Need Gift Ideas, Arizona? Try Thrifted Gifting!

I get really excited when I see an idea that meets at the crossroads of simple affordability, reusing and repurposing, and ingeniously cute.

I recently came across a social media trend that checks all of these boxes. Most of the posts are titled "What I Thrifted, Versus What I Gifted," and they've got me buzzing with ideas.

Save Money and the Planet with Thrifted Gifts

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), roughly 110–115 million tons of non‑kitchen waste end up in U.S. landfills each year.

This is stuff like paper, plastics, metals, textiles, wood, yard trimmings, rubber/leather, and “other” materials. In Arizona, about 75% of the stuff we toss is non-food waste, which adds up to a lot of stuff filling up those trash heaps.

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That's why the idea behind thrifted gifting really appeals to me. It's not just about finding a gift; it's about finding the perfect set of items, cleaning them up, and then repackaging them in a very personal way.

It takes the gift from "I just bought you something (anything) because I felt obligated to get you a gift" and turns it into: "I created a one-of-a-kind, thoughtfully curated gift experience just for you."

How Thrifted Gifting Works

If you already love hitting thrift stores, this will take the experience to the next level. This isn't someone's old junk; it's vintage repurposing.

You know how those gift sets are really popular this time of year? Instead of searching for a single gift, think in "sets". You've seen examples everywhere, things like bath sets with soaps, bathbombs, lotions, and a loofah. Or barbecue sets with utensils, an apron, and oven mitts.

RELATED: Are These the Weirdest Arizona Thrift Store Finds?

How to Choose Thrifted Gifts

Think about the person you're buying for. Do they like to cook? Bake? Garden? Hike? Read?

Here are the things to look for when putting together your gift:

• A container, like a basket, a large bowl, or a tub
• Some kind of fabric, like a scarf, blankets, or linens
• An 'on-theme' book that goes with the subject of the basket, like a cookbook if it's about baking, etc.
• Supporting items, like bakeware, wooden spoons, or gardening tools
• Personal touches and new items

Be sure to add some personal touches. Include some home-baked cookies, a small tin of hot cocoa, printed photos of you and the recipient, and a personal note or poem. Add some ribbon, lace, and other things, and you've got a beautiful present anyone will love.

What If I Can't Think of a Gift?

Go to the thrift store and get inspired!

Look around and consider what you know about the person you're buying for. What's their favorite color palette? What do they like to do to relax? Do they like dogs or cats? Once you get started, you'll be surprised at what you'll find. You only need three to five items in a basket, depending on what you're looking for.

READ MORE: Find the Best Deals at Arizona Thrift Stores

Why is this a Great Gift?

There are so many reasons this is a great gift idea:

• You can save money
• You can reuse items that could end up in the trash
• The gifts are so personal and thoughtful that people love them
• They're just fun!

Instagram is full of folks creating thrifted gifts. Creator salvagedbykscott shared her cost in creating a curated gift basket, and as you can see, she didn't buy everything at the thrift store, just the foundational items:

• Basket—$.99
• Filler Scarf—$3.99
• Bowl Set—$9.99
• Truffle Oil—$6.99
• Salt—$4.99
• Total Cost=$26.95!

Give this a try! It might help you curry favor with your cranky mother-in-law or help you find something unique for that hard-to-buy-for friend who has everything. If they don't like it, they could always donate it back to the thrift store, and the cycle begins anew.

See salvagedbykscott create the gift basket here on Instagram:

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A post shared by Katie Scott | Furniture Refinisher (@salvagedbykscott)