>Is it acceptable to give something secondhand as a gift? Homemade? Recycled or reusable? Something won as a prize, not purchased?

Second hand and thrift stores have decorative items and seasonal knick-knacks. I’m willing to buy these for my own use and for my family. But as a gift? I don’t know. Those cloth napkins: wash and press, and they’ll look new. But would the gift be tacky? I’ve given and received used CDs by favorite performers. These CDs play as well as new and provide hours of enjoyment. Sometimes they’re out of print, too, unavailable in regular stores. Now that the MP3 generation is here, my old CD craze might be irrelevant, but it’s a good starting place to consider the idea of second hand gifts.

Homemade? I’m not a very good artist or crafter, and I’m all thumbs with a sewing machine, so traditional personal gifts aren’t viable options. But let me in the kitchen and….cookies. Bars. Gifts in a Jar. I can wrap the gift jars in a re-used gift bag with a few lovely sheets of re-used tissue, and I have a nice gift for someone. Cookies are good for someone who might not bake for themselves or someone who is really busy. Is it okay, though, to give something consumable like this? Something that won’t last?

Now comes the other tough call: cheap or inexpensive items. Dollar store. Drugstore clearance aisle. Lip glosses, chapsticks, notepads, pens and pencils, and more — for less. Is it culturally acceptable to create a gift package with goodies like this? Or what about gifts won in blog blasts? They’re new, and even if they cost me nothing but time and effort, they will have value to those who receive them. Is that enough?

Well, blogging friends, what do you think? Times are tough all over. Would you be offended by a secondhand or homemade or inexpensive gift? Would you give one yourself?