As a former business owner, we paid over $3000 PER MONTH to the merchant services dept of the bank JUST TO ACCEPT credit cards! It used to kill me every month. That was our potential profit/reduced prices going to the credit card companies. And they don't even have a fair method of charging fees; why should you pay more in fees to charge a $100 dinner versus $20 at the gas station?! You are swiping a card. It's a HUGE scam and most people are unaware of it.
I am going to pay off our remaining card and use cash (debit in emergency/rentals/online) and move to a credit union. I'm done!
Note: The practice of credit card companies being able to jack your rate because you are late on another card or your mortgage is coming to an end. In addition, any prior balances are not affected unless you paid more than 60 minutes late.
Unfortunately, Congress gave the companies ample time to jack everyone's rate before the February effective date. While a change to the law to make it immediate has been passed in the House of Reps, it hasn't been heard yet in the Senate.
Good article on the increases that are going on now in the NY Times
What the credit card companies have done for decades is milk those who had trouble paying on time or were a day late paying their bills. That got them in huge trouble as defaults on risky borrowers surged to 10% of their portfolios. Now they want to lend responsibly, not because its ethically what they should do, but because not doing so will bankrupt them in our current economic climate.
I have regifted, but I only regift nice things that I a) already have or b) love but know that a friend would REALLY love it. Oh, and I have regifted gift cards, but that was because the store/restaurant wasn't in my area.
We have regifted when we have gotten duplicates of the same item. Rather than going back to the store and returning it. Happens every few years. Generally, though, we don't regift, with the exception of kids toys that we get. Invariably, we get way too many kids toys at birthdays.
A few times we are the recipients of regifts that are obvious. The worst is for holiday food items that have an expiration date from earlier in the year. That's really tacky. We got a food basket once that was clearly from the prior Christmas.....
I know, it sounds a bit strange, but if you love walnuts it's amazing stuff. I've also made a mixed nut butter with walnuts, cashews, and brazil nuts. Very tasty and you can control the other ingredients going into it.
But I would NEVER regift something that I've used or that isn't brand new.
I received an ebelskiver pan (Danish pancakes) from my husband for Valentines Day and then my bil bought me one for my birthday (a month later). I kept it and gave it to my brother on his birthday (brand new, in the wrapper and I made him a recipe book to go along with it). He loves it. It was a great gift and I would have bought him one anyways.
I just received a calendar for next year when I already have one so I will regift the just received calendar to a friend of mine who will appreciate it.
If a gift isn't something I will use or appreciate, I see nothing wrong with passing it on to someone who will enjoy it. The caveat is that I would never regift to anyone where the person who gave it to me could find out.
Yes, of course I regift. If I didn't we would have lots of items put in the trash or sitting around the house unused. I have received many regifts and liked each one!
I have no problem with regifting, do it myself and encourage others to do so...as long as it's well done. This includes making sure the gift is something that the recipient would like (except in the case of White Elephant Gift Exchanges, but that's a whole other category) and there is nothing that screams "I regifted this!"...again, unless there's an understanding that it's okay to do so.
My Mom and I have an understanding that used books, CDs, DVDs and the like are perfectly fine to regift or even first time gift after they've been used by the original buyer. She specifically has asked me to look for certain books and DVDs at the chain of used bookstores near me.
I definitely regift - and there's nothing wrong with that! I think of it like recycling. If I don't, all that's going to happen is that the gifts that don't appeal to me will gather dust at the bottom of a drawer.
To regift, or be regifted is fine with me. The gift has to be treated like any other gift - unopened, unused, and appropriate for the receiver.
The last 2 items I've regifted were gift cards. I was given a restaurant gift card and hardly eat out, so I gave to a friend for their birthday because he loves to eat out. I won some Home Depot gift cards and gave them as a wedding gift to a couple who just bought their first home and have a lot of renovation work to do.
I have definitely re-gifted in the past, and will continue to do it. However, I do try very hard to only re-gift something that's appropriate for the person (i.e. something I would have considered giving them beforehand). I definitely am not sold on the "it has to be brand new and you have to have spent $$$ for me for it to be called a gift." But, that's just me. That said, when i received a funny hat for a 4 year old when my first child was born from in-laws who had a 4 & 5 year old, it felt a little odd that they had most surely re-gifted, but without paying attention to the age of our newborn and the size of that hat. :)
I enjoyed your article on debating whether or not to get a water softener. The fact is, it is more expensive to replace your appliances and water heater. Corrosion from hard water eats away at pipes. Water heater tanks get eaten away and start leaking over time and have to be replaced. Clothing and linens wear out much faster in hard water. Not to mention the cost of extra soap and softeners. I suggest you try to purchase a softener even if you have to cut corners somewhere else to afford one. It will save you in the long run. As for softening the water in the wash, try some baking soda. It may help.
I have regifted and would do it again in the future. I don't think there's anything wrong with it if you got something you don't like or won't use and you know someone else would like it and use it.
