Thrifty Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Surprise your mom with a one-of-a-kind, thoughtful gift this Mother’s Day, and avoid breaking the bank doing so.
From vintage jewelry and clothing, to home décor and collectible items, there is something for everyone at the local thrift store.
Affordability
Thrift stores offer significantly lower prices than traditional retail stores. And let’s be real here, no one in the world wants you to save your money more than your mom.
Shop smart, save money.
Sustainability
Aside from cost, thrift store support sustainability by contributing to the concept of recycling and reusing.
This reduces waste and helps minimizes the environmental impact of new goods.
Availability
The best part about thrift stores is that they don’t often have dozens of the same product, meaning the items you choose are unique.
Finding a gift that is rare or not widely available makes it more special than a coffee mug from Walmart.
The Experience
Aside from all the financial and environmental reasons to shop thrifty, the treasure hunting experience takes the cake.
Most people could spend hours browsing a thrift store if they could. It’s fun to see all the interesting things people collect.
18 Thrift Store Gifts for Mom
Take the stress out of shopping by reducing the costs and enjoying the experience.
Here’s a list of 18 thrifty gift ideas for moms of all tastes, with a suggestion on how to complete the look.
A Chic Vase
For the interior designer mom—the one who takes pride in decorating her home. Surely, you’ll find a nice vase at the thrift store to match her color scheme and style.
Wrap it up nicely in tissue paper and pick some wild flowers to go with it.
A Coffee Mug
For the coffee or tea drinking mamas—a new mug is always welcomed. Thrift stores often have a variety of mugs from vintage to modern, in all shapes and colors.
Pair it with a small box of her favorite tea or some fresh coffee beans.
A Pair of Plush Socks
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can find brand new items at the thrift store. On more than one occasion, people are gifted fuzzy or fancy socks that they never wear and they end up in the thrift bin doting their OG tags.
Add Mom’s favorite candy bar, and you’re all set for a thrifty and affordable gift that mom will adore.
A Book
For the book-lover moms, you can find an array of topics and genres at the thrift store. From classic stories and cook books, to vintage hardcovers and banned authors, there’s something for everyone.
If you can swing it, buy a few books and tie them together with jute or rope. Pair it with a single flower tucked on top, or a bouquet of wildflowers for a completed look.
A Basket
For the homestead mom, or the picnic-loving mom, a nice wooden or weaved basket might just be the best gift.
It’ll come in handy for harvesting veggies from the garden, or bringing snacks down the river.
Add a little bow and some garden gloves or a small blanket to tie it all together.
A Boardgame
For moms who love family game night, get her a game that she will enjoy. Parents most often get stuck playing kiddie games on family game night, so this time look for one that might appeal to her.
This gift idea is best for families with older kids who can partake in the game with their parent.
A Vintage Item
For the vintage loving mom, thrift stores offer an array of timeless pieces that are often underappreciated. From old clocks to authentic tea cups, there’s tons of options to add to mom’s collection.
Vintage items pair nicely with flowers as well.
Accessories
For the moms who love to accessorize, you can find several budget-friendly ideas at the thrift store. From jewelry and clothing accessories to hats and sunglasses, there’s a style for everyone.
Picture Frames
Thrift stores (and yard sales) are bursting with frames, and the styles are endless. If you mom adores photos, choose a frame that suits her taste and fill it a photograph of you or the family.
Wrap it in tissue paper and voila—a gift mom will love.
Home Décor
For the mom who likes to decorate her home, the thrift store is where you’ll want to go. Whether its side tables, lamps, mirrors or storage baskets, there is something mom will certainly love (and use).
Jewelry
As previously mentioned, accessories are in abundance at thrift stores. Take your time browsing and find the perfect piece of jewelery that will suit your mom the best.
Whether it’s a chunky necklace or a piece with colorful stones, it will likely be a one-of-a-kind gift your mom will adore.
Kitchen Tools
For the mom who loves to cook, the thrift store will not disappoint. Tons of people pass along kitchen gadgets they spent more time storing than using.
Aside from small appliances, you may find authentic wooden bowls, vintage canisters, or gorgeous glassware that mom will surely love.
Planters
For the plant loving moms, thrift stores can be a dream. Every plant-mom needs an endless supply of planters/pots, and the thrift store has every size and color you can image.
Pair it with a package of seeds or even a new plant if you can swing it.
Records or Albums
If your mom is into oldies, you can’t go wrong with records and albums. The thrift store will have plenty of options to choose from if you have the time to browse.
You may even get lucky and find a vintage record player in good condition.
Bakeware
If your mom loves to bake you can easily make a little baking kit from thrifty items. Start with a small mixing bowl and add some cookie cutters, a matching set of mixing spoons, and even a vintage rolling pin if you can find one.
Pair it with a mason jar filled with dry ingredients to complete the kit.
Vintage Tees
For the nostalgic mama, you may find a vintage t-shirt to suit her taste. If you know your mom’s favorite bands or classic movies, or even a retro logo, take a moment to browse the clothing aisles.
Pair it with a cool pair of vintage sunglasses to complete the look.
Tote Bags & Purses
Sometimes you can really find hidden gems in a thrift store—purses and bags included. Often times people are gifted an item not knowing its true value and they pass it on without looking back.
Whether vintage or modern, you’re sure to find a diamond in the ruff in the thrift store.
Sports Memorabilia
For the sporty mom, check out the thrift store before paying top dollar for memorabilia.
While the selection may vary, there is a chance you’ll discover unique and nostalgic items pertaining to mom’s favorite sport, or maybe even her favorite team.
