How many unwanted presents did you get this Christmas or Hanukkah? I got a pair of jeans that don’t fit and a sweater that isn’t quite warm enough for my needs. I plan to exchange both.
Most people don’t do anything! Three in five consumers hold onto gifts they don’t want, according to a survey from Kijiji.com, a free online classifieds site. The top reasons are:
- they don’t want to hurt the feelings of the giver (60 percent)
- they think they will eventually use the gift (51 percent)
- it’s too much effort to return them to the store (33 percent)
If you can get past these hesitations, here are five things to do with unwanted, ill-fitting holiday presents.
Use an unwanted gift card to buy a gift for someone else. Think ahead to any birthdays, parties, or celebrations coming up in the next six months. Anybody retiring? Getting married? Having a baby?
Re-gift! Sometimes you’ll come across an appropriate recipient a few days later at another holiday function, but more likely you’ll stash an unwanted gift in your gift closet (a designated area at home for evergreen gifts). Make sure you remove anything that would indicate the item was re-gifted and do not mention you are re-gifting to the recipient, which is extremely rude. Some people feel re-gifting is tacky, but I say it’s better to re-gift than let a present go to waste!
Sell gift cards you’re not going to use, especially if you think the store has a chance of closing. Here is the low-down on the best sites to sell gift cards.
Exchange the gifts for something you want. If you don’t have a receipt, head to the store ASAP. Without a receipt, you’ll only get credit for the current selling price. Macy’s is one of the few stores that embeds the sale price in a bar code sticker so you can get credit for exactly what the giver paid. A lot of retailers softened their return policies to make it easier on us consumers and some are giving as much as a month after the holiday to return and/or exchange.
Sell presents online. Craigslist, Kijiji, eBay, Amazon. The Internet is your oyster.
What was the worst gift you received this Christmas?
My Mom's Christmas tree
I’m taking off until next week to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. Have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll see you next week!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
1. A magazine subscription. Amazon has a bunch for $5 for a year
2. A gift certificate to the recipients favorite restaurant (if you are not local have the eatery put it in the mail and explain what is coming in a card)
3. A CD or book. Borders has a 30 percent off coupon good through Dec. 24. If you are looking for holiday music, check out Duke Ellington’s Three Suites for a swinging version of The Nutcracker.
4. Framed children’s art.
5. A family object from past generations. Last year my Aunt Mary gave me a beautiful quilt made by my great-grandmother. It was the most touching gift I received.
6. A stainless steel mug filled with candy, a letter, or another treat. Walgreens has a set of three mugs for just $10!
7. Tickets to a concert, ballet, opera, or show. You can let the recipient chose from a variety of performances.
8. If you want a gadget, consider a Flip Camera or GPS. If money is not an issue, pick up a netbook or iPhone.
9. A neat homemade gift is Que Bella Body Scrub, above. Five ingredients. Two hours. $40 bucks. More than a dozen gifts.
10. What’s your best last minute Christmas gift idea?
My frugal friend Donna Freedman, who blogs for MSN’s Smart Spending, talked to a handful of shopping mavens (includings yours truly) and wrote up a post about how to make the most of post-holiday sales.
“Two excellent reasons to hit the after-Christmas sales,” Donna writes. “You can find some screamin’ deals. You got gift cards or money for Christmas, so you can afford to shop!”
A few of her tips:
Keep reading for more post-holiday shopping tips.
I was wrapping up my holiday shopping at Walgreens yesterday morning when I noticed one man aimlessly wandering the Christmas aisle, hoping a present would jump out at him.
Yeah, I sympathized in my head, there’s not much selection. Or was there? I took a closer look and was shocked to find some really neat gifts.
A set of three stainless steel water bottles, above, was $10 – for all three of them!!! Usually these things go for $15 each. I’m kicking myself for not grabbing a set, which I could use as gifts in the next few months.
Large boxes of Thin Mints were 2/$2 – quite a steal of an office gift or stocking stuffer.
ChiaPets, which I have always coveted (perhaps because I have never owned one) were $16. I could see giving a ChiaPet to a co-worker (neat cube decoration), a grandparent (garden indoors!), or a young kid interested in how things grow.
