Want to Save Money this Christmas? Buy Used!

I LOVE buying vintage items ... or just plain used!  It's a way of life for me - why pay more when you don't have to?  (Mother Nature will love you too for keeping good, reusable items out of the landfills!)

"Buy everything used when you can,
and only buy new when you can't"                    Meadow Sweet Grove / Vicki Buchanan

How can we apply this axiom to the hunt for Christmas prezzies?  By visiting your local thrift stores of course, but expand that search at this time of year to include Christmas Markets, Craft Sales and Bazaars!  Often the seniors centers and churches have the best sales and selection of vintage items.  Since they are volunteer-run, they usually sell items at a much lower cost than thrift stores, who have to pay their employees; and the hand-crafted items are generally of exceptional quality.

Take a look at who is on your Christmas List

Book lover:
As long as you know the genre they enjoy, you really can't miss by buying a few paperbacks - there is sure to be one they haven't read - and your outlay is low, low, low.  Insert a hand-made bookmark.

Music lover:
There is a huge sub-culture of music lovers returning to vinyl records.  These types of venues often have stacks of old records.  Again, as long as you know their preference, you can pick out several records for just a few dollars - make sure you take a good look at them and avoid any with obvious warps or scratches.  Your audiophile will appreciate the superior sound quality of vinyl records versus digital reproductions and you can't beat the artwork / photography on some of those old album covers.  If they don't fancy the recording, they might find the cover is worth framing - especially if it is kitsch!

Foodie:
Back to the books! Always lots of old cookbooks at your local Christmas Bazaar. Pair one with a vintage Pyrex mixing bowl, a couple of wooden spoons or potholders from the handcrafted aisle, and you'll still come out spending less money than buying some trendy new gadget at your local cooking store.  Or buy a couple of bags of spices that are mentioned in some of the recipes.  Lots of people also enjoy vintage kitchen items for decoration eg cookie cutters, tins, egg beaters, canisters, souvenir trivets and wall decor. Also don't forget to take a good look around - sometimes you'll find kitchen items from trends that have come and gone, and come back in again.  Like a fondue pot or an ice bucket ... okay, maybe don't buy the fondue pot, but just try to resist that retro ice bucket - it's harder than you think!

Pet Lover:
Look for hand-made catnip bags, toys and doggie "poop bag" carriers.  They are significantly cheaper than those available at the over-priced pet stores that are cashing in on your love of the fur babies!

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Ladies:
There is always lots of vintage china at church sales.  Find a pretty teacup and saucer (add a vintage tea strainer (if you're lucky!) or pair with a souvenir spoon from their favourite vacation spot). Buy some tea to go with it and you have a wonderful gift.  Pack up the tea things in a re-usable decorator cardboard box - available at your local dollar store.  Don't forget the jewellery!  You might find a wonderful aurora borealis necklace from the 1950s or funky vintage Avon sets from the 1970s.  You'll be amazed at the well-made costume jewellery from the past ... and amazingly low prices too! And so much more unique than purchasing new.  Don't worry about used earrings - just give those posts a good clean with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or even plain old white vinegar! Buy some little organza drawstring bags (also from the dollar store) and you now have beautiful presentation for your jewellery gift.

Gentlemen:
Everyone is keen on saving the environment these days aren't they?  Find some old over-sized vintage handkerchiefs for the boys.  Wash and iron them.  Even if he doesn't want to use them at work or at home, they're handy in the car for coffee spills or wiping a spot off the windshield.  Indispensable in his pocket while working in the garden or the workshop for wiping the sweat off his hard-working brow!

Children:
Young children are the easiest.  With usually boxes of toys to choose from, you can put together a nice little collection of toy cars, doll furniture or clothes, board games (check to make sure all the pieces are present) or some little stuffed animals.  Take them home and give them a good clean.  Plastic toys can be wiped down and the little crevices cleaned with a wet Q-tip.  Stuffed animals can go right in your washing machine, with mild soap and cold water on the gentle cycle.  Let them sit on a towel to dry.  Barbie and doll clothes can be washed in the sink in a similar fashion.  When dry, mend any little tears.  Put them all together in zippered toiletry / cosmetic bags or small decorative boxes from the dollar store.  Parents will appreciate that your gift comes with its own storage ... and not all that ridiculous plastic packaging that takes a hacksaw to get into!! (Seriously, this reduces frustration on Christmas morning too when the little ones have to wait for scissors to be found, packaging to be cut  ... not to mention cutting or untwisting all those superfluous tie-downs.  And then somehow removing the delicate plastic toy without breaking it!)

The wonderful thing is that when shopping this way, you'll find you think more about the person you are buying for.  What do they really like?  Would they be able to use this item?  What could I pair it with?  You spend less, yes, and save the environment too, but the result is actually more personalized ... and thoughtful, which is ultimately what gift-giving is all about!

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~ Ending with a Heart-warming Story ~

My daughter was indoctrinated early into the thrill of the thrift store.  Honestly, from the earliest days (when she was still in a carriage), I wheeled her in.  She soon learned how quickly Mom would say yes, when a coveted toy was only $2, versus a brand-new toy in a "regular" store, complete with its copious packaging ... and retailing for $30.  My sweetest recollection was when she was about 3 years old and playing with a Winnie-the-Pooh musical toy.  It had a keyboard and Winnie, Tigger and Eeyore figures standing up at the top ... all ready to chime in when pulled.  When it was time to leave, she reluctantly put the toy back on the shelf without even asking if she could have it (already she knew I had a limit on the "physical size" for toys).  I told her to bring it along to the cashier and the look on her face was so dear - "We're getting it???" she breathed.  That is the pleasure of second-hand shopping and that is the pleasure of being able to say yes, when a toy is only $3.99 ... with working batteries included!!

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018 / edited 2019, 2021 & 2022 & 2023