and they) remember. Well needless to say we still have stuff there from Christmas 07 and 06 plus most of 08. I have 4 girls - 5, 3, almost 2 and 3 months. The little ones easter and christmas presents from the bunny and santa have almost exclusively come from that shelf and then they go right back up there. My oldest has even picked out gifts for her friend's birthday parties from that shelf thinking they would love it. It's almost like a toy store within our house. Absolutely no problem with it.. just don't regift to whoever gave it to you!
Yes...absolutely re-gift, especially since the friend would never know. Anything to save a buck!!!
Ugh! you worry too much. The toy is probably not even age appropriate for your older daughter anymore. If you feel bad replace it with something she may truely want. Kids should share toys anyway. If it is something that your older daughter would truely miss or has asked for it would be a different story. I have three kids and must buy the Christmas presents for my husbands side of the family. While I do my best to split the money up equally gettitng them the presents they really want, and make them happy is the ultimate goal. And the Grandparents and Uncles are demi-gods in their eyes.
Best of Luck
Peggy
I see no problem re-gifting, especially in this economy. If you don't re-gift it what would you do with it? Give it to Amvets or Salvation Army? Why not give it to someone you know. It's the thought that counts, not how much you spent(or didn't spend).
Yes Yes yes..........Why not? Sometimes being practical is just the best thing to be. (especially in this economy). Kids have so much already (as you know from holding back so many Christmas gifts one year). Why go out & buy more more more when you have stuff at home already.
This gift is just sitting there - What else would you do with it?? Let it go to waste or re-gift to someone outside of your family? You have it - use it.
I'm sure your friend knew more than one child would be playing with it at some point anyways - it is just getting there in a different fashion.
Don't tell the friend. Siblings share toys anyway. Don't stress. It's not worth it.
Hi,
I would say that it is completely okay to "re gift" between your own kids. Especially if the packaging is in good shape.
I would be more careful about re gifting to other children outside your family. When dealing with kids outside your family, you have a bigger chance of duplicating a gift and the potential awkwardness if someone asks for the gift receipt. If the unopened gifts aren't something you want for your younger child, you could always sell them on eBay or save them for Christmas and give them to Toys for Tots.
IN this case I don't think there's anything wrong with it.But one of the rudest things was getting back a gift we gave my former inlaws (see I said former haha) Anyway, we searched high and low for something just perfect and about six months later we got back the same exact gift from them (I knew it was the same the way I alway mark the price off) and when my husband asked them they admitted it. Boy that was hurtful. They apparently forgot we gave it to them. But first of all, you have tiny children and they don't know and secondly you are not giving back the gift you are using it for your other child. So why not? I think the person who gave it to your other child would be perfectly fine with it, unless of course it's a set of sheets with your first child's name on it. Not to worry. Put it in the basket.
