Where to find great second-hand gifts
14th August 2020 - 2 min read
Tip #1 Your own house – look around to see what you no longer notice, like, use or want. If it’s in a nice thing in great condition, you could put it aside ready to give to the perfect person on a special occasion.
#2 Kids’ bedrooms – a treasure trove of almost new toys and books. Most people jumping on board The Gift Rebellion will rarely have to go to the shops again. We think it’s kind to ask our kids to find a gift for their friends or family. When they feel things moving around freely (ie used goods coming from their friends etc), they might find it easier to part with something they aren’t using so much anymore.
#3 Mum/mother-in-law’s house – probably being a bit cheeky here but Mums’ houses are often another treasure trove of hoarded goods that have been kept for a time when ‘someone might use it’. Don’t be afraid to help your mum by reclaiming a beautiful ‘Complete May Gibbs collection’ that was given to you on your 8th birthday (and has literally never been read in 32 years!!). A lover of beautiful children’s literature will treasure a gift like this.
#4 Op shops and tip shops in your local area – It is truly amazing what people get rid of or throw away. You’ll find so many great things at op shops or tip shops that have barely been used. Have an idea in mind about what sort of things your friend might like.
#5 Gumtree / Facebook marketplace – Great for specific gifts you’d like to give. With any luck, you’ll find what you’re looking for in your local area. At a pinch, you could have something posted from another area. This adds to the carbon footprint but we think it’s probably better than a whole new thing being made, packaged and moved around the world.
#6 Second-hand markets – You’ll usually find specific markets or sales on (pre-loved markets, baby and kids markets, fashion markets, vintage markets etc) in your local area throughout the year. These are great for finding things that people feel still have value but they no longer want.
#7 Ebay / Amazon – for really specific gifts, you can find pretty much anything on one of these marketplaces. Again, we prefer to find gifts locally, if possible.
#8 Vintage / Antique shops – you might find the perfect gift for a lover of antiques or anything retro. This is lower down our list for The Gift Rebellion as it’s already fairly socially acceptable to give vintage or antique gifts.