Will you be giving any 2nd hand gifts this year?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
December 14, 2010 9:51am CST
Most years I do buy used things to give to my kids as Christmas gifts.. usually electronics. Last year I bought 2 used Nintendo DS's and 1 used PSP as gifts for my older 3.
The year before that I gave my oldest son a PS2 that we already owned.. but it was hubby's and I was officially giving it to my son to play in his own bedroom.
This year my kids will not be getting any major electronics. I bought the older 2 boys a ps3 game.. and still need to get my daughter and hubby a video game, which I may buy used to save a few bucks. I also plan on getting each kid a cd walkman (because they've recently discovered books on cd and love them) and I bought them each a music cd.. but those are new and not used.
So thus far I have not bought anything used.... but I will be later today.
My oldest son needs a new winter coat. (I know he got a new one last year but we don't know what happened to it.) The coat he'd been using this year was a bit thin, didn't fit quite right.. and the other day while we were playing in the snow he ripped it.
So I'd known for awhile that I wanted to get him a new coat. My son is also a die hard NY Giants fan.. so I thought it would be awesome if I could get him a Giants winter coat. Unfortunately a decent Giants coat could cost me nearly $200.. but definitely not much less than $100.
Well, I don't have that kind of money to spend on 1 gift for 1 child.. not when I have 5 kids to shop for, plus hubby, plus his dad, my mom, and my sister.
So, I went to Craigslist. I was able to find a post, from about 2 weeks ago. It is a Nike jacket with a small NY Giants emblem on it. It's button up, and reversable. They're selling it for only $20! So it may not be exactly what I wanted.. I was hoping for something much thicker as our winters do get really cold... but my son can always wear a sweater under it if he needs to! Luckily it was still available and I plan to meet the guy this afternoon (in a public place, no worries) to buy it.
I've attatched a pic of the coat from the ad on Craigslist. Tell me what you think.
Are you giving any second hand gifts this year?
8 responses
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 10
Dearra wants a video game that's rather expensive, so if I can find a used copy that's a lot cheaper, I may pick it up. Other than that, no plans to do that right now.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
I've noticed that places like Game Stop seem to sell their used copies for only like $5 less than the new copies.. especially if it's a game in high demand. Older games can be found for $5-$20.. but the new stuff, expect to pay an arm and a leg whether it's new or not. Best bet is to just get it new at Walmart as their prices are usually cheapest.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 10
I looked on Amazon.com and used was practically as expensive as new. But not as expensive as Game Stop!!!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
Yeah, Game Stop is ridiculous.. and they don't even give you much when you trade in your used games. We've tried that.. hubby spent like $30 on a game for me that I ended up not liking.. so we went to trade it in and they offered us like $1 for it.. but they were just going to turn around and sell it for $25.. doesn't seem right to me. They've got good deals on used systems, and older used games that you can't find elsewhere.. but I'll never buy a newer game from them!
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
14 Dec 10
What a find- I do hope that it works out .k.and he gets the coat. Yes, I have bought two silver toe rings for my girls'.
And a used piggy bank for my prospective SIL and have put some silver in it. We are not giving expensive presents. Everything roughly equivalent to US2 per person.
I also have some passalongs which will be going to a few friends too. A used game for another child I give too. But my grands each have a modest gift that that my daughter bought when she was in the USA at Thanksgiving.My home is decorated and the sister comes in in a few hours. Your son will be so happy. I do hope that it fits. Good luck and keep safe
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
I hope you do not get too stressed out with your sister around for 5 weeks.. poor thing!
I picked up the coat without a problem.. it's here now. I haven't had much chance to look at it as I only got home minutes before my son did.. I'll take it out after he's in bed and have a look. It's real nice though. Not really as thick as I wanted, but as I said, he can wear a sweater underneath. It's obviously used as there's bits of wear here and there.. the cuffs are slightly stained just from regular use.. but it's not awful.. it's not like major obvious stains. You get what you pay for, and $20 is a steal for a coat like this. My son will love it, regardless of the fact that it's used.. he's quite accustomed to getting second hand gifts.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
14 Dec 10
What a wonderful mother! I bet he will just love it. I am not giving any used gifts but I did regift something. Several years ago I got coasters..towels...and a cutting board with a snowman on it..they all matched. When my oldest was home last summer she said I could regift them to her....so I did as she loved them. The cell wrap etc was still on them so they are like new.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
My mom was terrible for re-gifting.. but not at holidays. Everytime I was over there she'd say "Oh, so and so gave me this.. could you use it cause I won't!". It's just that she already had everything she wanted or needed. She did complain she never had enough clothes, but whenever someone gave her clothes she'd give them away. Things she really loved she'd keep.. and she was careful not to give an item back to the person who gave it to her. She was hard to shop for, knowing that if she didn't like it or wouldn't use it she'd give it away.. that's why for her I typically gave her a goody basket of cat treats, cat food, and things like that.. that she'd certainly use.. along with maybe a gag gift and some chocolates.
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
14 Dec 10
HI,... my husband and I are also shop at Thrift store or Junk yard sale... well, most of the items we got are in good condition... my children are still small, so I dont think it is matter for clothes that I can rewash them and give to them... but 50% of my gifts are second hand used. This year, I decided to get a new Jacket from Disney store that they love... it wouldn't cost me much but I feel like it is new year and I want them to have something new like others. But still, I still have T-shirt and other stuff are used :) ...
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
I see nothing wrong with giving used gifts if they're in good condition and something the reciever will enjoy.
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
14 Dec 10
looks really nice like it would go with anything. and yes i used to buy my kids second hand as many times i didnt have a lot of money when they were growing up and i had 5 like you
in this economy its hard to raise that many kids. glad im not doing it these days
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
I will buy them used clothes all the time.. they don't mind it. Normally I find it tacky to give used clothes as a gift.. but with little kids it doesn't really matter, and especially with something like this coat that would cost me an arm and a leg brand new. My son will LOVE it, even though it is used.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Dec 10
Yes--this year, the kids are getting DS's, so we are buying the first couple of games used to make sure they actually like playing them! And we are saving quite a bit of money, too. My older son also wants Lord of the Rings Monopoly, which was selling new on Amazon for $135 USD!!!
So we bought it on Ebay for $20. Crazy, huh?
So we bought it on Ebay for $20. Crazy, huh?@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
14 Dec 10
Wow, that is crazy.. glad you found a good deal on it.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Dec 10
I am most definitely giving some 2nd hand gifts this year for Christmas. My two nieces are getting outfits that I got from the consignment store that my sister used to work at. Then Paul's two main gifts from Santa Claus are used as well, it is a huge set of Geo Trax and a Smart Cycle (both of which also came from the store that my sister used to work at). I wouldn't have gotten the Geo Trax for Paul, but the store manager priced them very low, Shari was at work and called to tell me about it and I snapped them up for about 1/6 the price of new ones.
@angeline1 (144)
•
15 Dec 10
There is nothing wrong in giving 2nd hand gits.I will give 2nd hand gifts if the gifts are brand new or not in use.It's a waste if I don't give to someone else. I save money.Christmas is a time to give gifts to people.It's that thought that counts.
