Seasons Greenings

It's all over the news these days: inflation, the economy, cost of gas, and more. While the holidays are still a couple months away, you see companies like Amazon doing early access sales to get shoppers to think about shopping earlier than Black Friday this year. And it makes sense... with wallets feeling a bit thinner these days, you might want to plan ahead, and spread out the spending over a longer period of time.

In this article, a consumer poll states that 84% of shoppers will have their holiday shopping impacted in some way by inflation, with 58% of shoppers starting their shopping before November, and 37% interested in purchasing second-hand gifts. 

The great news is there are amazing gifts to be found in second-hand stores, some of which are second-hand but in very good condition, and some of which are actually brand new but are discounted overstock. 

1. Start shopping early to find what you want second-hand. Let's be honest: sometimes it takes a couple extra rounds to find what you want at second hand stores, as you're looking through individual items instead of a traditional retail store ordering multiple pieces of inventory of multiple sizes and varieties. 

2. Do check out online. There are more and more online options for resale, such as thredUP and Poshmark for clothing. Goodwill can be found on Ebay for assorted items ranging from musical equipment to toys and tools. On Amazon, you can filter your results for "Used" condition. 

3. Hop on the designer resale trend. More and more premium brands are launching resale programs on their websites. Just a couple examples are Preloved by Michael Kors and The North Face Renewed. Here you can get steep discounts (ex 50%) off of top brands. Many of the items I browsed on these sites were new or used just a few times. Imagine the ski jacket that was used for just one season before the teen outgrew it, or the beautiful handbag used for a special event and then sat in the back of the closet. These items are definitely in fantastic condition and ready for the next giftee to enjoy!

4. Don't forget your local gifting group. While I usually am giving items on my local Buy Nothing group, you're also allowed to ask for items. Again, you'll want to start early, but often a neighbor will have an item you are looking for, and will happily pass it on.

5. Move up your spring cleaning. Many of these sites, shops, and programs allow you to sell your own items. Clean out your bookshelf and closet, starting the new year off fresh, and gaining some extra funds for your gifting budget.