Six ways to donate unwanted Christmas presents – without offending anyone

From clothes that don’t suit you, to gift cards you’ll never use – the good intentions of others can often gather dust for months after December 25.

Here, we outline some of the best ways to get rid of unwanted gifts…without too feeling guilty.

Charity shops

The most obvious answer would be to donate to your local charity shop – allowing someone lese to find some joy in your unwanted items.

However, some charity shops do not accept certain items, so it’s worth checking ahead before you donate to make sure they’re allowed.

Re-gifting 

This one requires a little bit more work.

If you know of a friend who would just love that gift from your relative – give it to them instead.

Or, if you’re feeling bold, you could try arranging a mutual swap of Christmas gifts with someone else.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook marketplace is a brilliant opportunity to give away new, nearly new and unused items for free.

Of course, this option all hinges on the idea that the person who gifted to you doesn’t have Facebook – otherwise you may get rumbled and end up with an awkward encounter.

Return or exchange it 

If your present-gifter was smart enough to include a gift receipt, then it could be as simple as just taking your item back to the shops.

Most stores only need a proof of purchase, with a gift receipt allowing you to use to exchange the item for something else.

Homeless 

Socks, scarves, jumpers and hats are among staple Christmas gifts every year – but there are those out there who could make much better use than you.

An act of kindness of giving to a rough sleeper – or a homeless charity group – could be the perfect way to find some joy in an unwanted gift. 

Full advice on what to do if you find someone sleeping rough can be found here.

Library or schools

Receive a book that you’ve already read – or know you don’t like? Why not get in touch with your local library or school to see if they could use them instead.