Keep Martin Beautiful Discovers Santa is Thrifting this Year

Keep Martin Beautiful Discovers Santa is Thrifting this Year

Keep Martin Beautiful got a sneak peek at a fragment of Santa’s 2024 holiday gift list. Here’s what we discovered: Santa is thrifting this year!

Zoe is getting a tennis racket from the used sporting goods store that’s in perfect condition so she can try out the sport.

Noah will be thrilled to receive a vintage Star Wars Luke Skywalker figurine that had been tucked away in the back of a thrift store shelf.

Sophia lights up when she spots a vintage jewelry box she can repaint with her signature floral designs.

Mason is excited to grab a complete LEGO Technic set at a local charity shop, perfect for his next big build.

Why is Santa – and so many others thrifting gifts instead of buying new ones? Thrifting is a fun and frugal way that gives people an opportunity to buy affordable, and often unique, secondhand items from thrift shops or consignment stores.

Every year, 2 billion metric tons of waste are generated worldwide that ends up in landfills. How much better it is to recycle items that still have a useful life and turn them into somebody’s newfound treasure.

The concept of thrifting has been around for centuries, but it’s making a big comeback as younger generations embrace it as both fashionable and sustainable. In fact, 62% of Gen Z and Millennial shoppers say they look for secondhand items before buying new. More than half of those who buy clothes secondhand even take pride in telling others about their thrifted finds. With thrifting saving shoppers an average of $1,760 a year, it’s especially appealing to younger people managing tight budgets. Beyond the savings, many also cite the environmental benefits of reusing, recycling, and upcycling as a driving factor.

This season, if you’re feeling inspired, consider thrifting gifts to upcycle into something truly unique. Our KMB administrator, Melissa Zolla, has been busy transforming thrifted ornaments for her office tree—showing how simple, fun, and creative upcycling can be while avoiding the need to buy new decorations.

So, should you thrift to gift? It depends on your gift list, but thrifted treasures are often appreciated by eco-conscious individuals who value reducing waste, creative types who love one-of-a-kind items, and frugal friends who enjoy meaningful, cost-effective gifts.

Martin County is blessed with lots of nonprofit thrift stores that raise funds for their organizations supporting good causes. Think House of Hope, the Humane Society, Hibiscus House, and Treasure Coast Hospice, as well as local churches.

Martin County is also a great place for consignment stores. People’s needs or living circumstances change, and those items that were once so perfect for a particular setting no longer fit there. But they have every good chance of fitting in somewhere else and looking fabulous.

So before you finish off your holiday gift list this year, Keep Martin Beautiful urges you to give a gift to the planet by checking out the merchandise from thrift shops and consignment stores. You might find yourself in line right behind Santa!

Tiffany Kincaid's opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.