What to do with unwanted gifts and Christmas decorations

21 million of us will receive at least one gift we don't want this Christmas.

Most of us would never want to cause offence by returning an unwanted gift to the giver. And it can be impossible to return a gift you didn’t buy to a store.

Regifting is always a solid option, but if you don’t have anyone in mind, you can donate your unwanted gifts for sale. No matter how odd or unusual your unwanted item is, there’s someone somewhere who’ll love it, and would be excited to find it at their local Oxfam.

Your donations help Oxfam fight poverty all over the world. We work to provide water and sanitation, to empower women, to combat the climate crisis and beat hunger. We also respond to emergencies like conflict, natural disasters and the coronavirus pandemic.

So you know that the good intentions of the giver won't go to waste. Your unwanted Christmas gift will be doing good and bringing joy at Christmas, even if you're not the one using it!

Oxfam has over 550 high street stores, plus an online shop. So as long as it’s in good condition, even if your item doesn’t sell in your local Oxfam shop, it can still be resold elsewhere.

Learn more about our retail sustainability strategy.

We’re happy to receive a wide range of items. They are a great source of income for us. The most popular are:

• Clothing, shoes bags and accessories
• Books of all kinds
• Music in the form of CDs, vinyl, DVDs, Blu-rays
• Musical instruments and sheet music
• Homewares like china, kitchenware, furniture and ornaments
• Artwork and collectables
• Soft furnishings like rugs, cushions, linens, blankets and curtains
• Toys and games of all kinds
• Some shops can accept electrical goods that run off mains electricity, but it’s a good idea to check with your local Oxfam shop before donating.

We especially welcome new items and ones with tags, but please do drop off other pre-loved items along with your gifts! Find out more information about how to donate.

Some Christmas gifts just don't appeal to everyone, but there is no reason for them to go to waste. We love receiving your unwanted Christmas gifts once the festive season ends, and there are some we see flooding in more than others!

The most common unwanted gifts we receive after Christmas are:

1. Board games
2. Celebrity autobiographies
3. Toiletries
4. Cookbooks
5. Pyjamas and onesies

We understand that sometimes you just have don't have the bathroom space for all those toiletries, or you just don't quite like that celebrity enough to read a whole book about them – and that's okay! There's no shame in donating your unwanted gifts to Oxfam, where we can give them a new lease of life, and raise money towards fighting poverty in the process!

All our shops accept donations. Use our shop finder to search for your closest one. You can also donate items by post for free, including clothes, homewares and books with our postal donation bags.

If you are a UK taxpayer, you can help Oxfam make the most of your donated books for charity causes worldwide by signing up for Gift Aid. You can sign up online, or in person when you donate. This helps Oxfam raise an extra 25% on the value of your donation by reclaiming government basic rate tax.

For more information about waste at Christmas, and how to reduce it, see How To Have A Sustainable Christmas from WRAP. WRAP is a UK NGO working to reduce waste.

Oxfam shops can accept a variety of Christmas decorations, including:

• Christmas tree decorations (baubles etc.)
• Artificial Christmas trees
• Christmas decor (Christmas stockings, artificial wreaths etc.)

We can raise more money from complete sets and new items in their original packaging, but we are grateful to receive any of the items listed above, provided they are clean and in good condition.

If you're still unsure about what Christmas decorations you can donate, please see the 'What you can donate to our charity shops' on our website, or ask a member of staff or a volunteer in your local shop.