Put thought and creativity into a regift

MARIA TZAVARAS

December 14, 2009

When insidetoronto.com first set out to do a story about regifting, it was assumed the story would be about how the act could be tasteless and cheap, but doable and acceptable with certain restrictions.

To my surprise and delight, the act of regifting has evolved into a money-saving tool and a way to reuse items so you are being kind to the planet, while making others happy. In these economic times and in this green society, regifting has actually become a practical way of gift giving.

Scarborough couple Gordon Munro and Sigi Sommer have been regifting for years. It's their stance against the consumerism that has become attached to Christmas.

Sommer said she'll make an effort to make gifts for people rather than buying because it's thoughtful and she will happily pass along a gift she doesn't need.

"If I have something that one of my friends or family (member) will like, I'll give it to them and why not, if it doesn't mean anything to you?" she said.

"When you get your ninth melon baller it's like, 'the last thing I need is another melon baller'," Munro said. "When someone gives you something you don't intend to (return), but if it's something totally inappropriate or something you have multiple of, I really don't see a problem with moving it on and trying to brighten up someone else's life."

Sommer said she was raised to appreciate the little things and not to equate expensive items as being more valuable. Christmas is about making something - whether it's a card, craft or cake - where people have have put their heart in it, rather than money.

"I just don't understand how on the one hand it's being drilled into us to conserve, reuse and be careful, and then you turn around...(buy items) that (are) totally wasteful and frivolous," Sommer said.

Lisa Borden, a Toronto mother of three and owner of Borden Communications, said she uses her marketing business as a venue for spreading the eco-word. An eco-advocate, Borden is all about offering ways clients can have a green component or practice within their businesses.

"I try to help people think differently about making eco, not something that's a burden, but something that's fun that will save time, money, their health...and our planet," Borden said.

From an eco-standpoint, Borden said regifting is great, and added not everyone has the money to buy things so regifting is ideal.

With some creativity, Borden said there are endless ideas for great gifts without being wasteful or being thought of as as lazy or cheap.

If you get a gift you don't want, don't just hand it over to someone else, she said, adding you might need to redo and recreate it to transform it into something the person will love. It's not only thoughtful, but saves money as well, she said.

"Let's say you get a pasta bowl that you don't need. So maybe go (and) buy your favourite box of pasta and organic tomato sauce and a great piece of Parmesan cheese, package it all up and give it together," she said.

As a mother, she teaches her kids ages 9, 7 and 2, how to graciously receive gifts but also how to give back. For example, when her children receive loot bags they usually donate them to the hospital or the women's shelter. If the bags are kept, the little toys are used, too.

"There's no reason that little toy car can't be reused as an adornment to a gift," she said. "If you're giving a bottle of wine called Red Truck and you have a red truck tied to the bottle," she said.

What about those office gifts?

Munro said at his previous job employees played a game called greed-fest each Christmas. The premise was after a gift was chosen the next person had the option of taking it or choosing a new one.

"Sometimes you end up with stuff that is really weird and one year I got something called 'The Wheel' and it's a video game steering wheel," he said. "I've never played a video game in my life, but a friend of mine was buying a PS3 for his children so I moved it on to them and I tell you they got so much happiness out of that little machine."

And what about those" panic" gifts?

Rarely do those "need-to-have-something-in-my-hands-when-I show-up-at-the-door" gifts resonate with the receiver.

"It turns into such an obligation for so many people because until they finish their list, they can't even enjoy the Christmas season and starting your emotional Christmas season on Christmas Eve is, I think, missing the boat," Munro said.

While Munro said he thinks regifting has become more acceptable, Sommer said the reason for the slowness in accepting it is because people are embarrassed and don't want to be perceived as cheap.

Borden said regifting becomes a problem when you receive something you hate and just pass it on to someone else. This, she said, is being cheap and rude and you should always be proud of what you're giving.

"Get a little bit creative," she said. "It's regift. It's like recycle and reuse, renew, and if you're not going to use it, regift it. It's like giving it new life."

Borden added gifts shouldn't only be measured by their dollar value. Regifting should be meaningful if you're going to do it.

"You have to put a little bit of your heart and soul and head into it and then you can feel good about it," she said.