No not if they are in good condition. This year I am making family movie night baskets with popcorn candy and used DVD's I have bought at a pawn shop for $3 a piece I have been buying them all year long and I have some good titles of christmas movies "Deck the Halls" and "Christmas with the Krunks" I have also gotten 3 Charlie Browns Christmas DVD's from Birdseye I think they are going to make nice gifts. I also have found some red and white striped (plastic) popcorn tubs to put them in I bought at Dollar Tree.

My older sister started giving used gifts during the holidays but she put the utmost effort into her choices. I grew to actually love them, they were always so unique and special. I think its a great idea , easy on the wallet and very green for the earth. Its fantastic. Your kids will be so happy about the gift they received they wont care where it came from. Also a great idea if your children have a used system they dont use.. gift it to someone, maybe a shelter who would LOVE to have something of that sort for the holidays.
It teaches a great lesson.

Sabrina Martinez

I have a good friend who has family members she refers to as "the garage salers". These extended family members make it their business - literally - to scour every garage sale and grab up the excellent items. Obviously, they resale many of the items, but my friend gives them a wish list and they'll look for her. Often, instead of having my friend buy the item off of them, they'll give it to the family as a gift (birthday, Christmas). It's a great system! Her kids have gotten the Leapfrog readers with all the books, 2 4x4 battery operated ride on toys, and mountains of building materials like Legos. The kids even have a two story playhouse and my friend has a great picnic table that has been 'reclaimed'.

My thought is, by the time I use it, it becomes a used item so what is the difference?

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I don't mind I shop garage sales and thrift shops. If there is thought behind the gift I don't care if it is used handmade, etc. I got a hair dryer and an iron one year from my Mom that were used and the hair dryer worked for 10 years, the iron still works. Great gifts, things I needed and things she didn't.

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A Family of 5's quest to forget the Joneses.