(San Antonio) — Family members may mean well, but there are always a few Christmas gifts that miss the mark. When that happens, what should you do?
Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, who heads up the Protocol School of Texas, says you should think twice before tossing those gifts in the trash.
“If you have received something from a close family member or friend, we (just) take one for the team,” said Gottsman.
Gottsman says you may not love the gift, but you do care about the person that gave it to you. That means you should find a way to keep it around.
“When grandma asks you, ‘what about that beautiful porcelain ashtray that I gave you’ — you can pull it out and just put candy in it,” said Gottsman.
Gottsman says keeping a gift that you don’t love is often a small price to pay when it comes to protecting the feelings of loved ones. She says there’s a real risk that you could unintentionally hurt someone close to you, because you returned or got rid of a gift.
“You may not love it, but it means something. It’s gesture and the effort (that counts). So keep it,” said Gottsman.
Gottsman says there are rules for re-gifting, too. It’s okay to give away an unwanted gift. But, she says, don’t try to pass it off as late present. Tell the recipient why you think they would love it more than you do.