The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead

1/12/2009

All I didn’t want for Christmas….

What will you do with those ghastly socks, unwanted ‘gizmos’ for car and home, and sickly-smelling cosmetics that well-meaning family and friends inflict on you this year? After you have accepted them with good grace, and politely thanked the giver (most important – they meant you well!) – will you keep them, or not?

Last year something like 1.7 million of us in the UK tried to swap about £110 million worth of unwanted Christmas gifts, and the trend looks set to grow even larger this year. Many people use ‘swapping’ websites. Two years ago the online auctioneer eBay claimed to have listed two million unwanted Christmas gifts.

But you don’t need to go to all that trouble – save them for the Spring Fair – it’s only 4 months away and your unloved gift might be just what someone else is looking for. After all the person who gave it to you must have liked it [mustn’t s/he?]