They say it’s the thought that counts, but sometimes you would prefer it if people just stopped at having the thought.
Typically, in the run-up to Christmas, you may find yourself looking around your already crammed home and feeling dread at the need for a reshuffle. Perhaps you even go so far as to turf out last year’s goodies.
What happens if your loved ones decide to go rogue and buy you something not on your Christmas list, replacing your former belongings with others you don’t actually want?
Is January too soon to pass on the gifts? We don’t think so! Here are six things you can do to reclaim your space and maybe even find a silver lining.
Swap them with friends and family
One man’s meat is another man’s poison, as the saying goes. As you wrinkled your face up at those kitsch cat ornaments from your nan, perhaps your mum was eyeing them up. Likewise, if she was planning to start a diet in January, she could have passed on her expensive truffles to you. Too late now, but it’s worth bearing in mind for next year.
Charity bag them
It’s not unheard of for friends to open presents and put them straight into a charity bag – Yes, even in front of the gift-bearer. This may seem extreme, but if you feel strongly about taking on the clutter-free lifestyle, you can find a subtle way to sneak the gifts off to a charity shop, and then pat yourself on the back for doing some good in the new year.
Sell them
There are many eBay entrepreneurs auctioning off lacklustre presents post-Christmas. While they may not sell for the best price, or even get close to what was charged for them in John Lewis or Home Bargains, not many people will turn their nose up at the extra beer money at this time of year. So why not set yourself up an eBay account? If you prefer a more retro alternative and don’t mind getting up early, you could set up a stall at a local car boot sale.
Exchange the presents online
The Web offers a plethora of sites like http://www.swapz.co.uk/ and http://www.swapstyle.com/ where you can swap all sorts of items. The best bit is you have a wider variety of potential recipients for your cast-offs than just your parents, offspring or family pet.
Set up a present swapping event
Believe it or not, there are events created with the sole purpose of swapping your unwanted gifts for other people’s. If you can’t find one in your area, why not start one for your friends, associates or the general public? This is an excellent way to extend the Christmas feeling and find some treasures you would love to take home. One big advantage is that attendees won’t have to splash out on purchases as the only currency is presents.
Store your items for later
Perhaps you are waiting to move house, you are between homes or simply don’t have any more space. It could be that your gifts were actually the perfect present, but this is the wrong time. With self-storage, this needn’t be an issue. You can keep your gifts stored away in safe, dry units until you are able to make room for them at home. With easy access to your personal items, you can still enjoy them without them being a tripping hazard in the house.
However you deal with your unloved articles, the important thing to remember is this: Don’t let your items possess you!
By applying the suggestions above, you are in control of what gets to stay in your home rent-free. No well-meaning present-buyers can take that away from you.