Alternative gift guides 22
Hello! You may have seen earlier last week, this years gift guides went live! They were all gifts from shops I love and believe in and brands that have a high value on ethics. You can find them here!
Buying better when buying new is GREAT, buying secondhand, even more so. A few of you requested secondhand gift guides this year so here are a few simple ideas, so simple you’ve probably already thought of them but they’re here anyway. Any of the gifts I have added to past Christmas guides so far I would almost always look for secondhand first. If you’re new to secondhand buying you can take a look at this blog here: 5 tips when buying secondhand.
My go-to places to shop secondhand are currently vinted which I use primarily for clothing, ebay which I use mainly for kitchenware, specialist items and anything vintage, and then I use facebook marketplace for furniture, toys and housewares.
My buying rules slightly change when buying secondhand. Because what i’m buying is already in circulation, it is a less of a priority for me for it to be made from a natural material, and unicorn tops from brands I wouldn’t usually put my money behind have been known to enter. It would still be my choice to buy secondhand natural, but we find the balance for my family in buying some of the things my daughter asks for secondhand. Ie. image 6. Heppy’s request this year after seeing one in a charity shop last month and the £2.50 pony that she thinks is a unicorn, will make her Christmas and save us ALOT as a family.
If you’ve never thought to buy secondhand, i encourage you to give it a go. If you’ve never thought to suggest secondhand besides you’re own gift giving, why not also give that a go. Some of the conversations may be hard, but always usually worthwhile.
I hope this is useful!
KIDS
1.Duplo and lego were staples of my childhood. I’m pretty sure they’ve done tests on lego and it’s basically indestructible. While in my head I dream of my kids forever playing with plain brown blocks- Heppy is definitely hitting the lego stage and it really is GREAT. I’ve seen great bundles being sold on FB marketplace for great prics and I got a box of new unopened lego for my kids for a recent holiday trip off vinted and it brought so much joy!
2. Balance bike/bike. I remember my first bike as clear as day. I also remember that kids grow out of bikes VERY quickly so it’s amazing to be able to pick them up at a great price with no less of the excitement. There’s always ways to jazz up bikes too, bike spokes, bike lights and tassels.
3. Marble run. The one pictued happens to be a pretty flashy wooden one merged with plastic. But even these in all their plastic glory secondhand are an absolute win. I’ve seen loads local to me, and from the times we play with a friends make an ideal gift for a 4+ year old.
4. Green toys- my mum got two of these secondhand for Moses’ 2nd birthday and they are such a hit. For some reason they seem to be all over facebook marketplace and make a great toy that can be for outside or for bathtime! Don’t be afraid to ask sellers on facebook if they can post, deliver for an extra cost or even haggle them down!
5. Ceramic tea set- I LOVE this tea set. We gave Heppy a wooden tea set for her kitchen when she was 2 but shortly found out she just wanted to pour real water from it, which isn’t ideal with wood so this would mak a perfect gift for high tea parties, alongside fancy invitations. I’m sure there is lots of lovely vintage ones on ebay too!
6. Pikler triangle. I did a lot of research before buying ours secondhand and the general consensus was they are SO worth it! Again, lots coming up on facebook marketplace as people outgrow. I travelled an hour to collect mine which I think was worth it, just wish it was slightly bigger! Outdoor climbing frames, and outdoor toys: mud kitchens, slides, trampolines and sandpits are also a great one to keep an eye out for! They usually come at a great price because people know they will need to be transported at an extra cost.
7. Dressing up clothes. This could be the specific outfit of a superhero or character your child likes. Or why not a collection of fun sunglasses or jewellery.
8. My Little Pony. This is Heppy’s request this year after seeing one in a charity shop! It’s a gift I would never buy new, but for £2.50 and ALOT of joy those bright colours will be allowed to enter our house haha.
9. Guess Who- games are a great one to get secondhand, my mum got this for Heppy secondhand last year and it’s a favourite.
10. Skipping rope. This falls into a category in my mind of some great things you could find secondhand like, torches, yoyo’s and balls!
