Did you read past the title? Good!
Some of you are doing a good Jimmy Fallon impression right now. (“ew”) But buying secondhand isn’t gross, and I’ll tell you why. Because it’s going to save you a ton of money.
Now so far in the 7 Ways to Pile Up Christmas Money series, we have talked about creative ways to find some extra bucks to spend on presents. If you missed any of the series, be sure to check out this post! At the bottom you’ll find links to all of the previous posts.
Back to secondhand shopping.
Ok, so it’s not just the frugal part that makes it not gross. The fact is that a lot of people out there are getting rid of perfectly good (or even still new with tags) items for whatever reason. Maybe they are decluttering or cleaning up the home of a loved one or got a gift they hated but couldn’t return. Who knows?
[Tweet “There are #bargains to be had if you are patient and picky enough to get them.”]
The point is that there are bargains to be had if you are patient and picky enough to get them. This is why we are starting early and did that whole planning ahead/list thing.
Before we dig in, let me put up this disclaimer: if your gift recipient is going to totally freak out at the thought of getting a gift that a stranger touched first (nevermind the fact that hundreds of people have already touched the stuff on the store shelf at Walmart), you might want to think twice about doing this for that particular person.
Also know that if your recipient is a chronic gift returner, this might not be the way to buy for them.
On the other hand, this method works great if your recipient is a child (especially babies since many secondhand items are hardly used) or if you are a crafty person. Also consider it for frugal minded friends and people who like unique gifts.
Craigslist
We try to get our kids a large outside type of toy (like a basketball hoop) that is a family gift each year. I have already been searching Craigslist for this item for a few weeks looking for a good bargain. In order to get a deal on Craigslist, there are some rules to follow.
- The obvious… never go to a strangers home alone, be safe!
- Begin looking far in advance. You are at the mercy of someone else’s timing. It takes time to find the right item at the right price in the right location. If you keep your Craigslist tab open on your computer and check it occasionally throughout the day, it won’t take you much time. But it could make you first in line for an awesome deal.
- Know what retail prices are. There are people on CL trying to sell used items for the same price as new! In rare cases this might be a deal if you will save a lot on shipping or if the item they are selling is better quality than the new one you found for the same price. Largely, if I’m buying from CL I am looking to pay at least half off the new price.
- Be sure that the item is good quality. If you are paying half price and half of the pieces are missing, that’s not going to be a deal. If the item is in terrible shape or too dirty to clean, skip it.
- On the other hand, if you can get an amazing deal (paying just a couple of dollars) for an item that you know for sure you can repair and clean up to look as good as brand new, then jump on it. Sometimes you can get a great deal because other people don’t want the hassle.
- If you are crafty, this can be a great place to buy a “lot” of crafty items. After weddings (for instance), people sell many of their leftover decorations that you can turn into gifts.
Goodwill/Thrift Shops
This one can be a bit trickier since I’ve heard that prices at some Goodwills are as bad as retail. But many thrift stores can be a treasure chest of gift ideas.
- You can often find clothing that still has the original price tag attached.
- You can also find great books that are practically brand new.
- Sometimes toys and other items are still in their original boxes.
- This can be a great place to find objects that will make give recipient a fond nostalgia for items they remember from their younger days. Consider it a frugal antique shop!
Other secondhand places to try:
- yard sales
- Facebook yard sale groups (follow the same suggestions listed above!)
- eBay Classifieds for your area
Making Money
On the other hand, if you find yourself with lots of items that aren’t useful anymore, consider the above suggestions from the seller’s perspective! You can be the one making money on Craigslist, yard sales, eBay, or other places. A few minutes of your time can end up being worth a nice chunk of change.
Ready to read on? The next day in our series is a group of 9 Simple DIY Presents You Can Make as Gifts which I call 7 Ways to Pile Up Christmas Money: Do It Yourself.
Or you can go back here and read the whole series.
How would you feel about receiving a gift bought secondhand? Or how do you feel about giving one bought this way?
I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. 
I love buying from second hand shops. Often you will find brand new items that people have simply never used. I never buy full priced books, why would you?
I am currently looking for xmas gifts. They dont HAVE to come from second hand shops, but I certainly wont discount buying something if I think it would suit one of the family just becsuse its second hand.
#ShowcaseTuesday
I am usually amazed at the great shape the books are in, too. I agree, no sense in limiting yourself to buying secondhand, but if you find items that work, why not try it?
Goodwill is an awesome place to shop, if you have the patience to either make multiple trips on a somewhat regular basis to find something good, or are willing to make a day of going to various locations throughout town (something we have done on more than one occasion, on both accounts!). While I don’t often end up finding things to gift to other people, buying things for ourselves means that there is more money in the budget for gifts (so it kind of works out).
I have gotten gifts that are secondhand items and have never minded it – I know it was still picked out with me in mind, and I know that money isn’t on trees, and that the people who have bought me these gifts know the “rules” (so to speak) of what is okay to buy second hand and what is just, well, icky (cuz some stuff is).
We don’t buy much for Christmas, but since people here are picky and make VERY specific lists, we can’t buy second hand. 🙁
I find it a major money waste and a bad savings habit for children though.
Thanks for sharing it on #tiptuesday.
That’s a real shame! Thanks for hosting.
I like buying second hand. I have found some great gems and have made some old items turn into great gems. Christmas is a great time to go second-hand shopping. You can buy large toy chests for kis and paint them up and no one will know where you got it from.
That’s a great tip!! Thanks for sharing.
These are all really great tips Jamie. And of course, there is nothing wrong with second hand gifts. Kids get tired of toys five minute after they get them. So yes, second hand is the way to go!
Yes, they sure do get tired of them quickly! I used to get my kids gifts and then wind up getting rid of them within a couple of months because they hadn’t played with them more than once or twice in all that time. So disappointing, but definitely a learning experience for me.
These are really great tips – thank you for linking with #ShowcaseTuesday
I always buy second hand books for my grandchildren and they never care or know the difference.
Thanks for sharing on this week’s OSH Blog Hop!
http://oursimplelife-sc.com/our-simple-homestead-blog-hop-22/
Thanks for hosting!
Great tips. I have never done the craigslist thing, but thrift shops and yard sales, always. Thanks for sharing on the Homestead Blog Hop.
Yes, those are great resources! Thanks for hosting the hop!
Such a good idea. I have gotten a few things from CL to repurpose for gifts for my family. As well as I have sold things to make money. Thanks for sharing your ideas at Welcome Home Wednesday Linky Party!
Yeah, it really is a great resource both for getting things and getting rid of things!
Great idea for Christmas! I’m always amazed at how many brand new items are at the consignment shops in my areas (especially for kid and baby clothes!). And if you consign some of your old stuff and earn store credit, you could spend $0 on some Christmas gifts! 🙂