5 Thrifty Places to Shop for Baby’s First Christmas: Tips on where to find frugal Christmas gifts for kids and baby’s first Christmas!

Last month I shared tips to celebrate Christmas on a budget. (See 5 Ways to Save Money This Christmas). Though Christmas on a budget isn’t new to us, last year budgeting for baby’s first Christmas presented new challenges .

We were fairly new homeowners and parents learning to live on one income when we celebrated G’s first Christmas in 2015. As much as I love Christmas shopping, splurging on the newest baby toys and clothes wasn’t possible. Fortunately, we were able to greatly stretch our limited Christmas budget with a little creativity in where we shopped!

G’s 1st Christmas. Over half of the toys shown were bought using the places below!

5 Thrifty Places to Shop for Baby’s First Christmas

1. Goodwill: To get the most out of Goodwill, shop often and shop throughout the year. I make several quick trips to Goodwill throughout the year, checking their baby clothes and toys. Some days, I leave with nothing, while other days I leave with a cart full of like new items. I’ve found some amazing baby toys and clothes at our local Goodwill. My favorite finds to date have been our Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Home (which retailed  for over $70 when I found it for $11.99), and several like-new name brand clothes including Osh Kosh B’gosh overalls and jeans for $1.50 each.


G playing with her $10 kitchen.

2. Garage Sales: Sellers are often eager to clear clutter by selling items at an extreme discount from the original price through garage sales. (See How To Turn Your Clutter Into Cash) A few months ago, I spent $10 on a play kitchen and food that retailed for $80 at Walmart. Saving $70 was well worth the twenty minutes I spent cleaning it up. Another benefit to garage sales is the option to haggle. If the seller is unwilling to lower the price, stop by when the sale is almost over. If the item is still available, chance are the seller will be more receptive to a lower price.
3. Flea Markets: We’re fortunate to have a large flea market in our area. During the holiday season there is an influx of people selling baby and toddler items. And, like garage sales, many sellers are willing to bargain over the price. Since there are multiple sellers, there is also more variety!
4. Resale or Consignment Shops:  In exchange for a slightly higher price than garage sales, flea markets and Goodwill, items at resale shops are often in like-new condition. If you don’t want to spend time cleaning up items you’ve bought used, this may be the best option for you. And don’t forget to check for community wide sales in your area! (See 7 Tips to Win at Community Consignment Sales)
5. Online: Ebay, Craiglist and Facebook Garage Sale Groups are my favorite online resources for baby items. When buying from online Facebook groups it’s important to move quickly! Items are often claimed within minutes. Some items are also cross posted, meaning the seller has posted it in several groups. Message the seller, or comment letting them know you want the item if it is still available. See my post How to Turn Your Clutter Into Cash for more information on these resources (written from the perspective of a seller).

Looking for more ways to save, or preparing for a new baby? See these posts:

What’s your favorite way to save?