One thing I have done for the past year and a half is include this phrase in the Evite for the kids' birthday parties: Gifts are not necessary. Second hand is welcome. Each time the kids have received one or two gifts that were either bought second hand, or were from the home. Many times it has been clothing, but this year for Kaia's birthday we got more.
I find that this breaks down a barrier for people. There is no need to spend a lot of money, and there is no need to buy cheap junk because that's all that's affordable. Often times the second hand gift is worth far more than what someone would buy to give new, because they don't have to buy. On Saturday, Kaia got some great second hand gifts!
1. My cousin, a teacher, gave her a great little cart with colored drawers to organize her art supplies. She also bought another under the bed style plastic tote and a few art kits. If I remember correctly the cost for the gift was less than $10, because the cart was one she'd had for her old classroom.
2. Kaia received a big box of art supplies from my sister-in-law and Dana's brother. They gathered up all of her daughter's leftover paper, a window cling kit, and plenty of lanyard plastic. All of which were no longer useful to an 18 year old.
3. One of the gifts included in that box of art supplies was a doggie deck of Uno. And Uno has become the new family game! We've played at least 2 games an evening since then. Dana and I are enjoying the time with Kaia, and she enjoys the attention. Mo has played a game, but he's passed most of the time because he gets bored.
Kaia enjoys these gifts just as much as her new Skechers, her new clothes, the new Taylor Swift cd, and all the other great art supplies. She also received her first gift card from Grammy and Papa, and she cannot wait to go shopping at Michaels for more crafts.
She also is enjoying her Gabriella costume from my brother and his family.
What gifts have you received that weren't new? Are you comfortable giving gifts that weren't bought new?
6 comments:
We are the recycling family and the yard sale bargain hunters. Need I say more??
I guess I have received gifts from my aunt that were jewelry she wanted to pass on to me. Those are always nice, especially with the diamonds. I don't know if I could give a used item but I do give used items away when someone asks or admires them. I am a very giving person so if you like something that I have it gives my heart pleasure to give it away.
I am DROOLING over the cart for her art supplies. That is an awesome gift!
My mother is queen of not only giving me used stuff (antiques and collectibles from various yard sales) but re-gifting things to me that she has rec'd. Once the card was even still in the box and we had a big laugh.
It sounds like you are instilling some very good values in Miss Kaia - she is lucky to have such a good mommy!
What a great idea! It's true that you can actually get hand-me -downs that are of so much more value than new junk. I wish I've thought of this when my kids were younger. Hats off for being an original and teaching your kids great values!
So cool (and green)! Well, you know I'm a vintage, thrift shopping nut, so I love it when someone gets me something secondhand.
If I know the personality of the reciever works well with used, I always hunt for something infinitely cooler that what I could've bought new. Something that suits them.
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