Now Christmas is over some of the present choices we made can start to look less appealing.
So this year Torfaen County Borough Council is supporting Waste Awareness Wales in asking people to Freecycle their unwanted gifts, rather than putting them away in a dark cupboard or even the bin.
Freecycle is a free version of an auction website, where you upload details of your unwanted items and people who want them then get in touch for further details before collecting them.
They get an item for free and you get something taken off your hands with minimal effort and no cost. Whatever your gift, there is likely to be someone out there who is looking for it.
Residents in Torfaen can also take unwanted furniture to Circulate in Blaenavon. In some cases your old furniture can be removed for free if they are in good condition. Phone 01495 793187.
Councillor John Cunningham, Executive Member for Operational Services, said: "Most people like to start the new year afresh with a clear-out of all those unwanted items and gifts.
"But just because we don't have a use for these items any more doesn't necessarily mean other people won't either - there is usually someone out there who can use them.
"There are plenty of ways to make the festive feeling last that little bit longer by passing on our unwanted items to those who want them - whether it's using websites like Freecycle or services like Circulate, giving unwanted items to friends and family or donating them to charity shops, we can all do our bit to stop sending these items to landfill."