5 last-minute thrifty gift ideas

Let’s face it, the lead up to Christmas isn’t always tinsel and candy canes. It can be stressful – especially when you’re on a tight budget and you’re expected to buy presents for everyone in your family as well as teachers, neighbours and friends. This is the current reality for many Australians as our country experiences record levels of inflation (7.3%!) and an ever-rising cost of living.

Although, maxing out your credit card to afford Christmas presents doesn’t have to be an option if you consider heading to your nearest Good Sammy.

Op shopping for Christmas gifts not only saves money; it also reduces waste, supports the circular economy and raises funds for worthy causes. Best of all, it allows you to buy something that’s totally unique and perfectly suited to the people you care about. Got a fashion lover in the family? They would love a vintage bag or scarf. How about an entertainer? A decorative platter and salad servers will make the perfect gift – not to mention the records, sports equipment, toys, games, books and knick-knacks for everyone else on your Christmas list.

If you’re a tad creative, you can also make Christmas gifts from op shop items. Handmade and upcycled gifts are always a sure-fire hit. They’re super affordable and people appreciate the thought that goes into making them. Here are five last-minute ideas to help you turn your Good Sammy finds into winning Christmas gifts.

Gift idea 1: Personalised photo frames

There couldn’t be a more sentimental gift than a photo frame with a gorgeous pic inside and Good Sammy has heaps of frames in a wide range of sizes and styles. I picked up these two frames for $3 each. They didn’t even need sprucing up with a coat of paint as they were already in mint condition.
Fill them with sweet photos or scans of your kids’ artwork and you’ll have a gift that’s bound to take pride of place in the lucky recipient’s home.

Hot tip: these make great gifts for Grandparents.

Gift idea 2: Mason jar cookie kits

Everyone loves homemade cookies – especially when they require minimal effort. A pre-measured and neatly layered cookie mix in a jar always goes down a treat. Grab a mason jar from Good Sammy, layer it with pantry staples and Christmas M&Ms, zhuzh it up with some ribbon and voila! You’ve got one delicious and festive gift that’s perfect for those with a sweet tooth. All they have to do is add the wet ingredients and bake.

Here’s a good recipe: https://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/printables/gift-idea-christmas-cookies-in-a-jar/

Gift idea 3: Bakers’ hamper

Speaking of baking, Good Sammy has all the essentials – from cupcake trays and cookbooks to aprons and oven mitts. Put them altogether and add a festive bow and you’ve got a cracking present for the aspiring baker of the family. I found all of these items during one Good Sammy visit and they came to a grand total of $15. A small price to pay for inspiring some serious kitchen magic.

Gift idea 4: Teacup candles

Scented candles make great Christmas gifts. They bring ambience to a room with their warm light and subtle release of fragrance and they’re nice to look at – particularly when they’re in a dainty teacup. Turning teacups into candles is a great way to repurpose something that would otherwise be collecting dust on the Good Sammy shelves and it’s so easy! You don’t even have to buy a candle making kit. All you need is a preloved teacup, a cheap candle, and some essential oil. After you melt the candle over the stove and add some essential oil, put the wick in the teacup with a stabiliser, pour in the melted wax and let it set.

Gift idea 5: Book lucky dip 

How fun were lucky dips as kids? Not knowing what you were going to get was always so thrilling. You can recreate that feeling for the book lover in your family by making them a book lucky dip. Good Sammy has tonnes of good-quality books in every genre and many stores price them at $2 each or six for $10. Find twelve books (one for every month of year), wrap them up in recycled paper and write an enticing little blurb on the front. If you want the receiver to read the books in a specific order, write a different month on each book or leave it blank if you want to keep it random. You can choose books of the receiver’s favourite genre or mix it up with a few of your own recommendations. It’s the Christmas gift that keeps on giving and it can be done with children’s or adults books. Best of all, they can donate them back to Good Sammy when they’re done reading them all. It’s a win-win!

So, there you have it: five easy but meaningful gift ideas that definitely won’t break the bank this Christmas. Snap out of that pre-Christmas panic, take a deep breath and head down to your nearest Good Sammy today. They’ve got your back.

Merry Thriftmas!