I love giving the wonderful humans in my life gifts almost as much as I love money. Almost. 

Here is my confession: I am extremely cheap. This tends to be an issue when the holiday season comes along, and I want to shower my friends and family with thoughtful gifts. If you are like me, there is still hope: thrifting.  

Grab your extra change, some random craft supplies, and the most important item–a list of all the people in your life who deserve gifts. It is time to become the ultimate gift giver, which is basically a super power.  

Thrifting for awesome gifts can be tricky sometimes because you never know what you will find. Following a few simple tips can help streamline the process. 

• Make a list of all of the people who you plan on buying gifts for, and set a budget for each person’s gift. Make sure to include money in your budget for possible craft supplies if you want to personalize your thrift store finds. 
• Do a quick Google search of the closest thrift stores in the area, and map out a game plan of the ones you want to visit. Goodwill is a great place to look locally. If you can make the trip down to Atlanta, some amazing places to hit for vintage and trendy finds include Lucky Exchange, Labels Resale Boutique, and Rag-O-Rama. 
• Go in with an open mind. Remember that items can easily be painted and reworked into creative or personalized gifts. 
• Remember prices are usually just guidelines. Negotiating prices is allowed in the resale business, just be respectful, and make sure to ask for a manager if you want to negotiate a price down. 

Some great items to give as gifts:  

1.  Mugs 

Mugs are great gifts to give during winter months. Clean out the mug, put a packet of hot chocolate, some candy, or other small gifts inside for a fun surprise. 

If you want to personalize your mug, you can find easy directions here.  

2.  Books 

Hardcover books are the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life. Cookbooks for holiday recipes are also great to give to anyone who loves to cook. Search for books with minimal signs of wear such as dog-eared pages or stains. Wrap up a little stack of books with a colorful ribbon, and voila. 

3.  Holiday sweaters 

Ugly holiday sweaters are extremely popular. For a funny gift, pick up some wild sweaters for your friends and family. Make sure to wash them before gifting. Try to pick out sweaters that look new or even have tags. 

4.  Candle holder 

A cute candle holder makes a great, easy gift. If the candle holder is already the color or style you want, then just add a nice scented candle. To further personalize a candle holder, add a coat of spray paint or some gemstones.

5.  Clothing and accessories 

New or lightly used clothes in your recipient’s style are probably the most obvious thrift store buys. Jean jackets, vintage t-shirts, small purses, and costume jewelry are all trendy now. Luckily, these items can be found in resale store bins for virtually nothing. One tip: clothing is usually a good gift for close family and friends, especially those who you know would fit into and genuinely enjoy the items you purchase. 

Now get out there. Conquer the world. Or, at least the gift giving season.