With Americans feeling bummed out and worried about spending this holiday season, there is at least one saving grace: the thrift shop. If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you may have even noticed the “Thriftmas” tag trending.
In one of the top videos, a user named jaeliz22_ explained that she was headed into the Salvation Army in Meadville, Pa., with a budget of $100 for her four children “and a family vacation” this Christmas. She showed a cart fully of toys and stocking stuffers and said she paid just over $18 for most of the items in it. Additionally, she said that she thinks that location is a bit more expensive than other Salvation Army stores.
“Secondhand is taking a real share of holiday budgets, with 81% of Americans planning to spend at least some of their gifting budget on secondhand items,” said a November press release from mobile marketplace OfferUp. It also said more than a quarter (27%) of respondents said they plan to spend up to half of their holiday budget and secondhand stores.
This trend isn’t new to the holiday season. Amid holiday pressure during the back-to-school rush, Audacy reported on parents heading to thrift stores to get their kids ready for the new school year. OfferUp’s 2025 Recommence Report found that secondhand shopping has become a staple buying strategy for Americans, with 93% of respondents reporting that they bought a secondhand item over the past year.
That survey also found that 70% of participants believe the stigma around secondhand shopping has lessened. Regarding the holidays specifically, 89% of shoppers said they would choose a local secondhand seller to avoid holiday shipping delays and fees. Gen Z was particularly interested in thrifting, with 95% who said they were open to buying secondhand if it meant spending less.
Going into the holidays, 93% of shoppers polled by OfferUp were concerned about rising holiday costs and 70% searching for deals or discounts. WalletHub research published this week showed that U.S. consumers added $16 billion in credit card debt during the third quarter of 2025. Gallup polling from this week also found that consumers “reported a sharply lower holiday spending estimate last month than they had forecast in October,” amid economic concerns coming off of the government shutdown.
“Fewer than three in 10 adults in the latest poll, 27%, said the economy is getting better, four percentage points below the October reading and the lowest since July 2024,” said Gallup. “About two-thirds (68%) said the economy is getting worse.”
The CNBC|SurveyMonkey 2025 Small Business Saturday Survey found that 40% of Americans plan to spend less this holiday season, “with the deepest cutbacks on purchasing gifts for others.” They are also looking for sales and planning to cut back on essentials and 15% plan to re-use or regift items.
USA Today also noted the growing trend of heading to secondhand stores for “Thriftmas” deals this holiday season in an article this week.
“What was once considered an option is now a preferred way to shop, especially during the holidays, as people look for meaningful, high-quality gifts at fair prices, often right within their own communities,” Kelly Stephenson, vice president of brand at OfferUp, told the outlet.
For some thrift shoppers, the appeal extends beyond saving money.
“They’re getting a new life and they’re not ending up in a landfill,” Samantha Rose Brammer, a shopper who spent about $5 told USA Today. “Thriftmas is like repurposing items...and can save you a lot of money.”
A trip to the thrift store can also include selling or donating used items, further helping to offset shopping costs. There are many options for getting in on the trend, too.
Local thrift stores are a great place to start, and resources to help find them include www.thethriftshopper.com, www.localthriftstores.com and www.salvationarmyusa.org/thrift-stores. Online thrifting is also popular, via sites like www.poshmark.com, www.depop.com and www.ebay.com.