Pass on the present: The gift that keeps on giving

The misconception that re-gifting is an act of callous evil is a result of silly sausages making avoidable errors.

When done with stealth, flair and a little planning, passing on a gift can make one seem perceptive and caring while still clearing our living space of the year's accumulated junk. This can be achieved in three easy steps:

Avoid branding

Nothing quite says "You're worth 1000 rocks" to your loved one like the free McDonald's jacket you got at the last lame event you attended for the free food.

More often than not branded products are hideous and are created with the sole purpose of turning you into a walking billboard.

A person of moral fibre hides their free branded items, so please do not force friends and family into graciously accepting a gift that will end up in at the back of a cupboard with Eskom sun hats and Sun International camping chairs.

Pre-owned versus used

Scuff marks on a supposedly new posh pen are a dead giveaway, as are half-filled bottles of complimentary hotel shampoo, body wash and conditioner. Yes, the idea of re-gifting is to get rid of stuff you no longer want, but take care to give the impression that you bought it. It makes for a much less frosty Christmas dinner.

Think before you gift

Re-gifting is like trying to unravel character histories in soapies. You need to remember where an item originated and who gave it to you as well as to whom you are passing it on. Failure to do so is likely to end with you accidentally giving your 87-year-old mother-in-law a Venga Boys CD that she gave to her daughter as a birthday gift in 1997.