It’s common knowledge that everyone is cool with re-gifting, which is the practice of giving someone a present that someone else gave you. Don’t look so smug you know you’ve done it.

My question is how cool are you with slightly used gifting?

I have three kids, a six-year old boy, a three-year old girl and a five-month old boy. The youngest is destined to get many hand me downs from his older brother and sister which is perfectly acceptable. Why buy new stuff like clothing when you already have it handy?

But is it ok for the kids to give their little brother one of their old toys as a gift? Something they have outgrown but that he really wants. Does this count as a gift? If the little dude likes it, why not? He’s happy and the older kids save a few dollars of allowance. This will also cut down on the volume of new plastic crap entering the home.

Think about it, we sell tons of used crap on craigslist and e-bay. Is this stuff ever given as gifts? I’m sure it is. Vintage clothing stores sell nothing but used clothing and I’m sure these duds are giving as gifts. So why not give things that we have loved but outgrown, to others who would use and enjoy them?

One of the best presents I ever received was used. In 1977 my cousin gave me Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman and Alan Page football cards for Christmas. Awesome. I loved the Vikings of the Purple People Eater days, even though they lost every Super Bowl they played, but that’s another story. The point is, I didn’t care that the cards came from his stash, I loved the gift.

In some instances, giving something that you loved, to someone that you love, is more meaningful than just buying something new for them. It seems more personal and it’s good for the environment.

So this year I am going to encourage my children to give hand me downs to each other. In fact I am going to lead by example. This afternoon when I leave work to finish up my Christmas shopping, I’ll be headed not the mall, but to my closet at home.

Merry Christmas everyone!