Gift giving should be about the gift and the recipient, not the cost. Doing what I call “second chance” gifting is a great way to not only save your pocket, but to give in a more sustainable and thoughtful way. Thrift gifts aren’t just about buying a bunch of used stuff, either. It’s about recycling, reusing and giving eco-friendly gifts. She recently shared a segment on WGN Daytime Chicago, about thrift gifts and how they have gained popularity. Here are some fun Thrift Store gift tips and ideas for putting baskets together.
Tips for gifting from a thrift store:
Items that a thrift store often has:
books
Wine glasses and glassware
Cups
Serving dishes and plates
Craft supplies such as rubber stamps
Vases, especially glass ones
Records
Photo frames
art
Crystal and pieces of glass
clothes
jewelry
Clean thrift store items appropriately before giving them as gifts
Clean items appropriately after bringing them home before giving them as gifts. Soft goods such as blankets, towels, clothes and tablecloths can be washed, glasses and ceramics can be washed in the dishwasher and items such as baskets can be vacuumed. For small items like books that can’t be washed, place them in a trash bag and place them in the deep freezer for at least a week. Make sure to inspect items carefully and leave behind anything that smells or looks unsafe. If you’re not sure, just leave it behind.
Do a safety check on thrift store items
Before gifting ceramics, glassware or jewelry, check that each piece is in good condition. Pass anything that has a bad or musty smell. Make sure nothing is taken back from your gift. All soft goods should be washed. Do not give any type of bath, cosmetics, perfume, candles or thrift store consumables as a gift. Buy new ones and add them to your gifts. Pass anything of unknown safety. When in doubt, leave an item behind.
Go to a thrift store with people in mind and what they like
It’s easy to walk into a thrift store and either immediately feel overwhelmed or buy a bunch of random things. By going to the store with gift ideas in mind, it helps narrow down not only the feeling of not knowing where to start, but also what to focus on. Although you may find something perfect for someone, this can help avoid rushing into buying things you don’t need or won’t add to the gift. For example, if you know the “friend” loves wine, you might plan to put together a basket that contains a tablecloth, a set of wine glasses, a wine cork ornament, and a book about wine, appetizers, or entertaining. For the jewelry lover in your life, get a beautiful glass container, add craft store felt and add antique jewelry pieces inside.
Be willing to be flexible about what you find
Sometimes, you can come up with an idea and not find the exact thing you’re looking for. After all, that’s part of the thrill of hunting! You may not be able to find a tablecloth, but find a beautiful piece of fabric or a vintage scarf to cover the basket with. Or maybe you don’t see any pretty wine glasses, but instead look for some cute juice glasses that might work instead.
Create and add some items to add to your thrift store gifts
Anything you’ve made such as a hand-stamped towel, a painted piece, or an ornament can add a special touch to your thrift gift. Baked goods on a sterilized, food-safe plate or plate are also a fun idea.
Look for items that can serve a new purpose
An antique wooden box for a few dollars and an old wallpaper border gets new life. By gluing wallpaper to the inside of the box as a liner and filling it with favorite items such as stationery, craft supplies or other items, the box becomes a personalized and beautiful item to give as a gift.
Gift a wide mouth vase? Instead of filling it with flowers, turn it into an open-top snow globe. The recipient now has a cute holiday decor item and a vase or candle holder to use later.
Get glass and crystal trays and plates
Antique glass trays in good condition can be used as soap dishes, ornament trays, and bases for other items. A beautiful crystal bowl with wrapped candy makes a great gift.
Group the items together to create a complete gift
Books on the back, cute cups and towels, candles wrapped in candle sticks or even a vase can all be combined together to create a complete gift.
Add new items to your existing items
Add to your thrift store gifts from the Dollar Store or other stores. Hot cocoa packets from the grocery store, a new candle from the dollar store, or chapstick and lip balm from the drugstore can round out our sweet gift with a few extra items.
Saving gifting is giving a personalized gift. It can be something that not only saves you money but makes for personalized and personalized gifts too! If you liked this post, you might also like Easy DIY and Craft Ideas for Teacher Gifts.
