Blog

In the immortal words of Mariah Carey, all I want for Christmas is... something secondhand. 

Christmas is one of the most wasteful times of year. In fact the amount of waste each of us produces increases by about 30% during the festive period.

And we’re not just talking about food waste, pesky plastic packaging and unwanted presents either. We’re talking about wasted money too. 

Pureprofile’s annual Christmas Report has just been released for this year, with the global publication drawing on insights from thousands of respondents. According to their research, total gift budgets for 2024 will average $468 (an increase from $388 in 2023) 🙀

With these higher spending expectations there's been an increased emphasis on savings, with 67% of us looking to nab bargains on our Christmas expenses in the coming months. Considering the majority (80%) of us indicated they were price-conscious this year, let’s make like Mariah and get thrifty. It’s good for the planet, our pockets and the rellies will thank you too.

To help, we’ve compiled a guide to the best pre-loved gifts to give this Thriftmas (see what we did there?).

Retro biscuit tins & Pyrex dishes

Fill a classic vintage biccie tin, tupperware set or (now achingly cool) Pyrex dish with home baked goodies.

Cashmere...anything

Cashmere is oh-so-luxurious but can be exxy so keep your eyes peeled when you’re hitting the Garage Sale Trail or local secondhand stores.  And don’t worry if it’s got that classic hint-o op shop smell, these tips will have your cashmere finds smelling of roses and looking as good as new.

Vintage glassware

Search out glassware, cocktail shakers and swizzle sticks to create a one of a kind cocktail kit. Take it to the next level with some of your homemade mulled wine spice mix, favourite artisanal local tipple or a secondhand cocktail book.

Board games

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a heated game of Monopoly after one too many egg nogs now would it? Buying board games secondhand over new is heaps cheaper - just be sure to check all the pieces. Or head the vintage route. There’s really nothing to rival an old classic for the nostalgia value. 

Lego

There is more than enough Lego in the world to never need to buy new again. Opt for loose bricks over kits to avoid a Death Star disaster and keep your eyes peeled for pre-loved craft and construction books to help inspire the builds of those young and old alike.

Band tees and Vinyl

Lived in band tees or nostalgic throwbacks to 90s band tours and festivals are priceless gifts for music lovers, and let’s be honest, way cooler too.  Keep an eye out for cute, fun or kooky vinyl cover art too. A quick frame and you’ve got a killer, unique artwork ready to gift.

Classic books

Just like a good wine, classic books tend to get better with age, right? Keep your eyes peeled for the classics and consider the categories too - from vintage cookbooks for foodie friends to gardening bibles for the green thumbed, there’s something for everyone.

Ugly vases

If you’re up for a bit of a project, keep your eyes peeled for ugly vases. Yep, you read right. Give vases the trash to terracotta treatment a la our upcycling hero Geneva Vanderveil and voilà! You’ll have a seriously Instagram worthy gift for the homewares addict in your life. 

Men’s shirts 

While things are changing (yay!), dudes it turns out don’t go secondhand shopping quite as much as the ladies. This means there’s often lots of amazing designer finds just waiting to be discovered in the men’s racks. Look out for high end brands that have been made to last and would normally be outside of your price range.

DIY picnic set

Grab a pre-loved basket (literally every op shop sells one) and fill it up with vintage crockery, a thermos flask, table napkins and nan’s best knitted blanket to create a cute as a button picnic set.

Sneakers

If you’ve got a pesky teen to buy for, look no further. Buying sneakers new nowadays can mean taking out a second mortgage, making them great things to look out for when you’re secondhand shopping. 

Last but not least, some pre-loved gift tips:

• Make a list, set a budget and stick to it.
• Do your research - as well as garage sales, look to local op shops, secondhand stores and online marketplaces.
• Presentation is everything - wash and iron clothes, collect old boxes and tins to display gifts in and keep an eye out for fabric remnants that could double up as reusable wrapping paper.
• Consider using a local repair cafe, Men’s Shed or dry cleaners to get items back in tiptop shape before you gift them.

Garage Sale Trail, Australia's biggest secondhand treasure hunt, is next on 9-10 & 16-17 November 2024. Search for sales happening near you.