How thrift stores can save your Christmas

Supply chain issues. High shipping costs. Stores with insufficient staff to stock merchandise, ring up sales and provide customer service. These are just a few of the challenges facing holiday shoppers this season. When you add creeping inflation and the overall cost of Christmas shopping, it’s not surprising that many shoppers are feeling less cheer and more fear as they navigate the traditional “season of giving.”

But there’s a solution: Secondhand consumerism, or as I like to say, “thrifting for gifting.”

One possible (and often overlooked) solution to these challenges may be as simple as a quick visit to a local thrift store or charity shop. The idea of “secondhand consumerism” and shopping for previously used items can elicit both skepticism and enthusiasm, depending on your exposure to the world of thrifting. The pervasive American belief that “newer is better” has contributed to a cultural expectation that a good gift is one that’s pristine, beautifully wrapped, from a recognizable or luxury brand and bears the proper tags for easy return or exchange.

But those who eagerly support secondhand shopping are happy to explain its many benefits. Most important, it’s a budget-friendly choice: saving customers roughly 50% to 80% on the cost of the same item (if new).

Sustainability of the planet is another important factor for dedicated thrifters. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, America generates about 300 million tons of municipal solid waste a year. Clearly, shopping for gently used products has a direct impact on landfills. In addition, some thrift stores share profits to support a chosen charity, which makes shoppers feel good about their spending.

Beyond these wise and practical reasons to thrift, a possible adventure awaits. On the women’s blog Verily, writer C.K. Dawson reflects, “I’ve learned that thrifting is a creative pursuit. I have to be willing to see things in a different context than that pile on the shelf. It challenges me to ask what other uses a thing may have beyond what it was intended. Old crockery can make great succulent planters, for example. I have to go in with an open mind, and that’s when I find the treasures.”

If you’re new to thrifting but would like to give it a try this holiday season, it’s best to keep your gift ideas simple:

Don’t consider clothing unless you

● know the recipient extremely well and they have a ready sense of humor.

Gravitate toward the pile of pretty

● baskets, which can be filled with homemade goodies and reused by the recipient later for household storage or display.

Giving a personally meaningful

● photo to a friend or family member is easily upgraded by selecting a unique or special frame.

Spend time looking through barely

● opened and expensive coffee table books that reflect the giftee’s passions such as travel, art, sports and gardening.

If you’re shopping for a child, head

● to the office supplies aisle and search the bins for unopened drawing pads, paints, crayons and stickers.

Most stores have an abundance of

● fabric, thread and yarn, which are thoughtful gifts for the crafters in your life.

If you’re a last-minute shopper and Dec 25 is creeping up on you all too quickly, remember it’s not too late to find a worthwhile gift at your nearby thrift stores. They tend to refresh their merchandise multiple times each day, and the employees are usually cheerful and often dressed as elves and reindeer, which is an added bonus.

Parking is also normally abundant and free, and if you like holiday music, be assured that you’ll hear it on a repeating loop for the length of your visit.

Remember you don’t have to break the bank or hurt the planet with your Christmas shopping. Consider thrifting for gifting this year.