We've all received a gift that we don't want before. We’ve all received a few Christmas gifts that we don’t want before. It happens. Research suggests nearly two-thirds of people unwrap at least one gift they do not want, with unwanted presents often left unused by Boxing Day. One Glasgow fashion expert says there is a simple solution – sell them. Aimee McBride, Fashion Lecturer at Glasgow Kelvin College , says reselling unwanted gifts on platforms such as Vinted can reduce waste, avoid awkward conversations and even earn Scots up to £1,000 in the run-up to the New Year. How to turn unwanted gifts into cash this Christmas Aimee says being honest and clear about condition is key when it comes to reselling gifts. She said: “There is honestly no shame in selling a gift you know you are not going to use. If it is still in its packaging or has the tags on, that is actually a huge advantage. Items listed as new with tags sell faster and for more money, so being upfront about the condition really pays off. “Platforms like Vinted are public. Even if you do not think the person who bought you the gift is on there, there is always a chance they could stumble across it. Being honest about reselling avoids awkwardness and makes the whole process feel much more comfortable.” Sell smart to make more money Aimee says timing, pricing and consistency can make a big difference to how quickly items sell. She explained: “If you know you are not going to use something, sell it straight away while people are actively looking for gifts. The run-up to Christmas is when demand is highest and buyers are ready to spend. “When pricing, it is important to look at what items have actually sold for rather than what people are asking. Checking sold listings gives you a much clearer idea of what buyers are willing to pay and helps things move more quickly. “Listing little and often works much better than uploading everything at once. Adding one or two items a night keeps your account active and makes your listings more visible to buyers.” What Christmas gifts resell well Aimee also highlights that some types of gifts tend to perform better than others on resale platforms. The lecturers said: “Nothing is worse than getting a gift you do not like or would not use. Rather than it sitting taking up space, you can rehome it and use the money for something you would actually love instead. “Although people often think of Vinted as just clothing, unused beauty products like serums and perfumes resell really well, as do accessories such as jewellery and handbags. Jewellery is a very common unwanted gift because it is a hard thing to buy for someone else and people often gift what they like rather than what the receiver would actually wear. “Kids’ toys also resell extremely well. Many children receive duplicates or toys that are not right for their age. Reselling them means parents can use the money for something their child will actually play with. A lot of toys listed are brand new and unopened but sold for a fraction of the shop price.” How much you can make and what to expect Aimee believes reselling can add up quickly, but it is important to understand how and when you will be paid. “Lots of people make a few hundred pounds easily in the run-up to Christmas, and if you have higher-value pieces you can make up to £1,000 from selling personal items or unwanted gifts. “There is a £1,000 tax-free trading allowance in the UK, so if you are just clearing out your wardrobe or reselling a few gifts, you usually will not come close to that. “On Vinted, the buyer needs to receive the item, check it and approve it before your money is released. It is not instant, so that is important to keep in mind if you are planning to use the money for Christmas shopping .” A more sustainable way to deal with unwanted gifts Aimee added that reselling is not just about money, but also about reducing waste after Christmas. She said: “I have resold clothing that did not quite fit me and I usually try to use my Vinted credit to find something similar if I still like the style. A lot of people find it awkward to ask to return or exchange a gift because it can feel rude, and reselling removes that awkwardness. “Before platforms like Vinted were so common, unused gifted clothing would often sit in wardrobes with the tags on and eventually be donated or thrown away. A large percentage of clothing given to charity shops still ends up in landfill because they are overwhelmed with donations. “Using resale platforms supports the circular economy. It keeps items in use for longer, reduces waste and helps prevent perfectly good items from ending up in landfill. I would love to see fashion companies improve the quality of what they sell so we can move away from fast fashion and towards circular fashion. Reselling works best when items are made to last.” Related... 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