I would hate to see anyone have to burn unnecessary gas or lose well-earned money on holidays gifts they gave or received. The worst is getting a gift that’s not right, and then having to struggle to figure out how to return it.

I can still remember back to my sweet 16 party and a sweater I got. It was a cute sweater but a size too small. I wanted to go back to the store where it came from and exchange it, but that wasn’t going to be easy to do.

There were a ton of people at that party–so many that I lost count–and this sweater showed up in an unmarked box. It did have a price tag on it but not one that clearly identified in which store it was bought.

Since not everyone who attended the party gave me a gift (bad manners!), it wasn’t even like I could use a process of elimination to figure out who gave me the gift, and then go back to that person and see if I could get the information I needed to make that exchange. So one day I decided to go to the mall where everyone shopped for gifts, bring the sweater with me, and go to each clothing store in the mall to see if this is where the sweater came from.

I literally visited every single store in that mall, and by the end of the day I was no better off. I still had a sweater that I would have loved to have worn, but it was too small and therefore useless. I think I ended up donating that sweater to charity, but I will never forget the entire day I spent trying to figure out the origin of that sweater.

Which is why when stores introduced the concept of gift receipts, I cried out “Hallelujah.” No longer would I or any other unhappy gift recipient have to struggle to figure out how or where to exchange a gift. The gift receipt would tell you everything you needed to know, except for how much the person spent on the gift. This would eliminate unnecessary trips to the store to attempt a return that may not happen and money lost on an item that the recipient doesn’t like or can’t use.

That’s why in these weeks before Christmas and Chanukah, I’m giving gift receipts my Suddenly Frugal Seal of Approval. For gift buyers and recipients alike, they are a blessing.

And while we’re talking about gift returns (which I hope that none of you have to deal with this holiday season), here are five tips from the National Retail Federation for turning any gift returns you (or anyone else) need to make into a stress-free affair:

1. Know the retailer’s return policy before you buy.
Most retailers have return policies prominently displayed, especially at this time of year. Gift-givers should read and remember them. If policies are not clearly displayed, ask a sales associate or a manager to explain them to you.

2. Save and file all receipts!
Receipts are still the key to hassle-free returns. Some retailers will allow consumers to exchange merchandise without a receipt, but without a receipt, a retailer may only provide merchandise credit for the lowest markdown-price at which the item was sold during the holiday season. Make sure to provide the recipient with a gift receipt to save hassle after the holidays.

3. Provide all original packaging and all parts (including tags) when giving a gift.
Some retailers won’t accept returns unless the item is in its original package. If you plan to take back a gift when it is unwrapped, resist the urge to open it or play with it. No one wants to buy someone else’s merchandise.

4. Make online returns easy!
Returns are a part of shopping, no matter where you buy. In addition to the other rules of returns, here are a few things to find out before you purchase a gift online:

- Know the process: Who pays for shipping the return–you or the merchant? Some merchants will pick up the delivery charges for exchanges, but not for returns, others offer free return shipping on every return.

- Where to make returns: Does the retailer have a physical store, and can returns or exchanges be made there? Make sure you have the correct address if you need to mail returns back to the company. Some merchants have offsite service centers to handle returns that may be in a different location from where the merchandise is sent.

5. Be patient.
Remember, the week after Christmas is one of the busiest weeks of the retail year. With people’s frustration high and tolerance low, be patient when returning merchandise.

Do you have any nightmare return stories, a la that sweater from my 16th birthday? Or can you recall when a gift receipt made returning so much easier for you? If so, please post your comment.