11. Vintage buggy/pram and baby clothes. I would either look on ebay or facebook marketplace for these things.
12.Where’s Wally- buying books secondhand is a no-brainer to me. I love gifting families one of our favourite books to read or one they can sit down and read together as a family. If you are unsure about secondhand gifting, buying new secondhand is a great way to start which you can and which friends and family would never even know! There’s lots of lovely forgotten vintage and older books too!
secondhand adults
According to the sun, 1 in 5 don’t mind getting a secondhand Christmas present. Would you agree?
Just a few notes on secondhand gifting. If you are spending a lot of money on buying something make sure it’s a reputable site, a lot of brands now have a resale page on their own website eg. swiss, amazon renewed etc.
Holiday tech buying soars through the roof at Christmas- it is an absolute NO BRAINER to buy secondhand. I would highly recommend greenmarket.eco for secondhand tech. All their tech comes with a year warranty and I have found their prices to be a lot cheaper than other places. Use slowhome5 for 5% off.
Antique shops are perfect places to find gifts- our local one is a treasure trove of vintage cars, crockery, items of clothing as well as furniture and jewellery. you may find a wooden carpet beater for display that would make a perfect gift or an old vinyl record. I find it’s easier to spend less money when the item chosen carries more meaning, has been sought out rather than just pressed ‘buy’ on amazon, or isn’t run of the mill.
Other things it may be worth keeping an eye on in the run up to Christmas:
Large household items like Kitchen aids and blenders, cameras, and clothing from brands I love but that will come up secondhand at a fraction of the cost. What will you be looking for?
Remember, to save checking in every day if someone has listed something you are wanting on a secondhand platform, set alerts and save items on things like ebay and facebook marketplace.
Homemade ideas for kids
Wooden blocks I painted for Heppy!
A secondhand bag of plain bricks/or even new wooden bricks and paint them yourself. I did this before Heppy was born they’ve lastest really well and we still play with them!
Playdough is unashamedly my go-to birthday present for kids. But then why not take it a step further? Find a collection of beads, things that roll or stamp and add a few in with it? We LOVE finding things around the house and discovering how they mark the dough. This is the recipe we use.
Commission someone to knit dolls clothes/teddy clothes etc. or give it a whirl yourself?
Baby play gym or baby mobile, there are some GREAT ideas on pinterest.
A Den Kit. Lots of fabric, leftover or secondhand, pegs, string etc. fairy lights or torches you may have lying around.
A superhero cape- mask etc. could easily be hand-sewn!
Anything from Sydney Pearcey’s book ‘Sustainable Play’ would make a great gift and all you really need is cardboard! My mother-in-law made the kids an EPIC pizza oven a few years back for a gift.
Homemade bow and arrow
Homemade friendship bracelet-making kit. Some string and a cardboard weaving loom!
And a few more ideas here from a previous blog I wrote!
homemade ideas for adults
Bath Salts
Homemade beeswax candles- in jars or walnut shells
Clay trinket pots
Homemade granola- this is my go-to recipe- why not make it festive.
Stove Top Potpurri
Lemon curd/Jam/ Relish
Flavoured butter
Beeswax firestarters
Photo books
Beeswax wraps
Mulled Wine Spice Bags
Free
Sometimes a gift doesn’t need to cost anything at all! Here are a few ideas I’ve seen on FB marketplace for free before or ideas that use a skill you already have.
1.Gutters for water play
2. Sand for sandpit
3. Sensory basket for a baby, full of items you probably already have in your home. Things like pinecones, old spatulas or other baby safe utensils, curtain rings etc. get creative!
4. Keys (this was the perfect present for my 1 year old) A set of old keys on a key chain.
5. Tyres- great for a garden assault course.
For adults it could be:
Baby sitting voucher
An offer of a massage
Herbs you may have in your garden, dry some flowers out, or press some flowers for a picture you could frame.
Why not bundle up some magazines you may have finished reading with a little sprig and some ribbon
Could you offer them a skill or your time? A coaching session, a listening ear, a sewing lesson, a social media consultation, a wardrobe consultation.
I’d love to know what you’re planning this year for gifts! Are you keeping things the same or stripping things back. Any secondhand gold you’ve found?! Let me know below!