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dinner table debate

Debate: Is it ever OK to re-gift your Christmas presents?

Is re-gifting a no-go or a win-win?

WHEN’S THE RIGHT time to put up the Christmas tree? Should Santa gifts ever be wrapped? Is a new outfit essential for Christmas Day? These are just a few of the topics that divide opinion over the festive season.

Each week, we’ll be diving into a new Dinner Table Debate, getting to the bottom of the most contentious Christmas questions.

For some, re-gifting is an absolute no-go for fear of getting caught out, while for others it’s a harmless practice that both parties benefit from.

This week we’re asking: Is re-gifting ever okay?

To get you started, we asked some of our colleagues if they had ever re-gifted a present or had one re-gifted to them.

From getting caught to being a re-gifting professional, re-gifting is a very divisive topic…

The ultimate betrayal:

Every year my mum tells me, “Oh, I had a really nice perfume/lipstick/set of PJs picked out for you but then X dropped by with his daughter, and sure I had nothing to give her… so I gave her that.” Not re-gifting really, more blatant theft, but maybe it counts…

A re-gift is still a gift: 

I’m actually re-gifting a load of stuff this year. Not because I don’t like the item, I just genuinely have too much stuff and I think it’s such a waste otherwise.

 A thrifty act:

My boyfriend’s mam is re-gifting all of the unused Boots sets she’s collected over the past two years to all of her nieces.

Awkward for all involved:

I was once given a gift by a former colleague (A), in front of another colleague (B) and it turned out B had given A that gift.  The awkwardness of it all. I then re-gifted it to C, who knew neither A or B. 

The biggest mistake:

I know someone who got a gift and realised it was re-gifted because the original gift tag found its way into the new wrapping.

So tell us: Is re-gifting ever okay?


Poll Results:

Yes (210)
Sometimes (54)
No (7)
I don't know (3)

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Want to win a €100 Aldi voucher to help you celebrate in style? Enter this week’s Aldi Christmas Magazine competition right here. 

Debate: Does Santa wrap your Christmas presents?>

Debate: Which is better – real tree or fake tree?>

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