Sometimes you get a gift that is just so not you and you think to yourself…. “Ohhhhhh…kaaaaayyyy…” and then struggle to say something polite to the person who gave it to you.

After all, it was nice of them to think of you.

But what do you do with that gift?  Well, here are a few things you can do to make sure those unwanted Christmas gifts don’t clutter up your home.

Return the gift.  If the person who gave you the gift included a gift receipt, then you’re in luck.  Otherwise, returning the gift may be difficult.  Find out the store’s policies.  They may allow you to make an exchange. Usually you need to do this within 30 days of purchase, so don’t delay!

Donate the gift.  Give the item to a non-profit that could use it or to Goodwill or another charitable thrift store.  You’ll feel good about passing the item on to someone else and you can get a tax deduction for your donation.

Sell the gift.  List it on eBay or put it on Craig’s List. Items that are new with tags always have a greater re-sale value than used items.

Swap the gift.  One friend of mine actually hosts swap parties, where each guest brings a gift they don’t want to trade with another guest.  The bigger the party, the more fun.  You could also arrange to trade with a friend.

Re-gift the gift.  Be sure to remove any tags that would show that you’re re-gifting it, and don’t re-gift in the same circle of friends or relatives as the person who gave it to you.  You don’t want any more awkward holiday moments than you have already!  Check out the fine art of regifting for ideas on how to regift without looking like a total cheapskate.

Accept the gift.  Sometimes our first reactions to a gift aren’t always positive, but over time we grow to appreciate an item we didn’t think we wanted or needed.