Beka emailed in the following tip:
We’re avid garage sale people — we go nearly every Saturday. Some days we find absolutely nothing, while other days we hit the jackpot!
We have 5 children (who are still young enough that gifts don’t have to come in brand new packaging), so by garage-saling, we are able to stock up on Christmas and birthday gifts during peak garage sale months. This has saved our gift budget a LOT of money!
Thankfully, we live in a suburb in Texas and garage sales are happening 9 months out of the year — however, even if you have a shorter garage sale seasons, this is still an excellent way to save on Christmas and birthday gifts! -Beka
Melissa says
I do the same thing. We have eight kids and even our older ones don’t mind getting “used” gifts. I pick up lovely vintage hard back books, beautiful vintage handkerchiefs and Nerf guns (do you know how crazy expensive those things are new?) for 50 cents or less. Our kids are always happy with their gifts and we don’t have the stress of busting our budget or shopping in crowded stores this time of year.
Beka says
We got 6 awesome nerf guns and a whole box of darts and two dart vests last year for our boys for Christmas… $20 for all!
Anna @ Feminine Adventures says
Yes, yes! And I don’t think you necessarily need to stop once they realize that some of your gifts are used. 🙂
Sure, the brand-new toy was fun, but my mom often included her awesome garage sale finds in our gifts as we grew older. We knew my parents had limited gift funds and wanted to get us things we would love. Often that meant going used, but honestly, after just a few minutes in a child’s hand, who can tell anyway? 🙂
Jennifer says
I agree. I have no problem giving my children nice but used stuff. They know if they complain about it being used, well someone else will be thrilled to have it. They are taught this young so it hasn’t been any problem:) We usually purchase used if possible throughout the year, so it is kind of a lifestyle!
Lana says
Our oldest son always picked every sticker off his toys the first day he had them so they always looked old and used the first day. This did not make us happy!
Beka says
LOVE that. You’re right, they can continue to get used gifts as they get older! Thanks for reminding me of this! And love your point about it being used after just a few minutes anyway! So true!!
Rebecca says
Thought you might like to see this: Free Frozen Crochet Patterns
http://babytoboomer.com/2014/10/07/free-frozen-crochet-patterns/
Joy A. says
An idea that I have used for gift giving is that if there is an item that I declutter and have never used I usually will give them to a family or friend as a gift. It is amazing what nice gifts you can give by doing this and saves a lot of money! I have done this in 2014 for birthdays and have saved a lot of money and have been able to give nicer gifts than if I had gone and bought brand new gifts.
Lana says
My parents did not have a lot of money and after I was an adult I realized that many of our gifts were not new at Christmas. We got awesome things because my Dad could fix things that others did not want. We were the only kids in the neighborhood with a real full sized pin ball machine. Dad probably got it for just hauling it away or fixing someone’s TV.
Beka says
So cool! My hubby is also very handy. We’ll often find stuff out at people’s curbs for trash and my hubby will make it like new! We got a dresser a couple of weeks ago and my husband used his carpentry skills and it’s such a nice dresser now!!
ann says
I’m refurbishing a (free) dresser into a very pretty storage bench for my daughter this year. My son loves Thomas the Tank Engine. I found a round-house for Christmas this year that needed some new screws for $2.50. I also found a tub of trains, tracks, and a few larger pieces that nead a little TLC and a multi-tunnel mountain for $3. He never would have gotten those if not for garage sales! (Permanent black marker is great for hiding scuffs on black train tops and fine grain sandpaper takes the scuffs out of tracks well.)
My daughter is old enough to know that I shop for gifts at garage sales now, but I think it’s a great lesson in frugality. Like you, our kids get great gifts just because I’m willing to do a little repair work!
Mrs. S says
Thankfully used is becoming trendy again! Especially “vintage” items or items grouped together. (Like a basket of classic cookbooks, a vintage apron, etc…)
We also find a lot of gently used items that we are able to update (like picture frames that can be updated with paint, Clothing items that can be refashioned, cast iron skillets that just need cleaned…) and that makes giving both easily financed and unique!
Stephanie says
I second that! I also have purchased furniture, home furnishings, books, games and kids clothes for a fraction of the cost new. Many items are like brand new too!