GAINESVILLE - Re-gifting may seem un-tasteful to some. For joann fosbenner, a Gainesville resident who's done with all her holiday shopping for the year, re-gifting is a big no-no. "I really want the person to know that i've bought that for them… and if i keep it i'll use it somewhere along the line, but i don't generally re-gift."

However, according to a recent online survey conducted by booko.Com, a virtual yard sale community, 92 percent of 3,774 people interviewed think it's completely acceptable to re-gift and more than 62 percent plan on doing it this year.

Re-using and recycling gifts is more common now then ever and Michael Gutter, a family economic specialist for the University of Florida agrees. "You know sometimes we get things that really aren't appropriate for us, but they're not a bad gift… and we know that somebody else will really benefit from it, so while it sounds frugal to say that we may this, i don't think there's often any harm in it."

This year, Margo Seale's holiday shopping was delayed by her pregnancy, however after giving birth two weeks ago she's back behind the shopping carts. She tells me she'd rather her gift be re-gifted then thrown away, at least the value of the item will be appreciated by the next person, she says. "Well if you're not going to use it someone else might as well, you know… somenody else will probably like it even if you don't. If you're not able to use it, somebody else will," Seale adds.

Just remember, when re-gifting check for personal names, initials or monograms. Also make sure to wrap the gift in fresh paper so it looks as if you bought it recently and never re-tape the old wrapping paper.Another tip is to make a list or a mental note of whose given you what; that way you won't accidentally give someone their gift back.

Ellen Dubé, a Gainesville resident says she's never been given one of her gifts back, but if that would happen, she wouldn't take any offense to it. "I don't think i'd take it personally cause it's just a thing. I think the more important thing is to help each other and be there for one another."

So next time you think about throwing out something you didn't like, experts say as long as it's never been worn, used, washed or played with, it's fair game to re-gift.