Did you get any gifts you didn’t want or like this Christmas? Clothes you wouldn’t be seen in? An ornament you’d rather hide away in a cupboard? Or maybe a duplicate of something you already have?
If so, you’re not alone! I read recently (can’t remember where now, should’ve made a note) that more than 50% of all gifts, given and received at Christmas, are unwanted.
I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t be appreciative – it’s nice that people care enough to give us something – but if you’re wondering what to do with those unwanted gifts, how about donating them to your local charity shop.
Charity begins at home
Charity shops depend on our donations – and new or unused items are particularly welcomed, having greater worth (or value) than used and secondhand goods.
Of course, you could give them away via services like Freecycle, or make some money (for something you do want) by selling them on Ebay. Or maybe you give them as a gift to somebody else?!
But, as they cost you nothing in the first place, what better way to dispose of them than by donating them to charity and raising money for your favourite cause.
And by giving your unwanted gifts to a charity shop you’ll be saving them from landfill… in the short-term!
No recommended reading.
9 comments… read them below or add yours now
Great advice. We tend to do give away the unwanted gifts, but we are not always successful :( But luckily we don’t get so many unwanted gifts. Our family members all know us so well that we get things we need or like.
We have also agreed to give each other gifts that are not expensive.
Twitter: @GlobalPatriot
It’s quite common for people to receive gifts they don’t need, and instead of giving them to someone in need they go in a closet, never to be seen again. I better solution is to donate them to charity, as sort of a second Christmas, as those who got little on the day will have something to be thankful for in the new year.
Great advice.
Something we tried this year: giving to charity instead of each other. You know, cut out the middle (wo)man. It was a difficult task for many of my friends and relatives, but we, my husband and I, held to it.
And, if we really felt the need to give something, we made pies. That’s right: pies. Blueberry, Raspberry, Pumpkin or Cherry. They were a huge hit. And, best of all, there’s nothing left! Even the packaging (a pie tin and aluminum foil) was recycle-able. Many of the pies were totally organic, too. Next year we’ll try for local produce, collecting berries in season and freezing them.
We’re going to continue on with this tradition. Why? We don’t *need* anything and most of us buy the things we want throughout the year, so why not take that same money and share it with people who do need stuff. The bonus: no wrapping paper, no boxes, no tape, no ribbon– we’re wasting and consuming (unless you count pie!) less.
One idea builds on another, and this is a great one. I’ll spread the word.
Thanks!
Rhi B.
@Sabina: Welcome to Green Pepper! Thanks for the comment and for sharing your views ;-)
@Global Patriot: Charity shops in the UK sell the donated items to raise money for their cause. Perhaps it’s different in the US?
@Rhi Bowman: Thanks for joining the discussion – and welcome to Green Pepper! Giving to charity in the first place is the ideal solution and cuts out so much of the waste. The pies sound totally delicious too :-P
I just wanted to add an interesting link
http://springwise.com/weekly/2009-01-14.htm#giftcardrescue
- a service that pays cash for unwanted gift cards.
Taking them to charity shops is the best thing to do with any unwanted gifts you have. New stuff especially helps to raise more money :)
I often get clothes for gifts that don’t fit properly or just don’t suit me. Swishing or clothes swapping is a great way to recycle them and get something back in return.
@Sabina: Thanks for the link – that’s an interesting idea.
@Katy: yeah, NEW items are particularly welcomed by charity shops and do help to raise MORE money.
@Ceri: Welcome to Green Pepper and thanks for sharing your views with us. Swishing unwanted clothes is a great idea. There’s more about it in our article on throwaway fashion.
Hi everybody interested in a brilliant new idea on how to
avoid the ugly, unwanted gift items (that has to be shipped/reshipped over short and long distances).
Go to http://www.brilliantgiftidea.com and follow the recipe!