Dealing with unwanted Christmas gifts

Rosie51

Unwanted nice toiletries could be donated to food banks. It makes a lovely little boost for the recipient to receive anything other than the usual basic fare.

Or the local hospital or care home. Not everyone has a relative who can bring in nice toiletries.

I read that charity shops are appealing for toys before Christmas when they have a great need, rather than after. Time for a general clear out , perhaps so that if you still have any gifts you don't like perhaps give them to the charity shops so they have plenty of stuff to sell.Perhaps you could encourage grandchildren to clear out their toy boxes before Christmas .

I re-gift presents that are not from immediate family, thing is friends tend to give presents early and I unwrap and re-gift if it isn't something we want or need, but I keep a close eye on how sent what. One Xmas I got some soaps I had given to a friend gifted back to me. I didn't say anything, just thanked her.
Thankfully my small circle of friends decided after I mentioned it that we would stop buying each other gifts for xmas and just do birthdays.
We tend to only buy something family members want, they even send links, especially where the GCs are concerned, they have enough toys to sink a ship so our grown family tend to send links for more practical things, or we put money in our GCs accounts.
And our grown family get us vouchers for fun things to do, train tickets, airbnb vouchers, afternoon tea vouchers etc.
They pool their money to do this. My OH and I donate to a charity in each others names.

Skydancer

This is why in our family we don't give presents unless something is specifically asked for. All of us say we have far too much "stuff".

We don't really do presents for adults at Christmas and birthdays either. Children get money or something specifically asked for.

If we see something at any time of the year and think it would be perfect for someone in particular we buy it. In some ways it's better as it's more of a surprise and they're getting something they really want. We do look out for things when we're out and about to make sure we don't forget anyone over the year though.

We bought a painting in a charity shop a few months ago - it's a print, but beautifully framed, by an artist DS2 and his wife really like. They were chuffed to bits as they already had one and now they have the pair hanging in their hallway.

Allira why not ask these people what they would like, maybe 2 gift options? They will not know exactly what they will receive but it will be appreciated and used.