By now the Christmas dinner has been served, maybe even a Christmas sambo or two, and you're looking forward to a day of lounging on the couch and diving into your gifts.
But tucked among the fluffy hats and socks, the thoughtful handmade gifts, the sophisticated perfumes and the eye-catching jewellery, there may be a dud: a book you'll never read, an expensive candle that gives you a headache, or a handbag that just isn't your style.
What should we do with unwanted gifts at Christmas?
According to new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), one in 10 women said they would never use an unwanted gift, while almost double the amount of men (19%) said the same.
Another option would be donating it: 17% of consumers surveyed are likely to donate an unwanted gift to charity or fundraising events.
Finally, 10% of people said they would leave the unwanted gift unopened in storage or dump it.
Most of us wouldn't want to see a gift go unused, so passing it along to someone else might be your go-to. According to the research, one in three people would regift an unwanted Christmas present.
The trick, of course, is to choose the right person who won't come into contact with the original gifter, and expose your regifting - a headache-inducing scenario on its own, when the most you should be thinking about is whether or not to go for a sixth Quality Street!
This could be avoided by including a gift receipt in the parcel itself, a practice that isn't as common as it should be.
The CCPC research also showed that 42% of consumers never include a gift receipt when giving presents at Christmas. This rises to more than half (52%) of men surveyed.
Contrasting this, only 5% of people surveyed said they would ask for a gift receipt to exchange unwanted gifts.
Grainne Griffin, director of communications at the CCPC, says that "while over half of consumers said they include a gift receipt at least some of the time, that still leaves a significant number who never include a receipt".
"This makes it harder to return or exchange unwanted gifts and can leave many unsure about what to do with their unwanted presents. While it's great to see many consumers regifting, swapping or donating their unwanted gifts to avoid waste, 10% will leave it unopened or dump it, and only 5% will ask for a receipt."
While consumers in Ireland have strong rights when something goes wrong, this does not apply to unwanted gifts.
For gifts bought online, consumers have a right to cancel for up to 14 days, but it's important to note that this window begins when the gift is delivered by the retailer, not from when it’s gifted. Exceptions such as customised clothing or other accessories do not apply here.
While businesses are not legally obligated to accept an unwanted gift due to a change of mind, many stores have returns policies that allow gifts to be returned, with some offering extended return periods throughout January.
However, it’s important to remember that they will usually require proof of purchase when returning a gift.
You can read more about the CCPC's pre-Christmas research here.
