And his final suggestion: “Keep yourself to a single regift per person”, to insure that holiday gift-giving doesn’t turn into a “festive Ponzi scheme”.
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Also, you’ll probably want to add a note to the gift to make it seem like you handpicked this particular item just for the recipient. And if that’s too much, at least use a gift bag.
As Oliver breaks down what one should and shouldn’t do when regifting, he pokes fun at everything from scented candles to sweatpants.
Oliver’s got his rules and at least one etiquette expert says it’s OK to regift within reason – but where do you stand?
Last Week Tonight may be on hiatus until February, but that isn’t stopping John Oliver from dishing out some helpful holiday advice before Christmas.
Instead, you should save all your regifts for office holiday parties, where expectations for gifts are already pretty low. Some presents are awesome, and some are just the worst thing ever (oh a candle, thanks).
“Regifting there is like peeing in the ocean – sure, it’s not right, but it’s an ultimately harmless solution to an urgent problem”, Oliver said.
Oliver then outlined the do’s and don’ts of regifting, like making sure there’s a degree of separation between the original gifter and the regifted, and presenting the recycled present somewhat properly.
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This weekend, comedian John Oliver took on the issue in a special mini-episode of Last Week Tonight posted to YouTube.
