What To Do With Christmas Gifts You Just Can’t Use
It’s better to give than to receive, especially if the gift misses the mark ever so slightly. Your well-meaning Gogo might remember you liking lizards in primary school and decide that giving you a set of four, neon-coloured lizard-shaped bowls was just the ticket as a Christmas gift.
Or, maybe with this year’s Secret Santa exchange at the office your ‘Santa’ thought you would love two bottles of merlot for Christmas – never mind you only ever ordering a glass of white at each and every office do.
Now, none of us want to come across as ungrateful, especially in these uncertain times. We just know what we like and we know that the re-gifting cupboard is getting so full that it’s becoming difficult to close.
So, other than sneaking into your neighbour’s bins at night to hide the lavender bath salts under their Christmas wrapping, what can you do? Well…
Getting Crafty
Pinterest is chock-full of upcycling ideas that will allow you to tap into your creative side while transforming the weird-and-wonderful into the cute-and-useful.
Clothing
If you don’t sew, it’s a matter of cutting and fabric glueing to metamorphose a jersey into a quirky beanie or pair of mittens for the kids.
How about a pop of texture or colour as part of your patio set’s scatter cushions? This wonderfully easy hack can also work in a playroom or a guest room.
Don’t forget about the furry members of the family – South African winters can get seriously chilly. How cute would Jock look in this pet jacket? You could even make a thunder shirt for pups that struggle with the recent storms we’ve been blessed with.
If you’re an entertainer running out of ideas – placemats, runners, or bunting made from an unwanted dress or blouse can make your event feel extra special!
Candles And Crockery
Empty out a candle container and use it for bathroom storage or a stationery holder for your new work-from-home station.
The novelty mug or set of (cough) lizard bowls can make a delightful planter.
Wine And Spirits
Make some space in your freezer to save cubes of wine, vodka, or whisky to use in sauces to zhuzh up your recipes.
You can even take it a step further and craft light fixtures with the empty bottles when you’re done.
Chocolates And Treats
Car guards and security guards have a tough job to do while protecting us and our property – make them smile with all the boxes of chocolates you inevitably collect during the festive season.
Toiletries
October is Teacher Appreciation Month, and though we don’t mind splurging a bit on the people who take such good care of our little ones, you can pad a thoughtful gift with a basket of lovely toiletries and home spa products.
A hamper of lotions, potions, and jars of preserves can also be a charming welcome gift for new neighbours.
Sell It!
It’s all well and good to get rid of dust collectors while getting something back but why not sell with a goal in mind? If you and a few friends or family members could all jump on the bandwagon and pool your profits to invest in something together, like hosting a ladies’ lunch or contributing to that weekend away with the friends that you’ve been dreaming about.
DePop is a handy platform to share your garments with discerning buyers, but if you are interested in a site with local flavour, why not click to Love it Again or Encore Clothing?
For everything else – from electronics to kitchen items – Facebook marketplace is an easy way to convert your clutter to cash. BidorBuy, Gumtree or OLX is as useful, but less user-friendly due only to the (very reasonable) hoops you have to jump through to register as a seller.
Just remember to keep your wits about you to ensure your safety, Covid or otherwise, when selling online.
Donate Where It Counts
There’s nothing wrong with dropping off a box of gifts at your local charity shop – but it is nice to be able to choose exactly what happens with your donation.
Books are always welcome at school libraries, especially those disadvantaged schools in your area. Toys, linen, and clothes are precious resources in homes for at-risk children. Even those garments that you think might be a bit large for young kids can be used for teenagers. Paediatric wards at your local government hospital would be a perfect place for an overlooked toy to find a grateful pair of hands to cherish it.
Click on some worthy local facilities that might spark your giving spirit:
Share your care!
Whether you sell, upcycle, or gift your Christmas white elephants, give us a shout by using the hashtag #christmasideas and remember to tag us at #homemakerssa so that we can share the love.
