(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A new poll estimates that the average American spends nearly $1,000 on Christmas gifts, but the owner of a “Buy Nothing” Facebook group said it doesn't have to be that way.
“I think it's definitely helping families realize that you don't need to have brand new everything,” said Meghan Cafarella, who started the “Buy Nothing Naperville” Facebook group nearly 10 years ago.
Cafarella got the idea after seeing two women in Seattle start a similar concept.
She said her group currently has around 1,400 members who gift all sorts of things to fellow neighbors.
"One woman posted her kids’ shoe collection,” Cafarella said. “And yes, they were kid sizes, but half of these were unused, like Jordans or Ugg boots. People will sometimes gift old or used Apple watches or iPads.”
The goal of the group, she added, was to show that it’s not always necessary to go out and buy something new.
“Because somebody in your community might have it for you, and … it can be gifted to you instead of going to purchase it,” she said.
Said Cafarella: “It’s just a different way of thinking.”
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