Thrifty Gifting
Spring gift giving is upon us — a perfect opportunity to shop second hand!
I take gift giving very seriously. My husband would tell you that I take it too seriously. It’s important to me that when I give a gift to someone, it’s clear that I thought long and hard about what this person would enjoy. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always line up with my thriftiness and sustainability goals. Cue my foray into secondhand gift giving!
I’m not alone in my love for giving gifts. According to eMarketer, holiday gift sales passed the trillion dollar mark in the United States in 2019. Households spent $1,536 on average, even though data from Mint showed that they had planned on spending only $942. That means the average American spent almost $600 more on holiday gifts than they had planned. I can’t help but think that these figures would be much smaller if people transitioned to giving secondhand gifts.
The spring season ushers in a number of occasions that call for gifts. Depending on how your friends and family observe them, there’s Mother’s day, Father’s day, graduations, baby showers, wedding showers, and — of course — the weddings themselves! As vaccinations roll out and people gather to celebrate, we are all bound to have more gifts to exchange this year.
Buying secondhand gifts requires a little extra planning, but I promise it’s worth it. I write birthdays on my paper calendar (old school!) so that I can easily see what’s coming up. Your best strategy will be to buy items when you see them rather than waiting until you need them. Store everything in one drawer or closet shelf so that when birthdays and holidays roll around, you have your own little treasure trove of secondhand gifts to choose from.
Here are the kinds of vintage items that I look for and who I’m picturing when I buy them.
Music Lovers
Classic Records: With the resurgence in popularity of record players and vinyl albums, used classic records make a great gift. Are there people who don’t like Fleetwood Mac? And if there are, are you sure you want to be buying them a gift? But seriously, a vintage press of a classic album sounds the way it should, and is sure to be appreciated by any music lover. Do check before buying though, to make sure they aren’t too scratched. Another idea: You can buy albums with cool cover art and frame them.
Concert and Tour Tees: These are pretty coveted so they can be hard to find. If you see one at a price you’re comfortable with, snatch it up! They make the perfect gift for music lovers, especially classic rock fans.
Readers & Wordsmiths
Classic Books: For anyone who loves reading, the gift of a well chosen book can feel like an absolute treasure. As with records, you can’t go wrong with a vintage copy of a classic, especially one with a beautiful cover.
Office and Library Decor: Keep an eye out for vintage bookends, desk organizers, and letter holders. Vintage illustrated dictionaries or other reference books are also a great idea, especially when tailored to specific interests.
Favorite Books: We’ve touched on gifting the classics, but you could also consider inscribing and gifting your copy of your favorite book, especially if you have multiple copies. A friend once did this for me, and I was really touched. Not only did the book hold great meaning to him, he wanted me to have his copy, and the inscription gave him space to explain why.
Stationary: Lovers of snail mail will appreciate being able to send out their letters on old-school stationary.
Home Cooks
Table Linens: These are one of my favorite gifts to receive because I get to use them all the time. Look for placemats, cloth napkins, and table cloths, but be sure to check them very closely for stains before buying.
Kitchen Storage: Canisters for dry goods, a hanging spice rack, or a recipe box are perfect for anyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen.
Aprons: So cute, and so easy to come by, these are perfect for the home cook who enjoys entertaining guests.
Serving Pieces: Anything to help your home cook show off their skills will probably be much appreciated. Look for beautiful platters, fondue sets, footed and domed cake stands, or sets of vintage cake or salad plates that can be mixed in with china that your recipient already owns.
Entertainers
Barware: You can usually find this in abundance and it’s a great gift, especially for weddings or housewarmings. Keep an eye out for matching sets of highball or old fashioned glasses, cocktail shakers, ice buckets, crystal decanters and coasters.
Snack Dishes: Any good happy hour includes snacks, so look for interesting serving pieces such as teak cutting boards that are perfect for charcuterie or small bowls for nuts and olives.
Homebodies
Quilts, Throws, and Pillows: Vintage textiles always make a home feel warm and inviting, and they’re often completely one of a kind because they were made by hand. Stick to soft neutrals if you’re unsure of someone’s color preferences.
Candle Holders: I If you know that your recipient likes to have a cosy home, there are tons of great candle holders out there and they are often extremely affordable. You could gift a set of holders with a set of hand-dipped candles or sculptural tapers.
DIY Crafters
Sewing and Crafting Supplies: Sewing, crocheting, and knitting used to be a part of daily life for many people so vintage notions, buttons, yarn, fabric, trims, ribbons, and patterns are often pretty easy to find
Craft Organizers: Vintage tackle boxes, sewing baskets, and even Caboodles from the ‘80s/’90s (why did I ever give mine away?!) make excellent storage for craft supplies.
Animal Lovers
Porcelain, Clay, or Brass Figurines: Collectible animal figurines can be great home decor pieces when they represent your recipient’s taste. My very first dog was a greyhound so I’ve got a few bits of vintage and antique greyhound decor in my house. Consider favorite dog or cat breeds, favorite farm animals for a cottage core vibe, mythical creatures, etc.
Paint-by-Number Artwork: You can’t go wrong with a kitschy paint-by-number version of your recipient's favorite animal.
Tapestry or Needlepoint Cushions: Again, choose your recipient’s favorite animal and they will be delighted.
