7 thrifted stocking stuffer ideas for high-quality, affordable gifts this Christmas

As an avid trinket collector, I adore stocking stuffers. I also have a difficult time buying just one thing for each person on my Christmas list, so I love the idea of gifting multiple presents in a cute giant gift sock (which you can very easily find at thrift stores this time of year, FYI). 

The thing is, stocking stuffers can be ridiculously pricey when you shop for them at department stores. They also tend to be a bit poor in quality.  Last year, I swore to myself that I would thrift all of my holiday gifts, and this approach to gifting has really opened up my eyes to all the gifting possibilities at my local vintage shops. 

Ahead are some thrifting stocking stuffer ideas to help you knock out your Christmas gift list!

Table of Contents

Toggle

New old stock

Some people may only want to gift new items for the holidays, and luckily, most thrift stores feature plenty of new old stock (that is, unsealed, new with tag vintage items). Off the top of my head, here are some categories that thrift stores tend to carry new old stock of: hosiery, socks, toys, books, stationery, and stickers. 

Figurines and trinket boxes

I am a purveyor of little figurines and trinket boxes, which are always available at thrift stores in spades! They’re cute, small, and easy to display—your lucky gift recipient will (hopefully lovingly) think of you whenever they look at it. 

If you have a trinket lover on your gift list, you’ll be able to pick up cute vintage finds at secondhand shops very easily. If you find something made out of glass or ceramic, it’s always a good idea to wrap them in paper or recycled bubble wrap in a double corrugated box—this is my inner eBay reseller jumping out…

Jewelry

The thrift store is my favorite place to find jewelry (think bracelets, necklaces, brooches, and earrings) for gifting because you can find a mix of kitschy and elegant pieces—you’re as likely to find grandma cat earrings as you are an intricate seed necklace. If you’re really aiming to impress, I recommend browsing the jewelry behind the glass cabinets by checkout.

Notebooks

If you’re a notebook hoarder like me, you might end up decluttering them and donating them to thrift stores every so often. It’s not too hard to find brand new journals and other beautiful stationery items at the thrift store. More often than not, they’re usually under $5! If your stocking stuffer recipient is a crafter, you also can’t go wrong with foraging the craft section for things like buttons, beads, scissors, and stickers. 

Wallets

I tend to look for wallets for resale because they’re small and typically affordable at the thrift store. If you’re on the lookout for stocking stuffers, they’re also the ideal size for your typical stocking. Look for clean, gently used ones in mint condition—it can be a bit of a pain to clean used wallets. For pieces made out of faux leather or PVC, inspect the wallet very carefully for tears and peels. 

Books

Books are one of those items that are less taboo to buy secondhand. In fact, secondhand books often don’t even look used (obviously, don’t gift a book with torn pages, mucky stains, or split spines.) You don’t even need to go to your local thrift store to find used books—you can check out library book sales and estate sales. Special editions of classics (think those elegant tomes with ribbons and gilded pages) make for excellent stuffing stockers. Just make sure that they fit inside your stockings! 

Toys

As a kid who grew up with flea market toys, I’m not at all grossed out by the idea of used toys. I see dolls, dollhouses, action figures, cars, plushies, puzzles, and interactive toys in droves at the thrift store. If you’re looking to buy toy stocking stuffers secondhand, it’s always best to grab items in mint condition (or, if available, new old stock pieces). Whether the child in your life loves Marvel or Barbie, it won’t be too tricky to find a nice toy or two at your local vintage shops! 

If you’re thrifting for stocking stuffers, I recommend setting aside time to hit up your local secondhand stores a few times before the holidays. Thrift shops are always restocking, so you never know what kind of treasures you’ll find after a few visits. Even if you strike out when it comes to thrifting stocking stuffers (which you probably won’t), you’ll find plenty of beautiful vintage Christmas decor while browsing!