For wordy/nerdy friends, the game Bananagrams is $15. If you’ve never played it before, it’s like scrabble but you can re-arrange the tiles to make new words.
Gift bags were $.25 each and santa hats were $2 each. Plus, a decent selection of toys were $7 each or three for $14. Bingo!
Where else do you recommend last minute gift shopping? Is there any one store that really has it all?
Related:
S.A. Young/Flickr
Are you among the 30 percent of holiday shoppers who are putting off your holiday shopping until the last minute, which happens to be this weekend? I got a jump start on my shopping last night and wanted to share a few things that worked for me.
1. Make a list ahead of time. You’ll either blank out or be overwhelmed by the massive selection without one. Need gift ideas? Check out my gift guide.
2. Plan a route that involves as little driving and re-parking as possible. Mall. Traffic. Is. Slow.
3. Eat first and bring a bottle of water. I like to pack a snack too, like string cheese, an apple, or trail mix. Don’t waste precious energy and patience waiting in line for food!
4. Wear walking shoes.
5. Stay on track by NOT shopping with a friend. Who needs another distraction?
6. Park at the empty corner of the mall (if there is one). Once you get inside, it doesn’t make much of a difference where you parked.
7. Save receipts in one spot to decrease the chances of misplacing one.
8. Always ask what the return policy is.
9. Ask for a discount if the item is damaged in any way, if you can pay in cash for a pricey item, if you are buying a number of items, or if there are other mitigating circumstances. Brush up on your haggling skills.
How do you prepare for last minute holiday shopping?
I’ve been blogging up at storm on WalletPop.com. Check out these deals:
Get O, the Oprah Magazine for $5 a year – that’s $13 less than the usual price!
Gymboree is 30 percent off with a coupon code here.
Grab new coupons totalling $50 on Shortcuts.com.
Restaurant.com has gift certificates for 70 percent off. So a $25 cert that normally sells for $10 is just $3. Ends today, Dec. 17, 2009.
Here’s a homemade Christmas gift that you can make for more than a dozen people in less then two hours, including the time it takes to go to the store and get the ingredients. It’s also a low-budget present that you can personalize with a card, letter, cookies, a framed photo, gift basket, or spa kit. There are lots of options!
Que Bella Body Scrub
The sugar and salt scrub away dead skin while the oil leaves your skin silky smooth.
2 c sugar
2 c epsom salts
1-1.5 c vegetable oil (olive oil and canola oil are kind of smelly)
1 T vitamin E oil
3-10 drops lavender or other essential oil
1-2 T finely chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
Cover a large table with newspaper and spread out all your ingredients and jars. Mix the sugar, salt, and oils for 1-2 minutes, until thoroughly combined. Test a small scoop on the back of your hand by gently rubbing for about 30 seconds, then rinse. If you’d like a more oily texture, add in a half cup more oil. Make as many batches as you have jars to fill. Punch a hole in a holiday card, write a sweet note and tie with a ribbon. Viola! Christmas cheer.
Making 18 presents cost about $42, including $3 for a 5lb bag of sugar, $5 for the epsom salts, $7 for vegetable oil, and $15 for the essential oil. We got the rosemary from the garden and already had the vitamin E oil, which you can buy at Trader Joe’s. A four pack of small glass jars from Ikea was $3 but you can also use mason jars or others found at thrift stores.
You can further reduce the price by using ingredients you already have, getting the items on sale, and finding cheaper jars. We had a lot of supplies left over so you could make even more if you want.
Everyone sells wrapping paper this time of year, but who has the best price? Here’s a run down.
99 Cent Only store – $.99 for 40 square feet
Target – $3 for 70 square feet or $4 for 175 square feet
BigLots – $1.50 for 60 square feet when you buy two or $7 for 200 square feet
Ralphs – $1.50 for 50 square feet
CVS – $5 for 125 square feet or $5 for 120 square feet
So far, Big Lots and the 99 Cent Only Store have the best prices, with Target following close behind. Aim to get 40 square feet for $1 and you’ll be getting a very competitive price. Local prices may vary.
Where have you spotted a good deal on wrapping paper? Please leave the store name, price, and square footage in a comment. Thanks!
UPDATE: Readers shared some savvy ideas about making wrapping paper.
