CHECKING her Christmas gift spreadsheet against the presents she had in storage, Isabel Mack grabbed a huge bundle of secondhand Lego.

She’d found them on Vinted, the buying and selling site, for £20 but they cost £45 new.

“I was so pleased,” she said. “I wrapped them in an old bed sheet instead of wrapping paper and placed it under the tree.

“My son won’t care if they're used.” 

While many people may stick up their noses at regifting old toys and secondhand items, the 40-year-old mum-of-two, from Winchester, Hants., is proud of it.

“Receiving something which has a history and benefits the environment makes it a better gift,” she said. 

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“I won't be ashamed or trolled for finding potential gifts in people’s rubbish like I did once for my mum when I searched recycling bins on rubbish night or giving away my kids used toys and clothes as presents.

“Someone’s old is another person’s new.”

Isobel’s children, Harlan five, and Stevie, one, have never received anything new from their parents as a gift.  

But she said that didn’t mean the gifts were dirty or broken.

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“I teach my children to care for their items,” she said. “When my daughter received a wooden walker with blocks which used to belong to her brother and was bought for him off Facebook Marketplace, she was delighted.

“People who think they must get new items for every child are just bonkers.”

But it wasn’t always this way. Before children she used to spend up to £700 on gifts for her family during the festive season.

Then her son was born and she and her husband, Mark, 40, realised how much he needed and how he quickly grew out of clothes. 

“I was on maternity leave and naturally we wanted to save money,” she said. 

“I couldn't stomach seeing almost all the nearly new items being thrown out. That sparked a light bulb moment.

“My changed way of thinking has saved me thousands.

I won't be ashamed or trolled for finding potential gifts in people’s rubbish

As well as re-gifting old toys, she gives away items from eBay, and other internet sales sites like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace.

And she loves charity shops and car boot sales.

This year both her son and daughter are only getting used gifts.

“My five-year-old is getting a Guess Who board game from eBay,” she said. 

“They’ll also get used pyjamas, jumpers and pants which are all hand-me-downs from a friend.”

“I’ve also bought a used Next Christmas jumper for my son and a Marks & Spencer Christmas dress for my daughter, both from Vinted, saving £22 even with paying for postage.

“I am wrapping up some of my son's old soft toys and books he had when he was one and giving them to my daughter. He may have seen them before but for my little girl they will be new and precious.”

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Isabel uses the same policy for other people’s kids.

“I’m giving used puzzles and books, some of which belonged to my own children,” she said.

“I know people might think this is rude but ultimately, it’s about giving gifts which you think people will use and enjoy and getting the most out of items.”

Isabel isn't afraid to grab items from other people's recycling bins to regift. 

“I made some amazing table vases out of recycled glass bottles,” she said. I rustled through the recycling on bin night, found as many bottles as possible and cleaned and upcycled them to make amazing gifts.

“I had to get over a fear of what people would think because the items were not new. The first used gifts I gave were to my children.

My changed way of thinking has saved me thousands

“Personally, I don't care what people think. In fact, I might judge people for not trying to reduce waste, recycle and upcycle.”

In fact Isabel’s love of pre-loved and used items has become the inspiration for her own business success when she founded the global Party Kit Network. 

The Network co-ordinates people who lend out reusable party and tableware in their community so busy mums and dads don't have to buy and can re-use quality products.

There are 540 offering reusable on the network globally.

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“In the last five years I have saved more than £3000 gifting the way I do. 

“It’s also helped me create a new business and my son, at just five, is more environmentally ware than adults. It’s regifting for a new generation and not something to be trolled.”

Isabel’s top tips for Christmas gifting

Look at what you have already that the receiver might appreciate. It doesn’t have to be new to be a thoughtful and useful gift.  

To help combat any initial fear of how gifting preloved might be received try mixing a preloved item with a new item or voucher.

Shift your mindset by simply rebranding ‘secondhand’ to ‘vintage’.

If you love shopping then start shopping secondhand.

Buying preloved generally takes longer than an Amazon Prime delivery so start looking for items a bit earlier. 

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