Just in time for Christmas... Tips for the gift that keeps on giving (or at least being given). First off, the numbers... According to a recent survey, close to four in ten people are re-gifters (i.e., they re-give a gift that they've received in the past). In general, women re-gift more than men (41% vs. 33%), and people with household incomes of ≥ $50k re-gift more than those with lower household incomes (42% vs. 33%). If you're among those that choose to recycle gifts, then read on for some tips...

(1) Have you heart in the right place. Only do it if you honestly think the other person would like whatever it is that you're passing on. If the present really sucks, chances are the next recipient won't appreciate it, either.

(2) Keep it out of the social circles. The secret of re-gifting is to keep it a secret. So don't pass it off to someone in your social circle, as there's a decent chance that you'll get 'caught'. And try to avoid re-gifting one-of-a-kind items -- the more personalized a present is, the more likely the original giver will recognize it if they see it in someone else's home.

(4) Throw a white elephant party. If you can't imagine yourself re-gifting, but you still want to clear out some junk, consider a white elephant party. At white elephant parties, each guest brings something from their home that they want to get rid of. They wrap it up, toss it in the 'gift' pile, and then people take turns selecting a gift from the pile. This is, however, a two-way street... Sure, you'll get rid of your white elephant gift, but you'll end up bringing another one home in it's place.

[Source: CNN/Money]

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"The Art of Re-Gifting" was first published at fivecentnickel.commortgage calculator