Holiday Shopping Tips to Help You Prepare, Save Money and Shop Sustainably

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- While the holidays can be a time of joy and excitement, they can also be expensive, stressful and sometimes wasteful. With all of the planning, preparation and costs that the season brings, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Goodwill can help shoppers plan, save money, shop sustainably and make the most of their holiday season.

Here are some useful tips to help shoppers get organized and thrift successfully with Goodwill this holiday season:

• Find your holiday style for less: The perfect holiday outfit, matching ugly sweaters for the whole family or a sparkly New Year's Eve dress don't have to cost an arm and a leg. Goodwill stores sell a wide variety of clothes, including tops, pants, shoes, hats and scarves to fit any style and budget. Plan ahead to put together the perfect and affordable look this season.
  
• Toys and Games: If you're looking for great buys on toys, games or electronics to give your kids or family members, consider shopping secondhand. You can also shop to support other nonprofits, such as Toys for Tots, that provide holiday gifts to families and others in need this season.
  
• Holiday Party Planning: If you're the host this year, remember that you can shop secondhand for all your holiday décor, housewares and crafts. Goodwill is a great place to find unique craft supplies, holiday decorations, festive tableware, cocktail glasses, recipe books, candy dishes, cooking utensils and bakeware for that stunning holiday dinner that won't break the bank.
  
• Unique Gift Wrapping: Think outside the box when it comes to gift wrapping. You can fill a festive mug with candy and instant hot chocolate mix or bedazzle a stocking and fill it with candy, chocolates and small hand lotions that anyone will be sure to love. You can also find unique wrapping ideas like fun fabrics, gift baskets or reusable gift bags at your local Goodwill store.
  
• Visit a Goodwill Outlet Store: Not all local Goodwill organizations have outlet stores, but if you are lucky enough to live near one (there are 160 across North America), you will be in for a bargain-hunting adventure! Items at Goodwill outlet stores are sold by the pound, so you can get some of the best deals of the season.
  
• Goodwill Boutiques: Like the Goodwill outlet stores, specialty boutiques are not everywhere (there are more than 50 across North America), but these types of Goodwill thrift stores sell high-end or designer goods for a significantly lower price compared to buying these items brand new. These items can include dresses, jeans, shoes and handbags designed by well-known brands.
  
• Know Your Local Goodwill Discount Days: Depending on where you live, your local Goodwill stores may have certain days they offer discounts to different groups, such as veterans, teachers and senior citizens. Visit a store near you and ask the store manager for details.
  
• Color Tag Sales: Some local Goodwill organizations will color code their tags based on when donated items arrive at the store. After a certain number of days, specific color tags are discounted from the price marked. Keep your eye out for the discounted color of the week.
  
• Be an Environmental Steward: Donating and shopping at Goodwill also helps the environment. Our entire model is based on keeping products in circulation longer, and we've been doing so for more than 120 years.

"When you shop at Goodwill, you not only find unique holiday treasures, but you also help provide job opportunities for individuals in your local community," said Onney Crawley, chief marketing officer for Goodwill Industries International. "Donating and shopping at Goodwill also helps the environment by giving items a second life and helping people begin new lives."

Goodwill donors and shoppers support their local community by enabling the Goodwill mission of creating opportunities for people to gain job skills, advance their careers and find meaningful work.

When you bring donations to Goodwill or shop in our stores, you're also driving the circular economy by promoting reuse. Last year, Goodwill diverted more than 4.3 billion pounds of goods from landfills to give them a second life.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL

Goodwill works to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families by building bridges to opportunity, strengthening communities and helping people in need reach their potential through education and the Power of Work.

For more than 120 years, Goodwill organizations have helped people find jobs, support their families and overcome systemic barriers to employment opportunities. There are 153 local Goodwill organizations across North America that assist people through a variety of employment placement services, job training programs and other community-based services. In 2023, the nonprofit helped more than 1.7 million people build skills, access resources and advance their careers. Goodwill sells donated items in more than 3,300 outlets and retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as online marketplaces. The revenue from their stores creates training programs, provides community support and connects people who want to build their careers to long-term employment opportunities.

For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org. Follow us on X/Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube: @GoodwillIntl.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International