Joanna spotted the best deal yet!
Right now at Hallmark Gold Crown stores, you can buy one roll of wrapping paper and get another for $0.99. If you use the $5.00 Hallmark coupons, you get 2 rolls (90 sq. ft) for $1.40.
Cowgirl cashier knows where to get high-quality paper for $.99 a roll.
Walgreens has the Hallmark brand paper (has red label on it) 40-50 sqft for regular price 1.99 but often goes on sale 2/$3 or even b1g1 (that’s when I bought mine). It’s really good quality, some of the other stores is so thin your present ’shows’ through it. Better to spend a quarter more and know it will cover well.
Tammy says:
HI BB!
I used very little wrapping paper this year. Most of my gifts were “wrapped” in handmade bags and drawstring bags I made this summer. I also reversed brown paper grocery bags and used those to wrap shipped items. My goal next year is to not use wrapping paper AT ALL.
Tammy, how did you make your bags? We’d like to know!
The Unethical Man says:
If you have a subscription to the Sunday paper, save up the colored comic section throughout the year and use it for wrapping paper. I have been doing this for years and have enough wrapping paper to last me for the next 2 decades. Take the time to trim the edges for a better look. And feel free to use as many sections as needed for those larger boxes. The only time I don’t use it is for a wedding gift.
Concetta says:
Best prices?
Old comics – Free
Old Maps – Free
Grocery Bags – Free
Plain Paper drawn on, stamped on, etc – $1.99 for a roll of thousands of sq. ft.
Reusable Grocery Bags – 99 cents to $1.99 in most places
My frugal friends at Savings.com picked out some niiiiiice coupons for us this week. Here goes!
Get 20% off all orders at Harry & David. Expires Dec. 23, 2009.
Get 25% off all orders at Griffin Technology. Expires Dec. 31, 2009.
Get $30 off $100 at Express. Expires Dec. 31, 2009.
Get 25% off all orders at Ann Taylor. Expires Jan. 5, 2010.
Get 15% off with free shipping at Bliss. Expires Dec. 21, 2009.
Using these coupons supports BargainBabe.com.
Choosing a gift is very often a perplexing job. The choice depends on many factors. The most important one is the status of the recipient. The form and content of the gift vary according to the status of the individual to whom it is intended. Another important factor is the age and gender of the recipient. Every one wish that the gift offered and received should be apt for the person concerned and is also appropriate for the occasion. It is a difficult job for a shopper to locate an appropriate gift despite being in the midst of a large collection of gift items which vary in types, sizes, textures and prices. Every shopper wants the gift chosen to be a unique one and not just another showpiece. At the same time the cost is an important factor to be considered. All such diverse requirements are to be harmoniously blended in an ideal gift pack.
The freebie websites in UK are the right destinations for shoppers who search for personalized gifts or freebies within the parameters of quality, variety and cost factors. The shopper will be able to select the most appropriate gift at affordable price in these modern shops. Whether it is a kitchen gadget or an expensive silverware, there will be a personal touch to the gift, provided the shopper exercise discretion in the right perspective. The online dealers have enormous stock of gift ideas to offer, but the shoppers have to apply their minds properly. The name of the giver or the recipient can be printed or engraved on the gift item or on the gift box subject to the adaptability and convenience. A diary for instance will be imprinted with the insignia of the recipient and the important dates highlighted therein. Silverware with names engraved will be apt and ideal for the special person in your life. A gold medal or pendant with initials embossed on them will definitely make the offer memorable for the recipient. Personalising gifts pave way for better understanding between individuals and help to strengthen the bonds of friendship. It is also considered as a unique method to cement the relationships between individuals.
Apart from all the above positive aspects of personalized gifts, there is yet another dimension for the gesture. The personality of the giver will be reflected in the act of choosing the right one. The gift will be cherished by the recipient as a token of love, affection and regard bestowed by the giver. When the recipient finds that the gift is the most appreciative among many other similar gestures, it paves way for creating a lasting impression about the person who bestowed it. Incorporating a theme is a welcome trend in the contemporary scenario, when the occasion is an important event in the life of the recipient. The gift in such cases should be apt and appropriate one to commemorate the specific occasion.
