I’d like to say that I have never had this problem, but I would be lying through my teeth. Most of you can relate. You have all received a Christmas present that just didn’t quite live up to your expectations. Instead of an Xbox, you received a kitten calendar.
Instead of a skateboard you got a pack of socks.
Snuggies anyone?!?
Unfortunately, the mystery is not whether or not you will receive unwanted Christmas presents, but rather what do you do with them once you get them?
Donate
What better way to make use of a Christmas gift that you do not want than donating it to someone less fortunate. Millions of kids go without Christmas presents during the holiday, and your small donation could brighten up their life. At Christmas time there are hundreds of organizations that accept donations for unwanted presents. Visit your local grocery store or Wal-Mart to find an organization willing to take your unwanted presents.
This might be a bit miserly, but you can even use your donated Christmas presents as a taxable deduction (You can debate on the ethical standing of that one).
Refund or Exchange
The one thing that can make an unwanted Christmas gift a real treat is a gift receipt. A gift receipt is your ticket to returning or exchanging your gift back to the store it was purchased from. Depending on the sotr, you may receive a cash refund, or store credit.
Many stores will even take back your brand new merchandise without a receipt, and give you store credit. All you have to do is find out where it came from. If you can’t figure it out, it’s up to you to play sneaky detective and try to pry it out of your unsuspecting relative.
Sell on Ebay or Craigslist
The after Christmas sales market is huge. Sites like Ebay and Craigslist are booming after Christmas with unwanted Christmas presents. If you have never sold items on Ebay or Cragslist, it is simple to create an account and list your items.
While you are at it, you could dig even deeper into your closets and find your other unwanted items and sell those online also. Who knows, you might wind up finding a hidden stash of stuff you did not know you had, and make a tidy profit off of it. Craigslist and Ebay have become an answered prayer for people who receive unwanted Christmas presents every year. It takes a little extra work, but turning those unwanted gifts into cash is a gift all in itself!
Your Ideas
How about you? Do you have any unique ways to dispose of your unwanted Christmas gifts?