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As supply chain delays threaten to derail even the best laid plans, participating in “Thriftmas”—that is, shopping for secondhand gifts—can be a way to ensure your kids, wallet, and the environment are happy this holiday season.
Count Kelly Stumpe (a.k.a. The Car Mom) among the Thriftmas advocates. Stumpe's been on the hunt for pre-loved gifts for weeks and counts a set of timeless wooden blocks that retail for approximately $200 among her favorite finds so far. “I got them for, like, $50, which was a killer deal," she says. "They’re going to look brand new.”
As Stumpe explains, thrifting doesn’t have to be hard. To get started, she suggests making second-hand browsing part of your shopping routine. Once Upon a Child has seven area locations, and Kangaroo Kids offers affordable options for toys and clothes. "Once Upon a Child is great because it's the kind of place where you can buy second-hand toys, and you can also [sell] second-hand toys," Stumpe says. "They'll buy them from you. So that's a win-win."
Stumpe also browses Goodbuygear.com, along with several area Buy Nothing groups on Facebook. “Those are groups where people just post things, like, ‘Hey, I’m getting rid of this—it’s free.’” Stumpe explains. “I find that kids' toys are on there a lot.” (Stumpe admits that it’s a tad easier shopping secondhand for her 1- and 2-year-olds, neither of whom are begging for brand-name gifts just yet.)
One of the biggest perks to purchasing pre-loved items is the ability to cut down on packaging and plastics. “You don’t have to worry about the boxes that a lot of children’s toys come in,” Stumpe says. “The fact that all of the toys are open and my kids can immediately start playing with them is exciting.”
