Thrifting for Gifts Can Save Cash

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There’s no question inflation is causing a strain this holiday season as people hunt for cost effective gifts. If you are looking for that last minute gift that won’t break the bank for someone you love, you may want to consider thrifting.

Secondhand items can make great gifts because they often come with more meaning and are more unique.

The are two Caring Transitions locations in the Cincinnati area and both offer a local estate sales website called CTBIDS which includes hundreds of great finds if you are willing to spend some time hunting!

“The quality of the good is usually much better. They are made from better materials,” said Rosie Harris, Owner of Caring Transitions Cincinnati West. “There are also stories about stuff. You are preserving history.”

If you are looking for ideas and don’t know where to start, Caring Transitions has provided a list to help:

• Tune Up – Basic instruments like drums, guitars wind instruments, and pianos have not changed much, if at all, through the years. You can score a great deal on used musical instruments in great condition.
• Picture This – Pictures frames are a universal gift for almost any occasion. You can find cool, unique vintage picture frames with character when you buy secondhand. Sometimes you can even find unused frames. Print out a photo of your family and place it inside to make it an even more personal and special present.
• Book It– This is always a great choice for the book lover, especially with most being good as new but with a used book price. Sometimes you can find a cool old book – a first edition in some cases – that your book lover might treasure.
• Home Décor Galore – No matter what the style, you are sure to find something in the home décor section to suit that special someone. Here is an idea – pick up a set of vintage cocktail glasses gifted with a bottle of your recipient’s favorite liquor.

“There are so many unique finds you didn’t even know you wanted or needed,” said Gina Siegel, Owner of Cincinnati East. “For example, just sold a CD jukebox, an arcade game and 25 leather Harley Davidson jackets.”

These gift ideas can also be perfect for other holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and even Father’s Day as the new year approaches.

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