A mom says she has saved $5,000 thrifting her son’s birthday and Christmas presents every year.
Natalie Joy Miller, 38, has always loved scouring second hand stores and even started collecting clothes for her son, Artie Allen, 5, when she was aged 16 — years before he was even born.
The mom-of-one says “pretty much all of his stuff” is second hand and she loves to find gems in thrift stores and occasionally online on Facebook Marketplace.
For Artie’s fifth birthday Natalie found 13 gifts including a tiny red Dutch oven to match the one in her own kitchen, a camera, and a Clifford stuffed toy — spending less than $150.
Artie was also treated to 22 preloved Christmas presents — for only $154 — including a $18 record player and $25 projector.
Natalie estimates the presents would have been five times the prices if she had bought it all new – and says she believes she has saved $5k in the last five years.
Natalie — who owns Natalie Joy Jewelry — from Portland, Oregon, US, said: “Thrifting is so rewarding.
“It’s like a treasure hunt.
“If I bought things new it would be four or five times the cost at least.
“You save money and it’s more sustainable.
“We do a big Christmas — around 20 gifts.
“It’s so exciting.”
Natalie grew up thrifting and was even searching for baby items before she was even pregnant.
She said: “My favorite thing is to thrift for kid’s toys and clothes.
“I got a Sesame Street t-shirt when I was 16.
“It fits him this year.”
Natalie had a chest of 20 items before Artie was even born but now loves thrifting even more — and taking him with her.
She said: “Aside from the newborn phase where people had given us onesies as presents, pretty much all his stuff is second hand.”
Each year Natalie hunts through the thrift stores for Artie’s birthday presents.
For his fifth on February 4, 2025, she found him a forklift toy, walkie talkie set, bug catcher, Operation game, a craft bead set, a flower garden building toy, a view master, flower fairy toys, a Clifford stuffed toy, Madeline matching game, a tiger figurine, a camera and a Dutch oven.
Natalie said: “The one I was most excited about was the Dutch oven.
“He’s obsessed with cooking beside me.
“We have a red Dutch one and I found the exact same brand in the exact same colour.
“He’s really excited to cook alongside me.
“I never spend more than $150.”
Natalie said her little boy is obsessed with his new toy camera which she found on Facebook Marketplace.
She said: “He’s really into taking photos.
“He has it on him all the time.”
Natalie says spending on second hand toys is “not as risky” as spending on loads on an item new that a child might only play with once.
She said: “Older items are made more durable.
“Newer clothes fall apart.
“I even get people in my comments who say ‘why are you giving him used stuff — doesn’t it make him feel sad?’
“No he’s a kid.
“It’s more individual and cool.”