The freebie websites offer attractive discounts and offer free door delivery with message if any from the giver. Many of such websites offer free engraving or printing as desired by the customers. Special gift packing and prompt delivery are added advantages offered by the freebie websites.
Get free stuff, discount vouchers and free samples from your favourite online retailers and save more at freeinuk.co.uk, freebie website.
This is paid content. Interested in buying a sponsored post? Read my Advertise page.
Super fab deals on my WalletPop blog today!
Spirit Airlines is having a major air fare sale with one way flights starting at $16. Holy cow! But you have to book today.
Barbie, Hot Wheels, Toy Story, Dora the Explorer and everything else at Mattel is 20 percent off! Spend $50 and get free shipping,too!
Looking for a free movie rental code from RedBox? Now there is an iPhone app that aggregates all the codes and shares them every 12 hours. Downside is the app costs $.99, but if you use it once it’s a money maker. More info here.
Get a $5 gift card at TGI Friday’s when you buy one for $25 through Dec. 31, 2009.
Here are all the deals I shared on WalletPop.com today!
Oatmeal breakfasts are just $1 at Jamba Juice through Dec. 11, 2009 with a coupon you can get here.
Restaurant gift certificates are 70 percent off through Dec. 8, 2009 at Restaurant.com. Get the code here.
Here are 7 tips to get the best values this holiday season.
More coming this afternoon so check back!
My self-imposed gift card challenge – spend all 9 of my cards worth $431 before the new year – is not going so well. One down, eight to go. Here are my plans:
Anthropologie – $91.04. Should be easy to spend as me and my sisters luuuuv their clothes. I just need to make time to shop!
CVS – $12.04. I’m going to use this for a gift basket for one of my sisters. Through Tuesday there are some great deals at CVS, including:
- Essence of Beauty Bath and Body $4.99; Earn 4 ECBs Limit 2, Pay $0.99 each after ECBs
- Revlon Cosmetics or Beauty Tools (psa $1.99); Spend $15 Earn 7 ECBs Limit 1, Use $2/1 coupon from the 11/15 SS insert or $1/1 Beauty Tool from the 11/15 SS insert, Free after coupon
- Neosporin Lip Health $5.49, Use $2.50 off CVS Clip-Free coupon, Use $3/1 Printable HERE (IE) or HERE (FF), FREE after coupons
Dollar Tree – $20. There is one two miles from my house, gosh dang it. Perhaps I’ll use it to buy new holiday decorations.
SPENT! Gelsons – $20. I can’t bring myself to shop at this overpriced grocery store, so I gave the card to a friend to buy groceries for a turkey dinner we cooked. She bought a sweet potato pie, which we have yet to eat.
J. Crew -$211. I’d love a new pair of chords or maybe a cashmere sweater.
Jo Anns – $4.37. I’m going to add money to this card and gift it to a crafty friend of mine.
Marie Callender’s – $10. I could use this to buy a pie for a holiday party.
Old Navy – $12.46. The clearance rack is calling me.
TJ Maxx – $50. BINGO! TJ Maxx is great for gifts because there is a wide range of items for sale.
Meanwhile, I acquired a $5 Starbucks gift card, but I don’t think I’ll have any trouble using it. Hmmm, lattes.
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Time for a refresher on how and where to get discounted gift cards.
At PlasticJungle.com you can buy gift cards others have sold to the site for anywhere from 5-40 percent off. Look for cards from mainstream retailers like Sears, Gymboree, Kmart, and lots more. They guarantee all the cards they sell. Once you register on the site, you can sign up to receive an email when a gift card you want becomes available. That’s pretty cool.
GiftCardRescue.com is another great site to buy discounted gift cards. Expect to see cards mainstream retailers like Bed, Bath & Beyond, L.L. Bean, and Victoria’s Secret. You can also sell a gift card you have or exchange it for another on this page.
GiftCardBuyBack.com is a sister site to GiftCardsAgain.com. Sell your unwanted cards on the first one, buy discounted gift cards on the second one.
If you are a Costco you can get discounted gift cards to spas, restaurants, theme parks, gyms, movie theaters and more. The selection varies and some cards sell out (like Starbucks last year). For instance, a $50 iTunes gift card is $47. See all the discounted gift cards at Costco.
