Adventures in Rummage and Resale: Secondhand for the Holidays

As the biggest shopping season of the year approaches, we’re bombarded every day with ads filled with new, new, new things to buy—things we simply must have if our holidays are to be magazine-perfect, things we absolutely have to buy as gifts for our family and friends. But who says gifts and holiday trimmings have to be new? I’d like to encourage savvy shoppers to consider resale stores and rummage sales as places to look for gifts and holiday décor at bargain prices.

Were you the one who hosted the family for Thanksgiving? Will you have guests come for a Christmas party or New Year’s Eve? Whether you need an extra-large tablecloth to accommodate all the leaves in your dining room table, or a few extra wine glasses to handle the crowd at your party, secondhand stores can be a great place to shop for accessories for these once-a-year events. You’d be surprised at the fancy dinnerware you can find, too. Or if you’ve always wanted a set of holiday-themed dishes, you can sometimes find those quite inexpensively. Keep in mind, it doesn’t all have to match perfectly in order for your guests to have a good time.

As I’ve been going through my late mother’s boxes and boxes of Christmas things, I’m struck by how our society has changed when it comes to the holidays. I’m finding the ornaments and knick-knacks of my youth, and I can close my eyes and still envision where each one was placed every year. Some of it was a matter of tradition, but the truth was, our decorations were consistent year after year because back then, you simply didn’t buy new things each year. But today, there are retail-driven expectations of a different style each Christmas—a new theme for the tree or color scheme for household trimmings—and often, those decorations that are “so last year” can be found at thrift stores at bargain prices, or at rummage sales in the summer. So if fresh, different accessories are what you seek, secondhand shopping makes it more affordable do the holidays differently each year.

Ditto for the holiday clothes, like dressy outfits for the kids or a seasonal top or sweater. It can be hard to justify paying the price for new garments when it’s something you may only wear a couple of times. Again, planning ahead during rummage season or checking out the resale shops right now may yield the perfect festive outfit for your little angels or fancy party dress for you, at a fraction of the cost. At rummage sales this year I found a Christmas cardigan, sweater vest, and top to jazz up my December wardrobe, and probably didn’t pay more than $5 for all three!

Although the rummage sale season is pretty much over for this year, it’s amazing what you can find at them, if you can think ahead to snowmen and Christmas trees when you’re shopping on a sweltering summer day. Every year I pick up toys or trinkets for my kids at garage sales, sometimes brand new—then I just have to remember that I bought them and where I hid them. A few weeks ago, I discovered a couple of stocking stuffers I’d forgotten I even bought, tucked away in the glove box of the minivan! I’m always watching for potential gifts: dragonfly-themed items for a friend who loves dragonflies, books to match certain family member’s tastes, or unique vintage things for friends who love retro chic.

When the holidays roll around, it’s fun to open the cupboard where I store my Christmas decorations because there are always some new treasures I picked up over the summer and shoved inside. This year it was a couple of boxes of cards—cross those off my “to buy” list—and some beautiful Christmas napkin rings, new in the box, and still with the $1 rummage price tag! Three years ago in April one of the first spring sales I went to had numerous packages of printed stationary for Christmas letters. That’s something I’d usually pay full price for every year, but this sale had enough different styles that I bought several years’ worth for ourselves and for my mother-in-law, again, for a dollar a package. It doesn’t go out of style or change, so why not?

So this Christmas, don’t be afraid to think outside the mall and consider secondhand stores for some of your holiday supplies and gifts. While the bigger thrift stores like Goodwill. Salvation Army, and Value Village may come to mind first, don’t forget antique stores, used bookstores, and smaller thrift and consignment shops, too. You’ll save money, recycle someone else’s unwanted stuff, and perhaps find things that exceed what you expected to find or spend.

Do you do any secondhand shopping for the holidays? Tell us about it!