How to find unique gifts by thrift shopping online
Online thrift store to find unique used items.
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- “Thriftmas” is a growing trend where shoppers buy new and used holiday gifts at thrift stores.
- Shoppers are turning to second-hand gifts to save money and become more environmentally conscious.
- The stigma against receiving second-hand gifts is waning, especially among younger generations.
Earlier this summer, Samantha Rose Brammer was thrifting when she found a brand new pickleball T-shirt. She thought it would make a great Christmas present for her aunt, who is a big pickleball player.
“That’s when the hunt started,” said Brammer, 30. She ended up completing her Christmas shopping for her family of 16 by purchasing almost everything at thrift stores.
The popularity of second-hand shopping also comes into the holiday season through Thriftmas.
Shoppers are buying new, gently used gifts at thrift stores, saying they’re leaning into this trend as a way to save money and be environmentally conscious.
In a recent survey of 1,500 shoppers by OfferUp, 81% said they plan to allocate a portion of their holiday budget to second-hand goods, and one in four (27%) said they plan to allocate as much as half.
Why is frugality so popular?
Kelly Stevenson, OfferUp’s vice president of brand, told USA TODAY that the perception of second-hand shopping has changed dramatically. “What was once considered a choice is now the preferred way to shop, especially during the holidays, as people are looking for meaningful, high-quality gifts at fair prices, often within their own communities.”
According to OfferUp’s 2025 Recommerce Report, 70% of Americans say the stigma against second-hand goods has diminished. In OfferUp’s Holiday Special Release, 67% of shoppers say they would be happy to receive a used gift in good or good condition.
This change is also being led by younger shoppers, Stevenson said, with 95% of Gen Z saying they would prefer to buy second-hand if they could find the same item for less.
Thriftmas gives items a second life
Brammer, of Phoenix, Arizona, is drawn to giving recycled items.
“They’re being given a new lease of life and they’re not going to end up in a landfill,” Brammer told USA TODAY. “Thriftmas is like reusing items and you save a lot of money.”
“I love giving gifts and finding things that people actually like and use,” Brammer said on TikTok, where she shared some of her Thriftmas finds.
Other gifts Brammer has given to his family include Hallmark ornaments for his aunt, who loves Hallmark movies, an infographic baseball book for his uncle, and a brand-new Beatles puzzle for his aunt, who is a big fan of the band.
Gifts averaged about $5 per person, but when Brammer researched retail prices, the average was $15 to $20.
Brammer’s advice is to start early in the year, especially if you’re thrifting for a lot of people. But if you’re shopping now, it’s still possible to cut down on your Christmas list, she says.
Brammer says thrifting is becoming more mainstream, especially for people in her age group.
Buy items in gift-worthy condition and wash or wipe them, she recommended.
Avid thrifters say you can find just about anything at thrift stores
Natalie Ray, 28, of Woodstock, Georgia, has been attending Thriftmas for several years.
Ray, an avid thrifter, said finding the right gift can be difficult.
“I don’t know exactly what I’m going for…but I try to find something that resonates with that person,” Ray told USA TODAY.
But Ray said she’ll find the perfect money-saving gift for everyone on your list.
“Anything you want at the mall, you can find at the thrift store,” she said, adding that there is “overconsumption” and too much stuff is being sent to landfills.
Ray found a new Guess winter coat with tags for $8 for his mother-in-law. The retail price is usually over $50.
“I think she’ll love it. It’s one of her favorite brands,” Ray said.
She gave her sister, a teacher, a school-themed bag and pencil-shaped shoes.
Ray recognizes, “Not everyone wants a gift that’s recycled. I know one of my friends doesn’t particularly use recycled items, so I’m not going to buy her anything from the thrift store.”
Ray said the majority of Thriftmas purchases are done year-round. She especially likes shopping right after Christmas, when people donate lots of things that would make good gifts.
Thriftmas Gifts Your Family Will Love
Brammer’s extended family opened Christmas presents on Thanksgiving. Brammer wrote each person a card explaining why they chose that thrifty item.
“They were all shocked because they said it looked like a new gift and they had no idea it came from a thrift store,” she said. “The whole family has had a very positive response.”
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.
