Santa Claus has come and gone. The tree is no longer hiding perfectly wrapped presents. Rudolph has to wait 365 days, it’s a leap year, until people see his glowing nose again. So what in the world do you do with that not-so-cute pink, bunny pajama set grandma gave you?

The reality is you’re going to get some lame Christmas gifts this year. You can give them back, cash them in or dish them out to someone who can truly appreciate their glory. It might not be the kindest thing to do. It’s only natural to feel bad before, after and during the act of returning a gift. Some things just need to be done though, and life isn’t always easy.

The art of proper returns and re-gifting, and avoiding being shunned by society, depends on your situation. Sometimes, out of common courtesy and sympathy, you need to hold onto your newly acquired present. If your aunt spends her last dollar on a New York Yankees hat, except you’re a die-hard Red Sox fan, you should still proudly display it… or at least stash it in a box in the closet. If your little sister spends all her hard earned allowance on a new Barbie doll for you, except you’re a boy, just treasure it and give her a big hug.

More often than not, a poor gift will come because the giver does not know a thing about you. Even worse is a stingy giver. This is when you have full authority to take control and turn a negative into a positive. Say your cousin just won the lottery, and he has millions now in the bank. Christmastime rolls around and you’re expecting greatness to be unwrapped from their package. Soon after opening the tiny box that was under the tree, the look of disappointment creeps across your face. You just got a brand new, fully loaded, fresh coat of paint and a sweet pair of rims on a new Hot Wheels Car! After an hour of wallowing in despair, you remember that your neighbor is a car fanatic and he’s only five years old. Opportunity arises, and he would truly appreciate this car. There is no shame in giving this tricked-out ride to him. Re-gift!

Your uncle’s job has just relocated to your hometown. Suddenly, he is very interested in your life, whether by choice or because he doesn’t have any other option. You spend the occasional weekend with him for several months, and Christmastime soon arrives. You feel like you’ve grown close to him, and a monumental gift would be nothing less than expected. When the morning comes, one huge box addressed to you is left under the tree. You tear it open, dig through the packing peanuts and pull out the contents. He graciously gave you three softballs, a softball bat and a softball glove. That’s great Uncle! He seemed to forget that you play baseball. You could stumble around the house angry with him, or you could take a trip to Play It Again Sports. Make some quick cash. Return!

No matter what anyone says, gift returning and re-gifting is more than acceptable. Just use common sense, use your heart and make sure you keep your dignity intact. Don’t throw away that collectable autographed Tom Brady football when it will be worth thousands in years. Don’t hold onto that gift that a friend will find years later and use against you. Cash in on less than great presents. Even better, help a child you know who is in need. Let nothing go to waste and make the best of the holiday season.