Hello and happy holidays!

December has officially begun and we are officially in the holiday season. As gift buying and curating fully kicks off, I’ve been reflecting on my own approach to gift giving — over the years, I’ve tried to embrace more of a thrifty approach by making an effort to shift away from only buying new items or using brand new, pristine packaging. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect but a little change can make a big difference both for ourselves and the planet!

Embracing a thrifty, secondhand approach also encourages more creativity and a personal touch to gift giving.

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Read on for tips to take a thrifty approach to bookish gift giving this holiday season!

Browse secondhand book stores and thrift stores

Instead of buying a brand new book from a big box store, let the right book for your loved one find you! Whenever I browse at Half Price Books or Goodwill, I’m often pleasantly surprised by what I find. You might happen upon a special edition or a full series in great condition. Embrace the treasure hunt!

See above, but online

Take the treasure hunt to the world wide web! Shop for the perfect book gift from secondhand online stores like Thriftbooks and PangoBooks.

Get creative with wrapping

Once you’ve found secured the book, wrap or cover it with common or unexpected materials. Options abound — wrap with newspaper, paper bags, or pack the book into a cute basket or tote bag. Add organic touches like twine, Rosemary, or Christmas tree clippings. Or use wrapping paper but add an artistic twist like in this reel!

Gift a “blind date with a book”

Most bookworms are familiar with this concept sold by many indie bookstores, and this could make such a fun holiday gift for a loved one. Wrap the book in plain, simple wrap and write a brief description of the book, simply list its tropes or main themes, or you can even write a blurb about why you chose it for that person. A sweet personal touch!

Curate a bookish gift experience

One thing you can always find at a thrift store is a cute basket. Pick one up, buy the book, and add a couple of items to create a reading experience. You can include a cozy blanket, fuzzy socks, a mug with a special brew of tea, your favorite reading snack, a bookmark, etc. Depending on the book genre, you can also try to match the extra items to the theme.

Homemake a bookish accessory

Another neat way to add a unique and thrifty touch to a book gift is to homemake an accessory to go along with it. Last year, I made homemade candles for the first time to gift to family and I was surprised at how easy it was! So don’t be intimidated — you can make something as approachable as a homemade bookmark or Christmas ornament to something more complex like a bookish cross-stitch.

If you’re looking for more holiday reading and gift giving inspiration, I’ll be posting more recommendations and gift guides every week between now and Christmas!

To pack your TBR to get through the holidays, check my recent seasonal reading recommendations.

& to get your gift buying started, check my recent gift guide posts.

Bookish Holidays | Thrifty Gift Giving Tips