Mom Saves Big by Thrifting Christmas Gifts for Her 5-Year-Old Son After Spending $154 Last Year
Natalie Miller.
Credit :
NEED TO KNOW
- Natalie Miller is a jewelry designer from Portland, Ore.
- As an avid thrifter, she spends the year sourcing vintage items for Christmas gifts.
- This year, the expecting mother has gathered several toys for her five-year-old, all at a fraction of traditional costs.
Gift-giving for Natalie Miller, a 39-year-old jewelry designer, has always emphasized thoughtfulness over flashy packaging. Since before the birth of her son Artie, Miller has embraced thrifting as her primary means of gift procurement.
“If I came across something special, I would get it and store it away for later,” she said. “To be totally honest, I had a whole collection of thrifted kid clothes I’d been gathering since I was 16. I know it sounds odd, but my adult self has no regrets.”
For the past three years, Miller has committed to sourcing all of Artie’s Christmas gifts secondhand. While the hunt for perfect items can be challenging, she feels pride in supporting a smaller environmental footprint through her choices.
“When I think about how many new toys are being mass-produced each year, it bums me out,” she remarked. “There is so much out there, in nearly new condition. It just doesn’t make sense to buy everything new.”
Although finding items her son will love requires time and effort, Miller finds the “challenge” rewarding. By focusing on high-quality toys meant to last longer than many modern offerings, she has saved hundreds during the holiday season.
“Last year, my total was $154, and I got around 15 gifts and stocking stuffers,” she shared. “I estimate that if I had purchased similar items new, it would have cost over $800.”
Miller aims to keep her spending under $200, usually saving most of Artie’s toy purchases for holidays and birthdays.
Natalie Miller.
Natalie Miller
Surprisingly, Miller has discovered many items still “new in the box.” However, she is just as pleased to clean or make minor repairs to restore secondhand treasures.
“Last year, I found a Bruder Crane Truck that was partially broken. I attached a note from Santa explaining it had fallen off his sleigh and was looking for a kid who would love it regardless of its flaws,” she recalled. “This added a little extra Christmas magic and sentiment.”
With Artie now keen on dinosaurs, Miller has dedicated herself to sourcing the best figurines from the German toy company Schleich.
“I’ve been slowly collecting them from thrift stores over the past few months, and he is going to be thrilled!” she expressed with excitement.
Artie’s thrifted gifts.
Natalie Miller
Although Miller occasionally shops online, she generally relies on thrift stores, estate sales, and resale shops for her finds.
This year’s “unicorn item” was an $8 vintage Fisher-Price tape recorder, which is perfect for Artie to record his dinosaur roars and experiment with his voice.
“I checked Marketplace daily and didn’t expect to find it, but discovered it at the thrift store just down the street,” Miller revealed. “I’m definitely most excited about that!”
Natalie Miller’s son, Artie.
Natalie Miller
In addition to shopping for her son, Miller has spent the past two years thrifting gifts for her nieces, curating nostalgic ’80s and ’90s items she believes her sister will appreciate.
“We are definitely a thrift-loving family, so it’s always been normal to receive thrifted gifts during the holidays,” she explained. “I also enjoy thrifting for my friends, but I always check in with them first. My gifts usually combine thrifted items, handmade crafts, or products from small businesses.”
Natalie Miller’s son, Artie.
Natalie Miller
This holiday season holds additional significance for Miller, as she is expecting her second child and has already begun thrifting thoughtful gifts for the baby—aiming to establish a cherished family tradition.
Miller articulated her hopes for her son, saying, “As Americans, we are fed the narrative that we should want the newest, shiniest things, especially for kids. I want to teach him to slow down and shop mindfully with intention.”
“My hope is that he appreciates the beauty in items that stand the test of time and can recognize quality craftsmanship,” she added. “These choices are not only unique and high-quality, but they also represent a more sustainable approach to shopping.”
