Kate Bosch Professional Organizing
  • Home
  • Work with Me
  • About Me
  • Happy Clients
  • Blog
  • Free
  • Resources
  • Media
  • Let's Talk

​Get organized
​
Tips to motivate and ​​inspire you!

Sign Up for Monthly Tips

Guilt-Free Giving

12/8/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
“If a gift has come to you wrapped in obligations and tied tightly with a ribbon of guilt, then it's not really a gift at all.” -Peter Walsh

Why is giving so tied up with guilt? Guilt about overspending, guilt about underspending, guilt about having to give equal gifts to various people, guilt about giving in proportion to what you’re getting, guilt about not liking a gift you received…the guilt list is as long as Santa’s list!

Of all of the gift guilts, the one that causes the most consternation is the problem of receiving a gift you don’t love.

For our first Christmas as a married couple, my husband really wanted to delight me. I gave him several not-so-subtle hints that I had my eye on a chocolate brown Persian lamb coat in a local vintage shop.

​I couldn’t hide my excitement on Christmas morning when he handed me a box stamped with the shop’s logo. Lifting the lid, my face fell when I pulled out a mangy-looking, poison-yellow rabbit fur jacket. Seriously, what was he thinking?!
Realizing that his bargain-bin risk had not paid off, Doug quickly thrust another box at me—the one containing my longed-for coat. Phew!

Haven’t we all received a gift that missed the mark? Of course! And just because we don’t like a gift, doesn’t mean that we don’t love the giver. Gifts are a symbol of our affection for and appreciation of one another, but the object isn’t the emotion.

Whether you’re the giver or the recipient, dispense with the guilt. Here’s how to reframe your thinking.
Picture
1. Gift receipts are a MUST. 
They acknowledge that perhaps you didn’t get it quite right and give the recipient permission to exchange for something that suits them better. Train your relatives to ask for gift receipts when they shop, especially for kids’ gifts.
Picture
2. Regifting is totally fine.
Just make sure the recipient would actually like it. Otherwise, you’re just passing around the proverbial fruitcake. Once a gift is given to you, it’s yours to do with as you see fit.
Picture
3. Donating a gift is actually an act of generosity.
​If you don’t want it, you can’t return or exchange it, and you don’t know someone who would absolutely love it, then by all means donate it. Spread the love around by giving it away while it’s still in mint condition. Its ultimate owner will be thrilled to come across such a find!

NOTE: Your local Buy Nothing group is a great way to find someone who wants your gift. These “give where you live” groups on Facebook allow you to gift items you no longer need to people near you.

Finally, if you're still feeling guilty about letting go of a gift you don't love here's another aphorism from the ever-quotable, inspiring organizer Peter Walsh:

“A gift should be something freely given that enhances your life and reminds you lovingly of the giver. If it's not, you simply should not give it a place in your home."
Picture
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Bathroom
    Beauty
    Books
    Closets & Clothes
    Clutter
    Digital & Electronics
    Garage
    Holiday & Seasonal
    Housekeeping
    Kitchen & Pantry
    Moving
    Office
    Paperwork
    Pare Down
    Productivity
    Recycling & Repurposing
    Schedule
    School
    Sentimental
    Shopping
    Toys & Kids
    Travel

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    RSS Feed

Home

work with me

About Me

Happy clients

Blog

RESOURCES
MEDIA
LET"S TALK
Copyright © 2023
  • Home
  • Work with Me
  • About Me
  • Happy Clients
  • Blog
  • Free
  • Resources
  • Media
  • Let's Talk