Pass On Those Unwanted Gifts
Instead of ending up with a houseful of junk, how about sorting through all those scarves, ties and smellies? What can be given away to a friend, who might appreciate it more than you do? And that cocktail making kit – are you really ever going to use it? If not, get down to your local charity shop – or experiment on Ebay! If you received a pressie you don’t want, could you give it to a friend for their birthday this year, or even next Christmas?
If you feel you can’t part with pressies you’ve just been given, what about going through all that ‘stuff’ you had in the first place. Could you get rid of some of your old clothes, now you’ve been given new ones? Does your old mobile phone need recycling? Who might be able to make better use of those books you have read over and over?
Linked actions:
Give Your Unwanted / Unworn Clothes To Charity
Give Something Away – and declutter your life
Get Rid Of Some Of Your Books
Donate Winter woolies to the Salvation Army, or a local shelter.
Recycle Your Old Mobile
Recycle Your Stuff – here’s where to find your nearest facility
Join the fray by signing in.
Banchory, GB , 01 Jan 2006
I nearly always do this, and believe me, its amazing that hardly anyone ever remembers what they gave you, or notices that it’s not on display. It’s more difficult if you’ve been given something expensive by someone close, who would certainly notice and be upset, then the kinder thing to do is just find a space for it (for a while anyway!). Asking for gift vouchers, eg for a massage, or a trip to the cinema is a good way of avoiding more ‘stuff’! Happy New Year everyone!
02 Jan 2006
I try and have a ‘one in, one out’ policy at home, so if I’m given, say, a new jumper (and already have perfectly nice old ones), something has to wend its way to the charity shop!
I’m doing ok with clothes and household stuff, but still find it hard with books and music….
13 Jan 2006
I will be giving some of my unwanted gifts form Christmas and other holidays to my church, for bazzars and the like. I do tend to do this but want to make it a focused task for 2006.
17 Jan 2006
After a stern talk from a friend about not feeling guilty about doing this I have been doing this for the last year or so and actually feel good about it now, as someone else can hopefully benefit from it, whether a friend or family member or the charity shop!
Gainsborough, GB , 11 Feb 2006
Wow, what an incentive to get the heap sorted! I’ve also decided to make as many Christmas pressies as poss for next year so that my consumption of resources over Christmas should be reduced at both ends!
Edinburgh, GB , 15 Mar 2006
This year some of the presents I gave friends were in fact items I’d been given previously – one girl’s trash is another girl’s treasure!!
Gloucester, GB , 15 Jun 2006
I’m always doing this – I have to confess that some get recycled as gifts to other people. Other items are sometimes ebayed, freecycled , donated to charity shops or givedn to local school for tombola or raffle prizes.
Lancaster, GB , 30 Sep 2006
My son’s school PTA is always after unwanted Christmas gifts for their Christmas fair – and there are raffles and tombolas to give to during the year, too.