Want to save money and reduce waste this holiday season?
Second hand gifting is increasingly popular. A report commissioned by Kijiji found that between 2014-2019, the number of people who said they have given a second-hand good as a gift doubled, to more than half of those surveyed.
More specifically, according to the UK charity Oxfam, in 2021, more than a third of adults were likely to buy Christmas presents that are second hand for their children. Children don’t mind or notice if items are pre-owned, and they grow out of clothing so quickly it makes sense to save money on these gifts. Three in ten parents intentionally bought second hand gifts for children to raise awareness about protecting the environment.
Parents and grandparents who shop at my children's thrift store in Ottawa leading up to the holiday season are buying these top 5 best second hand gifts for children this ‘Thriftmas’.
Second hand children's books
From barely cracked open preowned baby books to well-loved favourites, used children’s books make great stocking stuffers. These are plentiful and inexpensive at most thrift stores!
Second hand toys
New toys typically come with lots of plastic and packaging waste. Buying second hand toys from reputable resellers or thrift stores with a practice of checking toys for safety and missing parts can greatly reduce your environmental footprint. Grab a large puzzle for the whole family to work on over the holidays, or save big with second hand stocking stuffers of miniature cars, travel games, and dolls.
Christmas Pjs
From used baby clothes with holiday or Christmas-themed prints, to cute and funny second hand children’s holiday pajamas in all sizes, these are fantastic items to get your hands on for sweet holiday photos. You can often find vintage or unusual prints rather than getting the same Old Navy prints as everyone else that year!
A Cozy Sweater
Visit your local children’s consignment store in person or shop for second hand kids’ clothes online to find great deals on a cozy sweater for the winter months. A lovely gift that saves you money and helps the environment by extending the life of children’s clothing and minimizing the production and packaging waste of buying new.
Party wear
Planning a holiday family photo session, or attending a fancier event over the holidays? Don’t pay full price for a party dress or sweater vest that will get minimal wear. These can be purchased from a children’s consignment or thrift store in near perfect condition, and again, you may find a vintage or unusual piece that your child will love to wear. Bonus! You don’t have to worry if they spill their hot chocolate all down the front.
Don’t forget that donating your children’s outgrown clothing, books, and toys gives another family the chance to benefit. As many thrift stores have a charitable purpose, donating clothes and buying second hand spreads that gift further, benefitting others in need in the local community.
Happy thrifting!
