Did you receive an ugly sweater as a gift that is itchy, doesn’t match your taste, or frightens small children? Whether you like it or not, remember the real gift is that the person you got it from spent time and money on you and had good intentions. Also consider that people tend to see you differently than you see yourself, which is not necessarily always a bad thing.
We’ve all been stuck with gifts we don’t know what to do with so here are a few suggestions.
Don’t re-gift it. Chances are if you don’t like it, they won’t either and it will not feel good to give them something you hate. If you do save it to re-gift in the future, make note of who gave it to you so you don’t give it back to them by mistake.
If it doesn’t fit PERFECTLY, without an alteration, you can simply say it doesn’t fit, without lying, and ask for a gift receipt so YOU can do the exchange. That is acceptable.
If the gift giver lives out of town, ask in an excited way, where they purchased the gift and call the store and ask them if they have any annex stores in your area or the best way to manage a return or exchange.
You can always save an ugly sweater for an “ugly sweater” party. They have made a big come back this year.
Donate it to someone who just needs to stay warm and is not concerned with fashion or fit. That will make you feel good.
Wear it only when you are going to see that person. It will be worth a little discomfort knowing you put a smile on their face, especially if it’s from an elder loved one or your children.
However you mange it, be careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Tell them how much you appreciate and love them for thinking of you. And when you are buying gifts, keep it basic, you can never lose. It might not be as exciting to give but at least they won’t have to refer to these tips.
