Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To buy Christmas presents secondhand?

77 replies

EdgarFrog · 28/10/2022 07:03

DH and MIL think I'm very unreasonable!

DD is 14 months (will be 16 months at Christmas) and there are a couple of larger items I'd like to get her for Christmas- namely a play kitchen and toddler armchair. However these two gifts alone will be £100+ but I can pick them up on FB marketplace for less than half of that in great condition. It's not like DD will care or even know!!

What does everyone else think?

OP posts:

AFIK · 28/10/2022 07:05

You are absolutely NOT being unreasonable!
Theres a cost of living crisis and a climate crisis. Second hand makes total sense on all levels.
My only caveat is I don’t buy toys from houses with smokers in.

BuffaloCauliflower · 28/10/2022 07:07

Absolutely fine and very sensible!

SundayAtDevilDirt · 28/10/2022 07:07

We buy as many gifts as we can second hand. It's so wasteful to buy everything new when there's so much decent preloved stuff out there.

JanuaryBirthdays · 28/10/2022 07:07

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing this year. I've also got some stuff from vinted too.
Just give the new items a clean!

mumonthehill · 28/10/2022 07:08

I got lots of gifts second hand, it is fine.

SMrs · 28/10/2022 07:08

Absolutely not unreasonable. I got my boys a huge paw patrol bundle from a friend for £80, would have cost £600+ to buy brand new. I just cleaned everything up and it's good as new. I split it for my boys birthdays and they were over the moon.

Don't waste money when there is a cost of living crisis. If they make you uncomfortable with their comments just don't tell them in future

clairelip · 28/10/2022 07:08

It's far better for the environment to buy second hand so tell them you are doing it for your child's future. I love charity s

OperaStation · 28/10/2022 07:09

You would be unreasonable to buy them brand new! It’s madness to buy brand new things for small children. Maybe remind your parents that we’re on the verge of total environmental collapse.

Reluctantadult · 28/10/2022 07:09

I did exactly that when my kids were younger. Over the years they've had second hand play kitchen, action figures, imaginext, play mobil. In fact my daughter just got a second hand gerbil cage for her 8th birthday. I gave her the choice of second hand and other things too or new and nothing else.

Better for the environment. Better for my wallet.

00100001 · 28/10/2022 07:09

Madness!
Baby won't know.

And it's good for the environment.

It's good for the bank balance, it helps people out...

it's just sensible.

Dacadactyl · 28/10/2022 07:10

SundayAtDevilDirt · 28/10/2022 07:07

We buy as many gifts as we can second hand. It's so wasteful to buy everything new when there's so much decent preloved stuff out there.

This.

With very few exceptions, if I can get it 2nd hand then I don't buy new.

CoffeeLover90 · 28/10/2022 07:11

Definitely do it. What I've found is people buy these things for their DC, who then show no interest, so the items are sold on at a discounted price in great condition. For clothes and shoes, check on vinted. I got DS a brand new (tags, in box) pair of vans for £8, I've put them away for Christmas. Your little one doesn't know any different.

Bernadinetta · 28/10/2022 07:14

I have bought my 18 month old the fisher price ice cream scoop cart thing second hand from Facebook marketplace for £12. It’s £45 new. It’s pristine and has all the parts, picked it up from a house a few streets away. Plus on Christmas morning she can start playing with it immediately rather than unwrapping a box and having to wait for us to put it together etc. Also environmental benefits.

CoffeeLover90 · 28/10/2022 07:14

I'm actually jealous. My local marketplace and selling groups have had no decent toys for DSs age range.

Gingerdiva · 28/10/2022 07:15

I think it's a perfect idea, saves money and the planet. I have DS 3 DD 10. We have made the decision to do a 2nd hand and homemade only Christmas. DD is very environmentally friendly so loves the idea. I'm going to make DS some play dough, I've picked up a free trampoline. DD I've made a cooking apron and she collects star wars stuff so a darth vador doll. I'm going to make everyone some pjs. Then do a family voucher book with things like family sleepover film night night, camp out, things like that. For us Xmas is about time together.

Livetoplay · 28/10/2022 07:16

All day long! We did it with ours - currently looking for a 2nd expensive bit of music kit for DS.
my parents didn’t have a lot of money so almost everything we had that was a ‘big’ present like bikes were always 2nd hand. I didn’t care. They were new to me.

SpookyPanda · 28/10/2022 07:17

It's fine just give it a good wash down in case it's been in storage

Plantmoretrees86 · 28/10/2022 07:17

Absolutely do it! Saves you money and it's better for the environment to reuse. The more people that decide to do this, the more normalised it becomes.

Crazypaving22 · 28/10/2022 07:18

Absolutely do it, my kids are obsessed with vinted. They proudly wear their second hand clothes and are always happy with second hand toys and they're older. They love that they're environmentally responsible!

isitginoclock · 28/10/2022 07:19

At that age would be all second hand for ours. Now they are older, I take their list and put it on Amazon, show them how much they could have if bought new (not a lot) and ask them which bits they wouldn't mind second hand eg Lego (from eBay usually doesn't have the box). They always opt for second hand

daydreamingnightowl · 28/10/2022 07:21

YANBU we bought everyone one of our babies first Christmas presents second hand and plan to do the same again this year where possible. Go for it!

Lcb123 · 28/10/2022 07:21

I think you’re being very sensible. I buy pretty much everything second hand, as long as good condition. I think it’s a good thing to teach children about being conscious of waste ans the environment, and money!

AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 28/10/2022 07:23

My DD (almost 3) is getting a second hand bike for birthday and a second hand puzzle game. and for Christmas she is getting second hand doctors outfit, second hand play silks, and second hand magnetic fishing game!
Saved us £100s.

The bike is worth £400 (islabike cnoc), picked it up for £150 from FB market place, and is in excellent condition.
Puzzle game cost £3, instead of £20+pp
Play silks 50p instead if £10++
Dr outfit £1 instead of £20++
Magnetic fishing game £1.50 instead of £15!

Bramblejoos · 28/10/2022 07:24

I work in a second hand bookshop - there are so many nearly new books around. Cookery books especially - diet books, fiction, everything - many look brand new.

Wishyfishy · 28/10/2022 07:27

Most years I manage to get about 90% of presents second hand. I won’t have buying a ton of plastic crap on me.

I’ve already started this year - via Vinted, eBay etc.

I’m hoping I can just carry this on. My kids are both primary age. I reckon as they get older it’s more random collectible stuff so second hand it continues - for instance, rare Lego pieces etc. And tech eventually I guess … which I will be sad about but will buy first hand or second hand is necessary.

Oh and I always think second hand or homemade (I’ve had some stuff made from Etsy for us too) looks more authentic if you’re going with the Father Christmas thing. If it’s been made by an elf it won’t be packaged as if it came from Amazon will it?!

Flip

1 2 3 4