We all get them, every year – gifts which we don’t need/don’t want/have no use for. Instead of binning them, or having them clutter up the house, we’ve put together a list of ideas to ensure that those gifts go to good use!

Cupboard Stash
Keep a large bag or cupboard for storing those unwanted items. Stick a post-it note on each one with a short description of the item (in case the post-it falls off) and the giver of the gift. Then, you can dole the gifts out again as future presents. The post-it note will ensure that you don’t give the present back to the person who originally gave it to you. These are often good for ‘last minute’ presents too – in case someone unexpected pops over for Christmas next year, you know you will always have a gift for them.

Charities
Some small gifts can be saved and given away in ‘shoebox christmas presents’ where you fill a shoebox with gifts and it is either sent to an elderly person or a child in a foreign country. Bath and body creams and lotions, soaps etc as well as gloves, hats, jumpers and other clothes are also useful for homeless people who otherwise would not have these things. The local homeless shelter will be pleased to take any of these unwanted Christmas presents off your hands.

Car boot sale
Sell the goods at a garage sale or car boot sale. If you are worried that the giver of the gift will come to the sale, ask a friend to sell the gift for you. You can return the favour to the friend too.

Bad gift Swap Day
Setup a night with your friends where everyone brings around their ‘bad gifts’. Everyone must then swap a gift that evening. It makes for a fun and unusual night in with your friends, and often something you don’t like will be well loved by one of your friends!

Care Home prizes
Small gifts such as decorations, sweets, gloves and bath salts are excellent for care homes. Many will run bingo or games nights and will be pleased to take these presents as prizes for the residents.

Fundraisers
Local schools and sports teams are always having fund raiser raffles. Unwanted gifts are ideal as hopefully someone else will like them, and they will get them for only the price of a raffle ticket.

Auctions
There are plenty of online sites where you can auction your unwanted gifts. You may also find that your local community has a small non-profit group who do community wide auctions to help generate revenue for community projects.

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