2nd hand christmas presents

[rebenny]

Hi all, don;t kill me for posting this, I know it's sooo early but I've been thinking about christmas pressies last night and it occurred to me that I never thought of getting 2nd hand things, i.e. doing all my christmas present shopping in charity shops and car boot sales.#Does anyone else do this? I don;t know what my friends and family would think, I imagine some of them would not mind at all, if it was something appropriate, but I'd say it would be a bit odd to others if it wasn't new and shiny and in a box.
The fact that it never occurred to me before shows how brain washed I am too by this commercial culture. Although I'd prefer to make all my own stuff, always do the cards for example, I just don't have the time this year what with the baby and all.
What does everyone else think to this? What was your best/ most frugal xmas pressie? interrested to hear!
love rebenny

[Richard]

I got all my camcorder films from the year, editing it down to 30 minutes with background music etc. and gave a copy each to about 10 family.
They said it was the best present they had.

You could do the same with photograph's. Just burn a slide show onto a DVD and they can play it on their TV.

See Frugal Christmas pages. http://www.downthelane.net/frugal-christmas.html (still adding to it)

[Stig]

As long as it's useful I don't mind 2nd hand stuff. There are few presents I'd rather receive than 2nd hand records, or books, or tools. If someone gave me an old Roberts radio I'd much prefer it to one of those horrible digital radios currently on sale.

However... I'd rather get a home-made card, informing me that money had been donated to charity on my behalf, than recycled unwanted presents that come via charity shops (like I regularly get from, errr.. my mum!). Last year's soaps & ties, talc and flannel sets etc. They were junk when new, & junk when 2nd hand!

Incidentally my kids have embraced home-made card making with gusto. So far they've spent the best part of £20 on materials. There'll be no money saved, not this year anyway. It is great to see them getting into xmas in such a positive & creative way, though. I'm happy that it's money well spent.

[Mad Chick]

My daughter had just started piano lessons last Christmas and practising was rather hard without a piano! We bought her a secondhand but top quality electric keyboard for the price of a new 'toy' one. She was dead happy with it.
I also bought my son a pair of Heelys secondhand. We didn't want to spend £60 on something that would be a five minute wonder. Got him a great pair, looked almost like new and were still boxed. All for £14! He has worn them twice and we'll sell them on this Christmas!

As long as the present is something that your friend/relative would actually want, I don't see the problem. Especially if it means them receiving something that you could not afford to get new.

Lucy x

[kate egg]

Whenever I give my mum a book she asks if I enjoyed it and is amazed if I haven't read it first then wrapped it up for her

I tend to stick to foodie/wine presents for relatives, as I know that a lot of what is given at Christmas ends up in charity shops or on eBay afterwards (especially the baby doll pjs and sequinned jumper that I had from my sis-in-law last year ).

When we buy for my dad-in-law we always try to find something that won't end up as a raffle prize at his next bowl's do

But secondhand? Tricky, unless its a specialist thing like the radios/records mentioned above then I don't think my lot would be too chuffed. I could only do it if it was something that looked brand new ie in original packaging.

I do buy all the cards and wrap from PDSA or similar, plus a few gifts and for a few years made my own cards. I try to avoid the special Christmas gift aisles in Booots, MandS etc as most of that you are just paying for fancy packaging.

[Babycakes]

First of all, you would be surprised at what you can pick up in boot sales that is brand new - usually unwanted gifts LoL
We have a brand new pair of golf shoes still in box for the younger s'son - £5 in the boot sale. Also got him a simpsons inflatable sofa and water cooler for his room - brand new, still in boxes, £15 the pair. The sofa packaging is pretty grubby so we'll just inflate it and have it sitting ready for him on Boxing day morning. We did the same with his second hand snooker table two christmases ago - they're so excited they never think to ask where the box went:)
Me and Owen have agreed to get each other frugal pressies this year. We have set the challenge to get the best present we can for free. (actually he has a budget of £10 that I had already spent on him) I have a feeling his £10 will be spent on audio books from charity shops
I have also bought Grace some toys and clothes from the boot sale and charity shops (all the time not just for christmas!!) She is gettting a designer dress to wear on christmas day - saw one for 99p on E.bay

[kate egg]

Its easier with little ones, but my 3 (16 18 and 20) are a bit more tricky. We tend to buy them clothes which they need anyway, hair gel etc which again they need. Then one major pressie. This gets harder as they get older as the major things they want are a lot more major than when they were little

[Mo]

My children always got books from charity shops to pad out their christmas loot.

[p.penn]

I give gifts from wherever - it doesn't matter if it came from a car boot or charity shop. If I think they will like the gift then that's all that matters!!

[RoomandKitchen]

I collect old craft/household management book so my family are well aquainted with 2nd hand and Charity shops for my Christmas !!

Also my Dad collects old camera's, radios, clocks etc so often gets a second hand gift or two.

If the gift is right for the person I don't think it matters where it comes from

[Chicken on the Hill]

I've never given second hand prezzies,but it's a great idea,especially for books,ornaments and pictures-it's no different from buying antiques from an auction. Some people can be funny about second hand clothes,and I would be a little fussy about shoes. Slightly but frugal and interesting, I saw an ad recently for cards which had 'homemade paper' motifs which had seeds in them. Would be cheap and easy enough to make,I would have thought. You just plant the card! Going to have a go myself.

[liskeardjane]

spent about 5 euros on family members, bought them lovely french wine, pate (it's in a tin and lasts years) biscuits and jame, put them into little baskets from charity shops and have line them with christmas paper from last year's presents. Even kept the ribbons off gifts our kids got from lush, and have resued them! I'll also put in some pickle or chutney or marmalde as I always have some homemade stuff. People love their homemade present. Mike and I get presents for each other from charity shops and we buy charity shop cards in the january sales along with any nice gift things. My mum.....got to get her something lovely...has a fair trade candle from oxfam, she'll love it. I think it cost 2 quid! We mustn't forget that it's the thought, not the gift that matters.

[red-rialto]

I have bought many things from charity shops and made a couple of things too for my kids in the past for xmas.
I dont see anything wrong with secondhand presents

[jo68]

hi

just bought a second hand ps2 of a friend for my younger boys it came with lots of games and a memory card all for £20 it still has the box too my boys will love it


jo x

[kate egg]

Wow that's bril Jo, you save money and its recycling too