Amanda Christmas is quickly approaching. In a few short months, it will be one of the biggest spending rushes of the year. Last year, Americans spent on average $890, with $627 going towards gifts. A whopping 41% of Americans are willing to take on debt to purchase Christmas gifts. Prices for gifts has steadily increased as well as the price of a holiday meal. With so many of us on a stricter budget this year, how do we still enjoy giving Christmas gifts without feeling the financial burden?
Let me introduce you to Thriftmas.
Thriftmas is Christmas shopping with a secondhand twist.
You can find thoughtful, unique gifts without spending a fortune – and you’re keeping perfectly good items in circulation instead of buying something new simply because it’s Christmas. There are so many perfectly good things already in thrift stores and online secondhand retailers. By shopping this way, we are saving money and sustainably gifting.
Thriftmas: How to Thrift Christmas Gifts & Save Money This Holiday Season
What’s thriftmas?
Thriftmas (thrifted + Christmas) is intentionally searching for and purchasing secondhand, thrifted, vintage, or previously loved gifts rather than automatically buying everything new.
I think finding gifts secondhand is way more fun than buying new! While there’s friction in buying gifts this way (time, effort, etc.) , I get far more satisfaction giving a secondhand gift because I intentionally sought it out and purchased it.
Why Thrift Christmas Gifts?
Why on earth would we thrift Christmas gifts rather than just buy them new?
Buying things new is like hitting the “easy button”. It’s so easy to add anything you think someone you’re shopping for might like to your Amazon cart and hit purchase. Heck, you can even have those items sent directly to their home already gift wrapped. While there is absolutely a time this might be the only option, thriftmas is so much more than buying secondhand.
Thriftmas gives us the chance to slow down and intentionally shop for those we love. Instead of buying things they “might” like from Target or Walmart (or wherever you might happen to be shopping), you find things that are unique that they’ll actually love.
The benefits of thriftmas are three-fold: you save money, there’s more intentionality behind the gifting so less clutter and less to manage, and the environmental impact is far less than buying new.
1. You save money
My number one reason for thriftmas is to save money. Americans spend upward of $10B on gifts that people don’t even want. Isn’t that insane?
In general secondhand items are less expensive than buying new. I will of course say that there is absolutely nuance to this. We’re going for quality over quantity here.
Just because something is inexpensive, doesn’t mean you need to buy it! Conversely, just because you found something secondhand, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal.
Check the price of the item you’re planning on buying. Look at the “new” price and look at the price of it used. If you’re at a thrift store and they’re charging $30 for a bag of Mega Blocks – run away! The thrift store is overcharging. It pays off to have a list of things you’re buying and having the ability to price compare if you’re shopping in store.
Vintage and antique items are slightly more expensive, and that’s expected. I love shopping at estate sales in the fall to find unique items at a lower price than an antique mall or eBay seller would have them.
2. It’s sustainable
Did you know that there is enough clothing for the next SIX generations already in existence? What about the fact that 16% of people who received unwanted gifts just threw them away?
The point of thriftmas is, yes, to save money, but to also be a little more sustainable.
The most sustainable Christmas gift isn’t necessarily the one made from recycled materials or wrapped in recyclable packaging. Sometimes, it’s the thing that already exists.
You don’t have the be an “eco-warrior” to practice sustainability with thriftmas. Making the conscience decision to buy secondhand this holiday season will make a difference.
3. Thriftmas is more intentional
Thriftmas takes planning. You can’t fly by the seat of your pants the week before Christmas and expect to find everything on your list.
So what does thriftmas planning look like?
Be like Santa and make a list, check it twice. And start early!
Write down who you are giving gifts to this year and what they would like. When I say “what they would like”, I mean that, truly. What would they like to have but won’t buy themselves? What is something that would be incredibly useful to them? What’s their hobby and do they need specific supplies?
Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics from people! Ask, “I’m shopping more intentionally this year for Christmas, what’s something you’d really love to receive this year?”. Don’t settle for an Amazon list with dozens of options. Drill in, ask what they want the most and start hunting for it secondhand.
I’d much rather have one very intentional gift than a dozen things that were off my Amazon list.
Thriftmas Rules
Rules first! Fun later. Okay?
- Have a person in mind before you shop.
- Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap.
- Look for quality over quantity.
- Check items carefully for damage.
- Clean everything before gifting.
- Don’t feel obligated to buy something for everyone.
- Set a Christmas spending limit before you start.
- Remember that secondhand doesn’t mean second-rate.
These “rules” help us remember our why. Why are we doing thriftmas? To save money, be more sustainable, and be intentional.
25 Christmas Gifts You Can Thrift
So what makes a good thriftmas gift? I’m glad you asked! Here are 25 things that are relatively easy to find secondhand and could be a hit with the person you are shopping for.
- Books
- Coffee table books
- Board games – check the pieces in the box first!
- Puzzles
- Vintage kitchenware
- Baskets – fill it with their favorite snacks!
- Picture frames – put a picture in it that they can change out or leave
- Jewelry – estate sales are great for finding unique pieces
- Handbags
- Scarves
- Sweaters – be bougie and look for cashmere, merino wool, or full cotton!
- Candlesticks – pair this with some locally made candles
- Vases – fill with flowers and this would be a great hostess gift
- Home décor – check their style first
- Vintage ornaments
- Christmas decorations
- Records
- CDs and Movies – the millenial in me loves this idea and I see so many at the thrift store!
- Video games
- Sporting equipment
- Toys – check for pieces and for recalls
- Children’s books
- Craft supplies – our local thrift stores normally have these things in big clear bags
- Baking supplies – think muffin tins, those trendy donut tins, etc
- Cookbooks
How to Make Thrifted Gifts Feel Special
But won’t a thrift gift look cheap??
Nope! Here’s how to make a thrifted gift feel (and look) special.
- Clean everything thoroughly
- Remove old price tags
- Pair several thrifted items together
- Add a handwritten note
- Use beautiful secondhand baskets
- Wrap in reusable fabric
- Create themed gift baskets
- Pair a thrifted item with something homemade
If you struggle with this idea of making it look nice, here’s a very intentional idea:
Thrifted cookbook + thrifted basket + homemade cookie mix = thoughtful Christmas gift
Sometimes it isn’t exactly about what you bought, but why you’re giving it to the person you bought it for.
I hope this leaves you inspired to save money and be more intentional this holiday season. Because truly, it isn’t all about the gifts we give.
Hey, I have already told my kids to thrift for me or donate to a worthwhile charity. I plan on this as well. During the local library book sale this past summer, I purchased a few older cookbooks and found an old Pyrex at an estate sale for one child. Found some good board games for the grandchild.
It sounds like you’re super on top of it this year! It’s true that amazing things already exist and can be found just about anywhere.
I love this Amanda. With my husband’s side of the family, we’ve put a bit of a different twist on this for years. We do a recycled gift exchange. Everyone brings a gift that has to be something they have in their house that they no longer need. We then play a game and exchange the gifts. Once the gifts are opened, there’s a lot of swapping. And, if you end up with something you really don’t need, you can donate it guilt-free to the thrift store.
That sounds like so much fun! And everyone gets to declutter a little bit AND get something they need. Love that!