Of course I regift, especially for stuff the kids get for their birthdays -- there's invariably two of the same game or something we already have or don't want. One time someone regifted my kid with the gift we'd given her kid the year before. :-D
Of course I have. There's no shame in it if you'd buy it for the other person anyway. Bath and Body Works items are all I've ever regifted, I think, especially if I have much more than I can use.
Yes, I have regifted. I see no harm unless you regift to the same person so keep track. I have regifted kitchen tools I would never use (a mandoline), a towel set in a color (turquoise even tho I live in Florida) that has never gone with any color scheme I've had, and jewelry. I always make sure to repackage, and to give to someone who would use it. I also make sure to check for extraneous tags, like personal notes.
A further explanation: these gifts were given to me from people who do not live near me or who do not really know me like office mates and who would not be visiting my home.
A gift is given with no strings attached, at least it should be, and is yours to do with what you want.
I regift but my fiance takes it to a whole new level. We just moved and he started a pile of "gifts" - mostly junk that we acquired through some previous gift process. Many of these things are previously used. I tried to tell him that it's totally not cool to give his cousins books that he had read but didn't want anymore or camping sets that we used but turned out to be too small for the both of us. He doesn't seem to worry about the etiquette. He even tried to re-gift something to his sister that his mother gave him last year! Like she's not going to notice!
The strange thing is that his family is very much for the buy-everyone-something-big thing, which I hate. My family has never done much by way of gift-giving, so dropping 1k during the holidays on gifts is outrageous to me.
I've only been brave enough to re-gift twice, but both times I also included a personal first-time bought gift along with the item from home. I think it's okay if you've never used the item and the other person could benefit/or would like the thing (i.e. a picture frame). (Of course, don't take one off your wall and leave the picture of your cousins in it. That's a no-no!) But why not be resourceful, not just because it's a recession, but rather because it helps everyone out - save money, declutter, give good gifts!
I have re-gifted a few times and won't rule out doing it again, but it's not something I do often. I'm also very careful that the parties involved in giving/receiving have no chance of coming into contact with one another. I'm pretty terrified to offend the original giver.
@Guest - MMMMMmmmmm walnut butter... That sounds fantastic.
As a former business owner, we paid over $3000 PER MONTH to the merchant services dept of the bank JUST TO ACCEPT credit cards! It used to kill me every month. That was our potential profit/reduced prices going to the credit card companies. And they don't even have a fair method of charging fees; why should you pay more in fees to charge a $100 dinner versus $20 at the gas station?! You are swiping a card. It's a HUGE scam and most people are unaware of it.
I am going to pay off our remaining card and use cash (debit in emergency/rentals/online) and move to a credit union. I'm done!
Note: The practice of credit card companies being able to jack your rate because you are late on another card or your mortgage is coming to an end. In addition, any prior balances are not affected unless you paid more than 60 minutes late.
Unfortunately, Congress gave the companies ample time to jack everyone's rate before the February effective date. While a change to the law to make it immediate has been passed in the House of Reps, it hasn't been heard yet in the Senate.
Good article on the increases that are going on now in the NY Times
What the credit card companies have done for decades is milk those who had trouble paying on time or were a day late paying their bills. That got them in huge trouble as defaults on risky borrowers surged to 10% of their portfolios. Now they want to lend responsibly, not because its ethically what they should do, but because not doing so will bankrupt them in our current economic climate.
I have regifted, but I only regift nice things that I a) already have or b) love but know that a friend would REALLY love it. Oh, and I have regifted gift cards, but that was because the store/restaurant wasn't in my area.
We have regifted when we have gotten duplicates of the same item. Rather than going back to the store and returning it. Happens every few years. Generally, though, we don't regift, with the exception of kids toys that we get. Invariably, we get way too many kids toys at birthdays.
A few times we are the recipients of regifts that are obvious. The worst is for holiday food items that have an expiration date from earlier in the year. That's really tacky. We got a food basket once that was clearly from the prior Christmas.....
Well of course I've regifted! All those random gift cards you get to stores that you don't really shop at? Cha-ching.
Brian
www.SocialMediaDefined.com
I know, it sounds a bit strange, but if you love walnuts it's amazing stuff. I've also made a mixed nut butter with walnuts, cashews, and brazil nuts. Very tasty and you can control the other ingredients going into it.
But I would NEVER regift something that I've used or that isn't brand new.
I received an ebelskiver pan (Danish pancakes) from my husband for Valentines Day and then my bil bought me one for my birthday (a month later). I kept it and gave it to my brother on his birthday (brand new, in the wrapper and I made him a recipe book to go along with it). He loves it. It was a great gift and I would have bought him one anyways.
I just received a calendar for next year when I already have one so I will regift the just received calendar to a friend of mine who will appreciate it.
