Affordable Thrifting Gifting – Get Creative with A Limited Budget

Not to be a Scrooge, but many of us are struggling with affordability this holiday season.

Gift-giving is a way to show others we recognize and care about them, their lives, and their unique experiences and challenges, especially during times when finances are tight. But this year it’s just harder.

With the rising cost of living weighing on many this season, thoughtful gestures can mean even more. But we still want to continue gift giving traditions. How do we do this without sending our own finances into free-fall during an uncertain economy?

Getting creative by putting together thoughtful gifts from thrift store finds can be a lot of fun, and a way to personalize presents for your friends and family. Since thrift stores rescue over 95% of donated items from landfills, by finding new ways to extend the life of things you are making a big difference in the health of Planet Earth.

— ThredUp Resale Report

Discover the Joys of Thrifted Gifting

Charity shops are unique in that you can find multiples of any particular type of item all together. Most places have tons of china, glassware, t-shirts, toys, books, linens and kitchen items, not to mention clothes, hats, gloves and bric-a-brac.

Consider what your giftees enjoy, and tailor specific gift baskets just for them. It shows

you care and gives them something customized, special and unusual they won’t get from anyone else.

How do I justify giving old stuff as new gifts?

Face it, not everything in the thrift store is high quality, or clean enough to re-gift. Avoid anything that is broken, stained, chipped or otherwise damaged.

Make sure you thoroughly clean whatever you choose and polish it up until it looks spiffy and fresh.

Here are some good cleaners you can use, beyond just laundry detergent and dish soap:

• Silver/Silver Plate: Wrights Silver Cleaner and Polish Cream

• Jewelry: Weiman Fine Jewelry Cleaner Liquid with Cleaning Brush

• Metal/Costume Jewelry: A little bit of mild dish soap, like Dawn, some water and a microfiber cloth can cleanup almost any metal.

• Brasso Multi-Purpose Metal Polish cleans bronze, chrome, aluminum, copper and more.

• Bar Keeper's Friend (BKF): Make a paste (BKF powder + water), apply, let sit (10 mins for tough spots), then scrub with foil or non-scratch sponge, rinse well.

Creative Thrifting Gifting Ideas

Here are some Thrifting Gifting ideas for you that are easy, inexpensive, and are sure to bring happy smiles from your friends and family!

Mystery Jewelry Jar – mason jar filled to the brim with costume jewelry and tied up with a festive bow

Toy Cars – box or basket; fill with toy cars and trucks, books about cars or trucks, toy track accessories, car/truck stickers

Disney T-Shirts – collect Disney themed T-shirts, fold them all up into one large one, tie with a bow (great for teens)

Funky Accessories – use a box or even a cookie tin and fill with old sunglasses; headbands, scarves, jewelry, pins, gloves

Endless Handbags – get several sizes of bags (you can theme by fabric, color or type), nest them in each other from smallest to largest, hide a lottery ticket in the smallest one

Dollies To Go – collect small dolls like Playmobile, Disney Princesses, Rainbow High Littles, and Liberty Little Royal Princess, gift in a box (with a lid) tied in a bow with imagination-stirring accessories

Little Creature World – basket or box with small dinosaurs, farm animals, zoo creatures; Pez; kids book with animal or dinosaur theme; toy farm or jungle set pieces; little creature stickers, small animal crackers

Rock it Out T-Shirts – find rock group t-shirts, fold up into one large one, tie with a bow (great for teens)

Sporty 4-Ever – collect different sports-themed jerseys and t-shirts; fold up into the largest one; gift in a basket or box- maybe include a couple of game tickets

Anime Box – collect anime comic books, find a box they fit into, tie up with a bow

Kids Book Basket – wicker basket, assortment of classic children’s books, hot chocolate, small pack of marshmallows, small stuffie; bookmarks

Guilty Treats – trashy paperback novels, magazines; a notepad or journal; pretty pen or marker; chocolate candies and a scented candle for the ultimate good read

Vintage Mystery China Set- box filled with pretty teacups and saucers, glass dessert plates, creamer and sugar set, lace doilies, bud vase, trinket dish

Kitschy Kitchen Surprises – basket with kitchen tools, vintage is possible, such as: salt and pepper sets, garlic press, egg timer, cheese grater, wooden spoons, spatulas, pot holders, cloth napkins

Other Themed Baskets:

Christmas Break – basket, Christmas-themed mugs, hand towels, plaid scarf, ornaments, Walker’s Shortbread, holiday candy dish

Bakers Choice –

Cookie Delight – basket filled with cookie cutters, recipes, pretty bag of cookies tied up with a ribbon, specialty cookie cookbook; retro cookie jar; measuring cups or spoons

Tea Party – silverplate tray to hold everything - teapot, creamer, sugar, pretty tea towel, small silver items like salvers, spoons; gourmet tea packs; mini-honey jars, dessert size china plates, trivets;

Light it Up – box filled with candlestick holders, new candles, matchbox, colorful tea towel, candle snuffers, sprig of holly or greenery

Tea for Two -basket or tray with two tea cups, spoons, tea towel, specialty tea bags, tea infuser, pretty napkin tied with ribbon; honey dippers

Simmer pot –cute saucepan or heat-safe glass pot, muslin, tea bag or organza with - cranberries, 2-3 dried orange slices, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, sprig of fresh rosemary, star anise; recipe (combine with 4 cups of water and boil; lower to simmer), tied up with a ribbon

Spa Basket – fluffy towels, slippers, scented candle, soft socks, chocolate bar, specialty soaps and/or bath bomb, cute soap dish

By partnering something old with something new and adding on a consumable element, you create a whole new gift that delights with its surprising creativity!

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!