Gift-giving is all about the other person, so the propriety of giving a used gift is really in the eye of the recipient, etiquette expert Judith Martin ("Miss Manners") notes. For the right person, even old shoes could be appropriate. read more
Second hand gifts featured highly in my childhood and I believe my parents taught me well by giving me (some) second hand gifts. They gave me items that had me stamped all over them and weren’t just from the well thumbed toy section of the Argos catalogue. read more
Second hand gifts are a contentious issue. Many of us feel that only new items carry the weight of a generous spirit. Second-hand can come across as stingy if it’s not done right. Personally, I think buying second hand is not only a great way to save money, but a way to cut down on all the stuff we buy that just ends up as clutter. read more