If a gift isn't something I will use or appreciate, I see nothing wrong with passing it on to someone who will enjoy it. The caveat is that I would never regift to anyone where the person who gave it to me could find out.
Yes, of course I regift. If I didn't we would have lots of items put in the trash or sitting around the house unused. I have received many regifts and liked each one!
Another excellent article! Your writing is music to my eyes!!
I have no problem with regifting, do it myself and encourage others to do so...as long as it's well done. This includes making sure the gift is something that the recipient would like (except in the case of White Elephant Gift Exchanges, but that's a whole other category) and there is nothing that screams "I regifted this!"...again, unless there's an understanding that it's okay to do so.
My Mom and I have an understanding that used books, CDs, DVDs and the like are perfectly fine to regift or even first time gift after they've been used by the original buyer. She specifically has asked me to look for certain books and DVDs at the chain of used bookstores near me.
I definitely regift - and there's nothing wrong with that! I think of it like recycling. If I don't, all that's going to happen is that the gifts that don't appeal to me will gather dust at the bottom of a drawer.
Talk about Big Brother! We can't even spend our hard-earned money the way we like without being "graded" on it.
To regift, or be regifted is fine with me. The gift has to be treated like any other gift - unopened, unused, and appropriate for the receiver.
The last 2 items I've regifted were gift cards. I was given a restaurant gift card and hardly eat out, so I gave to a friend for their birthday because he loves to eat out. I won some Home Depot gift cards and gave them as a wedding gift to a couple who just bought their first home and have a lot of renovation work to do.
I have definitely re-gifted in the past, and will continue to do it. However, I do try very hard to only re-gift something that's appropriate for the person (i.e. something I would have considered giving them beforehand). I definitely am not sold on the "it has to be brand new and you have to have spent $$$ for me for it to be called a gift." But, that's just me. That said, when i received a funny hat for a 4 year old when my first child was born from in-laws who had a 4 & 5 year old, it felt a little odd that they had most surely re-gifted, but without paying attention to the age of our newborn and the size of that hat. :)
Hi Lucille,
I enjoyed your article on debating whether or not to get a water softener. The fact is, it is more expensive to replace your appliances and water heater. Corrosion from hard water eats away at pipes. Water heater tanks get eaten away and start leaking over time and have to be replaced. Clothing and linens wear out much faster in hard water. Not to mention the cost of extra soap and softeners. I suggest you try to purchase a softener even if you have to cut corners somewhere else to afford one. It will save you in the long run. As for softening the water in the wash, try some baking soda. It may help.
Sincerely,
Charolette
I have regifted and would do it again in the future. I don't think there's anything wrong with it if you got something you don't like or won't use and you know someone else would like it and use it.
After all, aren't re-gifts the gifts that keep on giving? (and giving, and giving....) :)
Of course I regift, especially for stuff the kids get for their birthdays -- there's invariably two of the same game or something we already have or don't want. One time someone regifted my kid with the gift we'd given her kid the year before. :-D
Of course I have. There's no shame in it if you'd buy it for the other person anyway. Bath and Body Works items are all I've ever regifted, I think, especially if I have much more than I can use.
Yes, I have regifted. I see no harm unless you regift to the same person so keep track. I have regifted kitchen tools I would never use (a mandoline), a towel set in a color (turquoise even tho I live in Florida) that has never gone with any color scheme I've had, and jewelry. I always make sure to repackage, and to give to someone who would use it. I also make sure to check for extraneous tags, like personal notes.
A further explanation: these gifts were given to me from people who do not live near me or who do not really know me like office mates and who would not be visiting my home.
A gift is given with no strings attached, at least it should be, and is yours to do with what you want.
I regift but my fiance takes it to a whole new level. We just moved and he started a pile of "gifts" - mostly junk that we acquired through some previous gift process. Many of these things are previously used. I tried to tell him that it's totally not cool to give his cousins books that he had read but didn't want anymore or camping sets that we used but turned out to be too small for the both of us. He doesn't seem to worry about the etiquette. He even tried to re-gift something to his sister that his mother gave him last year! Like she's not going to notice!
The strange thing is that his family is very much for the buy-everyone-something-big thing, which I hate. My family has never done much by way of gift-giving, so dropping 1k during the holidays on gifts is outrageous to me.
I've only been brave enough to re-gift twice, but both times I also included a personal first-time bought gift along with the item from home. I think it's okay if you've never used the item and the other person could benefit/or would like the thing (i.e. a picture frame). (Of course, don't take one off your wall and leave the picture of your cousins in it. That's a no-no!) But why not be resourceful, not just because it's a recession, but rather because it helps everyone out - save money, declutter, give good gifts!
I cannot believe that no one has yet commented on how lovely those legs and shoes are!
I have re-gifted a few times and won't rule out doing it again, but it's not something I do often. I'm also very careful that the parties involved in giving/receiving have no chance of coming into contact with one another. I'm pretty terrified to offend the original giver.