The Joys of Second-Hand Shopping & Sustainable Gift-Giving For Christmas

As you may already know, my husband and I love saving money and wasting less. Even more than that, we care a lot about the environment and giving back to society. This year, we have challenged each other to make gifts, preferably using only secondhand materials.

Repurposing Materials into a Useful Gift

I knew right away what I wanted to make for him. He loves to make his beer. He even has his kegerator now. Out of love for me, he makes it in the garage (his methods can get messy). The conditions in the garage could be better, though. We have a sink, but it’s well-worn. The cabinets surrounding it (made of particle board) should have been retired before we bought this house. They crumble, mess, and deteriorate more every time we open a drawer or cabinet. So, I remodeled our sink area to make it nice, clean, and up-to-date for an optimal beer-making station. My goal was to replace the cabinetry and sink, paint the walls and install some lighting.

DIY Gifting Process

I began by scouring local thrift shops, Goodwill’s, Habitat Restores, and Facebook Marketplace. I was ready to admit defeat with only one week left to Christmas. Finding affordable (what I am willing to pay) natural wood cabinets is a challenging feat. Add in the component of secondhand, and it becomes even more difficult. With only seven days left, I decided to search one more time. And eureka, I landed a deal with upper AND lower cabinets, made with natural wood, for only $100. With the help of my neighbor, they were in my garage within three hours. I had to make my husband promise to stay out of the garage until Christmas morning not to ruin the surprise. 

I also plan to use leftover knobs from various projects over the years and our old kitchen sink faucet that I kept after upgrading to a new one. 

Now that I have begun this project, I wasn’t prepared for how much fun it would be! My favorite part so far is…demolition of the old to make room for the new.

How to Make your DIY Gifts with Repurposed Material

Ever thought about making gifts using secondhand materials for your loved ones? We put together some suggestions below to help guide you on this satisfying journey.

How To Begin the Hunt for the Perfect Sustainable Gift

Indeed, deciding whether to go secondhand or new can be tricky. When it comes to gifts, you want something that the people you’re shopping for will love, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on something they’ll never use. The good news is there are plenty of places online and in your local area where you can find and purchase secondhand goods at a great price and support eco-friendly businesses, communities, and charities. And remember Estate Sales. I love Estate Sale shopping. Of course, I must tell you the story about the $14 leather jacket, like new. But that we’ll save for another time. 

Help reduce waste and positively impact the environment by considering sustainable secondhand gift-giving. When shopping for presents, look for gently used items at thrift stores, consignment shops, or even from friends and family. 

Benefits of Secondhand Shopping

Let’s pledge to bring joy to our friends and loved ones with used gifts — because, well, why not? Used skills can be both practical and fun. Not only is this an eco-friendly option, but it can also be a great way to find unique and meaningful gifts. After all, who doesn’t love a good deal? So let’s make this a memorable season while giving back to the environment!

Want to Know How This Project is Progressing?

If you’d like to stay up-to-date on the progress of this project, follow us on social media so you never miss a post as this project unfolds! I’d also love to share other repurposed gift ideas I’ve been working on. So follow along to learn more.

Have a wonderful and Blessed week!

With Love,

Eco Mama