You want to show a special someone how much you value their friendship, but you just don’t have the funds to do them justice. Don’t worry, finding an ideal gift doesn’t have to cost the earth, in fact it doesn’t have to cost you anything at all. The old expression says that ‘it’s the thought that counts’, but is that still relevant today? To get the answer think which is a better present, an expensive designer dress that’s the wrong size, or a print of a location that holds a special place in your heart?

You’re sure to have received presents that were expensive, but unsuited to you or unneeded. They’re probably hidden in a wardrobe or at the back of your loft, still in the original wrapping. They’ll remain there for evermore. 1 in 5 people over the age of 55 have had an unused item for over 55 years. These unloved gifts don’t have to sit there gathering dust, in fact they could be the perfect answer to your gift giving dilemma.

What’s absolutely useless for you, could be positively perfect for your friend. If you have an item of clothing that’s the wrong size, try to think of a friend who it would fit. If you’re unsure, then subtly find out what size they are. Once you’ve found the target recipient then put it to one side until it’s their birthday or Christmas. They’ll never need to know that it was initially bought for you, and they’ll receive exactly the same advantages from it whether you paid for it or not.

It’s called regifting, and it’s the future of present giving. Put simply, it’s present recycling, and we all know how important recycling is in modern life. Here are some regifting rules that can prove very useful.

Top 5 rules of Regifting is an infographic that was produced by Gumtree