It is so awesome to get a perfectly wrapped gift over Christmas. Only open the gift and find it is not really your something you like. The all-important question then follows, what do you do with it?

The paper sourced some helpful tips from Hyperjar that could come in handy.

Also read: Gifts you can buy on a budget this year

Here is what they had to suggest:

• Donate them to charity
  You can visit a local charity shop, and they’ll be more than happy to receive gifts you don’t want to keep for yourself. Or maybe donate children’s toys to your local hospital, gift books to schools or libraries, sports equipment to local sports clubs, and clothing to homeless shelters. You can search for charities in your local area
• Sell them
  Instead of leaving an unwanted Christmas gift at the bottom of your wardrobe to gather dust, you can sell it online and put the money to good use. You can use an online platform or upload your gift to the Facebook marketplace to find a local buyer for something you don’t want.
• Save and regift them
  Rather than giving away or selling your unwanted Christmas gifts, you can save them and re-gift them to a family member or friend. The key here is not just to pass on an unwanted gift because you can’t be bothered to think of anything good to get a loved one! Instead, ensure you re-gift your unwanted Christmas presents with intention and be mindful about whether the recipient will appreciate the gift.
• Swap them with friends or family
  You might find that someone within your circle has also received an unwanted Christmas gift. If this is the case, a present swap might be on the cards. When you’re catching up in the living room during the Christmas holidays, you might find that you might be able to propose a present swap with one of your relatives

• Offer them to a stranger
  Christmas is the season of goodwill, and random acts of kindness go a long way at this time of the year. If you have an unwanted Christmas present, you might consider offering it to a stranger. There are several ways to go about this, and the method you choose depends on what you’re giving away. Some people offer unwanted gifts to strangers in their front garden by attaching a sign to the gift and offering it to passers-by.
• Upcycle them:
  Rather than selling or giving away unwanted items, you can upcycle them into something that you will love. Many people upcycle unwanted clothing items at Christmas, with sweaters and tops providing you with the perfect opportunity to get creative.

• Return it to the shops
  If the unwanted gift you have been given comes with a gift receipt, your job is simple – you can return it to the store. Increasingly, many people give gifts with the receipt included, as they know that the person receiving the gift might want to exchange it for something more aligned with their personality and interests.
• Store it for safekeeping
  If you don’t feel good about any of the options introduced above, you can store the unwanted gift for safekeeping. While it might not be of any use to you right now, there’s a fair chance that you could use or appreciate it in the future, and it means that you don’t have to take steps to give the gift away in the first place.

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Related article: Gifts for the gardener