Gifts – To Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

While everyone is keeping up with their style resolutions, we should also no longer put off organizing those partially unwrapped Christmas gifts from our loved ones. If having a big family or many great friends (or both!) mean being showered with a pile of presents, lucky you! However, it’s time to sort out the fabulous, the maybe-useful and the downright random gifts under that old tree. Here are 3 ways to keep the frenzy under control.

Photo credit

Reduce by – Donating

Let’s keep it real. Just because they were wrapped beautifully doesn’t mean they’re gems. Our family may always have our best interest at heart, but they might also not have a clue as to buy for us ever since we turned 13. That funky sweater, jar of jelly beans and cryptic painting might not be your cup of tea but they might be someone else’s. So waste not and donate the gifts you aren’t in love with so others may enjoy them. Hoarders, consider this your first warning!

(Re)use by – Keeping

Well, they can’t be all bad! When in doubt, the things you should always keep are personalized gifts that have sentimental value for both you and the person the gift came from. Handmade items are especially precious and should be cherished and perhaps even quickly displayed when the “gifter” visits your home to avoid awkward questions! Another item to keep – a gift card. I’ve never seen one with an expiry date, so you can hold on to them until you find something you like at the store.

Recycle by – Re-gifting                

Don’t want a stranger’s hands all over your belongings yet you aren’t one for collectibles? Don’t hesitate to give them as gifts to someone else, as long as you are not just passing them along to get rid of trash. Items belonging in this category are usually universal products such as bath products, electronics and china. Unlike shoes and purses, one can actually have too many of those so next time you want to give someone a nice gift but you’re short on cash, visit you neatly stored pile of maybe-gifts and you’ll be sure to find a perfect bath set from Crabtree and Evelyn.

Your Say…

Have you considered any of these ideas before? What do you do with the gifts that you simply can’t use? Share your thoughts in the comments! P.S. Join FashionStyleAdvice on Facebook for lots of fun and stylish fashion talks by clicking on the link below!

If you liked this article, you may also like: