‘I regift Christmas presents every year – it’s nothing to be ashamed of’

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Charlotte Bordewey, 33, often finds herself regifting unwanted Christmas presents and says there shouldn’t be any stigma attached, particularly in hard times

A mum-of-two who often regifts Christmas presents argues there is nothing to be embarrassed about or shamed for in passing on unwanted gifts. Charlotte Bordewey, 33, of Herefordshire, has previously been on the receiving end of gifts that she would never use and says it’s far better to regift to someone who would appreciate it rather than have it going to waste.

Despite preferring showers, Charlotte has been gifted bath sets on multiple occasions, and even though she isn’t a wine drinker, she’s received countless bottles of the stuff over the years – prompting her to take action.

Her habit of regifting began when someone gave her a top that she knew she could never wear.

“I was too embarrassed to say ‘actually I’m now two sizes bigger than this’. That’s probably where it started,” Charlotte admits.

The busy mum of two children, aged two and six, says she commonly regifts Christmas presents in particular over other celebrations because it is a time when gift sets are most popular.

And one year, one of her children received three of the same present.

“Rather than them go to waste, we pass them on to people who I know will actually use them,” Charlotte told the Mirror.

“It just makes sense.

“None of this is to say I’m ungrateful. I’m not.

“If you regift, there is more chance it will be appreciated and used.”

For the most part, Charlotte will keep quiet about wanting to regift something so as to not upset the person.

But with close relatives, like her brothers, for example, she will be honest.

“There are people I know I can say ‘I’m sorry, I don’t like this’,” Charlotte, manager of her mum’s online craft store – Spencer-Brookes Designs – and personalised gift store – Melon & Co – admits.

“And they would fully appreciate it as it would mean that they have wasted money on something someone didn’t like.

“However, there are some people you would just never say that to.

“I’ m not going out of my way to upset the person that has given it to me. They put thought into that present to give to me, and I fully appreciate that and they would never know otherwise.”

When it comes to clothing, Charlotte prefers to provide the receipt so her loved ones can return the item if it doesn’t fit right or if it’s not to their taste.

And if they returned or exchanged an item she had bought for them, she wouldn’t be offended.

“It doesn’t bother me at all if you want to take it back – you don’t have to tell me,” she asserts.

“I would much rather you exchange it or return it than never wear it.”

Amid the cost of living crisis, Charlotte argues there should be no shame in regifting or gifting second-hand.

A few of her friends and family members this year only gifted charity shop items to keep costs down.

” I really don’t think there should be any shame about it at all,” she adds.

“This year I’ve had no issue giving and receiving second-hand gifts. There shouldn’t be any stigma to that and there shouldn’t be for passing gifts on.”

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