What do you do with unwanted Christmas Gifts?

We’ve all been there on Christmas morning, opening a gift from your sister-in-law’s cousin twice removed thinking, “oh you really really shouldn’t have…”

In a culture where gift-giving can feel like an obligation, and Christmas shopping time seems to be verging on non-existent, we often end up giving and receiving gifts that don’t quite hit the mark.

Call us ungrateful, but we’re sure you’ll secretly agree - When January comes around the last thing we want to do is deal with a pile of gifts that there’s just no way we’re going to use.

But what is the best way to get rid of them in an easy, guilt-free and sustainable fashion? We know you’ve not got time to waste, but we also know you want to do the best for the planet.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide for exactly what to do with those unwanted Christmas gifts.

Send Unwanted Christmas Gifts Our Way

Been gifted something you’re never going to wear?

Consider taking part in one of our partner takeback schemes, like our latest one from Hush. Find all the details here about what you can send (spoiler, it’s basically anything they sell) and what you get in return. You can buy yourself a belated Christmas gift with the voucher we’ll give you, and keep cosy with their luxe winter wear.

You can check out all of our amazing partners here, and start your spring clear out early.

Donate Them to a Worthy Cause

A quick and easy solution to those unwanted gifts is to donate them to charity. Donating your unwanted gifts allows them to be loved by someone else, while raising money for a good cause.

Charity shops are often overrun with donations over the festive period, so make sure you check ahead to find out what they’re looking for. That way you’ll avoid contributing to excess waste, and making sure everything ends up in a good home.

Start a Regifting Box

Work smart not hard when it comes to future birthdays and occasions.

Dedicate a box to gifts that might suit someone else, and you’ll have the perfect time-saver for future occasions. Things like books, toiletry sets and stationery make great presents for those people you aren’t quite as close to.

You’ll never be faced with that last-minute scramble when you suddenly remember a birthday again.

Organise a Gift-Swapping Evening

We love a clothes swap over here at Reskinned, so in our opinion, a gift-swap is the natural antidote to unwanted Christmas gifts.

Invite your friends, grab some drinks and nibbles, and spend an evening swapping the gifts each of you doesn’t want. You’ll be amazed at the goodies that are going spare, and everyone should end up with exciting new treasures to take home at the end of the event.

Use Unwanted Gifts For a Different Purpose

Sometimes the best way to handle a gift you don’t want is to think about it creatively.

Been gifted a set of makeup brushes, but you’re more all-natural? Repurpose them as paint brushes for kids. A scarf that’s beautiful but you know you probably won’t wear? Frame it as a piece of art.

Thinking outside the box can help you avoid that unwanted present guilt, and transform the stuff you feel like you have no use for into useful things, or even treasured mementos.

Gift to Someone Who Will Love Them

So you might not like it, but that doesn’t mean no one will.

Sometimes you receive a gift and instantly think about that friend or family member it would be far better suited for. Save them for another gift-giving occasion (they can go in your regifting box), or simply surprise them the next time you see them.

They’ll be touched that you’ve thought of them, and the gift will get the life it deserves.

Rent Them Out

The fashion rental market is growing, and renting out the gifts you aren’t going to wear can be a great way to earn some extra money.

Party dresses, occasionwear and handbags tend to be big hits on rental platforms like Hurr, Loanhood or By Rotation.

This is a great sustainable option for things you might wear once or twice, or even not at all, as they get extra wear-time, and you’ll get money in exchange - not a bad deal!

If something is going to sit in your cupboard and gather dust, then eventually be thrown away, the carbon spent on producing that item becomes very expensive.

When it’s rented out even once or twice, the impact drops drastically.

You can even rent out things like cameras, tech equipment, bikes and outdoor gear and make some extra dosh.

Recycle Them

Waste levels sky rocket around the festive season, going up by 30% across the UK.

We know it can be tempting to throw things away when you don’t know what to do with them, but recycling could be a viable option for gifts you have no use for.

Parents, we’re sure you’ll know the struggle of the vast amount of festive gifts that young kids bring home from school around this time, and there’s only so much papier mache you can pack into boxes in the attic.

If you know that something isn’t going to be any use to anyone else, then check your local recycling information to find out the best thing to do with it, to make sure they don’t end up in landfill.

Return or Exchange Your Unwanted Gift

Sometimes it can be as simple as returning the gift to the shop it was bought from, and using the money to buy something you’ll actually use. We’re sure the gift giver wouldn’t mind… anyway, we don’t have to tell them.

Sometimes the gift needs to be returned by the buyer, and understandably, there are a lot of times when we don’t feel comfortable telling the well-intentioned gift giver that their gift doesn’t cut the mustard.

Thank goodness for the people who gift you clothes with a gift receipt, because it makes the return process a lot easier.

For the gifts that didn’t come with a gift receipt, you can sometimes still take them back to the shop they’ve been bought from, but the rules can vary.

You usually have 30 days to return an item after it’s been purchased, but like us, a lot of retailers extend the return period around Christmas, so it’s worth getting in there quick if you’re looking for a refund or exchange.

Sell Them

Christmas is an expensive time of year, and the best thing to do with expensive unwanted gifts might be to sell them.

Yes, you probably won’t get the full amount back that was spent on them, but if you know you can’t return them, it could be a good option.

Online platforms like eBay offer quick and easy solutions to regift the things you don’t want, and put some money back in your pocket to spend on things you’ll use.

Whatever you choose to do, don’t let unwanted gifts sit unused. Turn them into something you or someone else will enjoy, and declutter your space while you’re at it.

Time for a January Clear Out?

It’s time to start the year afresh, and not only by clearing out your unwanted gifts and Christmas clutter.

Join one of our takeback schemes, and send us any clothes, shoes and accessories you no longer want or need, and we’ll exchange it for a voucher for one of your favourite shops.

Find out more about the Reskinned Takeback schemes here.