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Recycling plays an important role in our lives, with many keen to help diminish mounting rubbish piles. Combine this attitude with Christmas, throw in a recession and the result is a fertile environment for cutting corners when it comes to buying gifts. 

While this recession certainly isn’t good news, if it had to come (and many think it did), it couldn’t have come at a better time as great chunks of the western world drown in a sea of consumer goods whose purposes were long ago forgotten.

Cheap goods have spawned a buy-now, throw-out later mentality, which goes into overdrive at this time of year and the bubble had to burst on the buy now – pay later mantra repeated endlessly by irresponsible retail giants.  

When considering what to buy kids for Christmas, I’m conscious of giving yet more stuff to those who already have too much. The lucky ones who have gifts to open often indulge in a frenzy of paper ripping, with barely a thought given to what lies beneath the wrap, or to the giver, before moving on to the next parcel. The sight is consumerism at its worst and it’s not pretty.

As a result, people are cutting back and either not giving at all this Christmas or putting more thought into what they do give, ensuring gifts are personal and useful.  

There’s a new trend afoot in this recession, which could lighten the load on bank balances and sanity levels. It’s sort of based on the old game Pass the Parcel and is called Re-giving.

You remember that perfectly good dinner set Aunt Maud gave you a few years ago and you know you’ll never use? And you also know someone who’d love it, and since dear Aunt Maud has passed away she’ll never know. Got the picture?  

Re-giving, however, can be fraught and there are a few points to keep in mind if you’re going to be a successful re-giver; especially if you want to keep your friends and not insult your family, on one of the most special days of the year.  

Most importantly, pick appropriate receivers for this type of activity. If you know they wouldn’t appreciate something that hasn’t come straight off the shop floor, don’t do it.

Re-given items need to look new. Tatty edges are a give away, as is ripped packaging. You’re meant to be giving, not insulting. 

Try not to re-give an ‘orphan gift,’ those objects that should never have been created. They serve no useful purpose and the poor things have been passed from pillar to post for years without finding a home. 

If you have an orphan, put it out of its misery and take to the Sallie Army or some place similar where it may receive the kiss of life in terms of a purchaser. If not, at least it will die a dignified death surrounded by caring souls.  

Remember that it is Christmas – a time of good will to all – so avoid giving stinker gifts, like dead funeral wreaths, even if the behaviour of your now-ex has given you a really bad year. Let your inner angel shine through, turn the other cheek, and have another glass of champagne. 

Flat broke and don’t know what to give your nearest and dearest? What about yourself? That’s right, wrap yourself up and deliver yourself into the arms of your loved one, free of charge, but don’t use 20 trees in the form of wrapping paper or your carbon footprint will be as large as Big Foot. Get creative. Have fun and save money.