Green Thumbs
Planters: Many house plants that you may already own, like succulents or spider plants, can be easily propagated from leaves and cuttings. Keep your eye out for inexpensive vintage planters, and keep a couple on hand. Just make sure you allow enough time for the plant to fully root before giving it away
Vases: You can find these in any style, from any era, and at any price point so they’re an easy go-to gift for the gardener who likes to bring their blooms indoors.
The Ultra-Stylish
Statement Accessories: These can be a great gift for anyone who likes to have fun with their style and make a visual impact. Stretch belts with chunky buckles from the 1980s are easy to come by, as are bold silk scarves, “mod” handbags, quirky box purses, and mid-century modern neckties.
Jewelry: Vintage costume jewelry is usually inexpensive and well-made. If you want to level up your gift giving, search for vintage jewelry that is tailored to the recipient. Think ‘50s initial brooches, ‘70s zodiac pendants, necklaces or charm bracelets that feature the recipient’s interests, and vintage watches that you can have engraved.
Vintage Clothes: The quality of vintage clothing that you can find at reasonable prices might pleasantly surprise you. If you’re buying for someone and you’re not sure about their size, go with pieces that have a more forgiving fit, like jackets, vests, and oversized sweaters.
Travelers
Framed Antique Maps or Travel Posters: This can be a really thoughtful gift for the traveler in your life. Choose a place they’ve been, a place you’ve been together, the place they most want to visit, or a place significant to their heritage.
Globes: A stylish and useful gift, I’ve seen many of them sell at estate sale auctions at very reasonable prices.
Luggage: Vintage train cases are perfect for storage and display, as are larger pieces of vintage luggage which can be stacked to make end tables.
Kiddos
Nurseryware: Nurseryware makes a great gift for new babies. Almost every time I go into my favorite resale shop, I see sets of vintage china nurseryware with the sweetest patterns and decoration. Antique silver or pewter baby spoons are also pretty easy to find and make a useful gift.
Games: Look for vintage board games and puzzles (make sure they have all the pieces!), jacks, marbles, playing cards, croquet sets, badminton sets, and chess or checker sets, appropriate for the age of your recipient. Vintage game packaging often has great graphics, which might appeal to children and parents alike.
Children’s Clothes: You will need to know your audience fairly well for this to be successful. I know parents who wouldn’t dream of putting their children in secondhand clothing, and others who think nothing of it. Remember to check for stains or damage before buying.
The Nearest and Dearest
Family Heirlooms: This may sound a little luxe, but it doesn’t have to be. If there’s something gathering dust in the attic then consider gifting it to a close friend or family member who might appreciate it. In the last couple of years, I’ve been fortunate enough to be gifted the button collections of two of my great-grandmothers. I’m a full-time seamstress, so those were gifts that were incredibly meaningful to me even though they don’t have much monetary value.
There’s no harm or shame in giving a gift that has already seen a little extra love. It means that you’re conscious of the environmental impact of consumerism, and that you’ve chosen to go the future-friendly route instead. That’s something to be really proud of! Secondhand gifts also let your loved ones know that you have really taken the time to consider how much they mean to you, and what might make them feel special. Remember that it’s okay to transition slowly to this type of gift giving. Baby steps are still good steps.
Where To Shop
Thrift stores, consignment shops, and estate sales are usually the places where you’ll get the most for your money. Plan to get to estate sales at least half an hour before opening if you want to be one of the first people in the door. Check with resale shops to see if there are specific days of the week when they put new merchandise on the floor so you can plan your future trips accordingly. I use estatesales.net to find estate sales and auctions in my area.
Second-hand shopping apps, like Poshmark, Depop, and Mercari are helpful if you’re not up for browsing through thrift stores and resale shops in person.
Online sources, like Ebay or Etsy, are great if you’re looking for something specific, especially during the pandemic. One of my favorite Etsy shops for mid-century modern home decor is Bittercress MCM. Full disclosure, it’s my dad’s shop, but he really does have a great eye and he is the person who taught me to love all things vintage! Love Maralie’s Etsy page has great antique home decor and vintage textiles/trims, and I am obsessed with the unused vintage postage stamps available from Edelweiss Post.
Social Media is a great place to discover new vintage sellers. They often have their own websites or Etsy shops, and some of them sell directly from Instagram. Some of my favorite instagram accounts for vintage clothes are Demetra Vintage and Zest Vintage. Marigold Vintage has great vintage home decor, and Sunnycrick Vintage has the absolute best selection of vintage jewelry.
Antique stores are usually my last resort because they tend to be the most expensive places to buy second hand. However, If you’re short on time and looking for something specific, they can be your friend. Once you find what you want, don’t be scared to politely ask if there’s any wiggle room in the price. Many times they will discount items by 10% if you ask nicely and are spending over $20.
Your own house! But only for people you really, really like. If you have a favorite vintage or antique item that you love but just never seem to use, it might make the perfect gift for someone you really care about.
Have you received a secondhand gift that you absolutely loved? Tell us about it! You can use our Thrifty Finds form to submit a post for the blog.
Editor: Karrie Witkin | Designer: Haley Burson | Photography: Alison Spanner | Copywriter: Karrie Witkin | Copy Editor: Katie Frankowicz | Proofreader: Karrie Witkin
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