A Craigslist Christmas

I know. I KNOW. How can I possibly mention the 'C' word when we haven't even had Halloween yet? Sorry. (But keep emailing us your photos of precycled/recycled Halloween Costumes! We'll post them on Monday.) Christmas (sorry) is going to be a little different around here this year, and I need to start thinking about it NOW. This year we're shopping Craigslist for presents for the kids. For one, it's cheaper. For two, the kids don't need new, wrapped-in-original-packaging toys. (Blerhg...all that packaging!) They really don't. They are still young enough (4 and almost 7) that they aren't asking for specific things. My daughter would be happy with anything related to Pokemon. My son would be happy with anything. And for three, I'm just not buying it. There are too many toys in this world. Why do we need so many new toys, most of which are total crap? So much plastic being created, molded, transported and then tossed aside? Ugh.

I remember a friend telling me that she shops rummage sales year-round for presents for her girls. I have always admired that kind of advanced thinking but have never been organized or enthusiastic enough to do it myself. It seems much easier just to go to the local toy store and buy what's in front of me. But my family just scored two great deals on Craigslist -- a much-needed laptop for my husband and a bike for our daughter -- and I mean great deals, so my bargain-hunting juices are flowing, and I want more. Actually, I want less, but I want more of less. For less. What?

Anyhoo, I'm excited about the prospect of not spending so much money this year and not buying in to the crazy commercialization that dominates the holidays. My kids don't watch any commercial TV, so they are blissfully unaware of the latest toy craze (well, unless the kids at school talk about it...which they will...drat). I wish I'd started doing this years ago, because I think it will just get harder as they get older and more product-savvy. I'll still probably get a few small stocking stuffers from our neighborhood toy store, because I do want to support local shops, but the majority is going to be second-hand stuff.

Do you buy second-hand presents for your kids? Do you shop year-round for them? Would you ever buy a second-hand gift for someone outside your immediate family?