I did all my Christmas shopping without spending a cent, here’s how

It’s not being cheap, it’s being circular.

Beyond the plea for more thoughtful, more meaningful gifting this year, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room: The rising cost of living. Seeping its way into all aspects of life, the festive period is a notoriously expensive time of year, even without an economic crisis. Many of us want to celebrate and shower our loved ones with treats, regardless of our money situation. Who cares if we’re being financially irresponsible, it’s the thought that counts, right?

That’s always been my motto, but this year, I’m choosing to adopt the ‘circular wardrobe’ approach to my gift-giving – that is, out with the old and in with the (somewhat) new. In an effort to avoid the financial sting of the holiday season, my plan is to clear out pieces I no longer love by selling them on eBay, then apply those funds to pre-loved gifts I find in the process. My hope is this girl math-esque solution will keep the holiday spirit (and my savings account) alive. 

For more on the circular economy, head to our Pre-Loved section.

Out with the old

With age and personal growth, I’ve finally come to grasp my sense of style: I call it Sporty School Boy. Anything that falls outside of this loose definition is up for resale and oh, do I have a collection. While these previous loves are far from ‘trash’, they’re certainly someone’s treasure. 

The spare room in my house is dominated by three mega tubs housing jeans and vintage blouses, mini skirts and even mini-er dresses that have remained untouched for months (if not years). I practise the coathanger trick, rotating them all in my wardrobe then only rotating them back once a piece has been worn, forever revealing to me the pieces I rarely wear. Naturally, this spare-room stash continues to grow. But now is the time to deal with the deluge. 

The first step of my circular-wardrobe-money-making-scheme involves a mass photo shoot. I put on a podcast, fill up on caffeine and find a naturally sunlit location at home. For me, this looks like an open door draped with a linen bedspread (tentatively held in place with heavy books), a Macgyver-style shoelace contraption and teeny wooden pegs to hold my items in place. It’s precarious but effective. I capture all the angles, the labels and any blemishes on these vintage wares, adding in a few on-body shots to really sell the ’fit. 

As I snap, I jot down extra notes on each piece. The details, prints, colours, sizes and silhouettes, making a log of information prior to listing each piece, to seriously simplify the process. 

I pick a Sunday as my official ‘listing day’. I mass upload, set prices that align with other similar pre-loved pieces on offer, then wait for my wares to find their next owner.

In with the new (but not as you know it)

Ordinarily, I’d save this extra cash to fill the gaps in my wardrobe. But I stay focused, Christmas gifts are high on my radar. Influenced by all the unique finds I came across while listing my clothes, I decide to perpetuate the circular cycle with some pre-loved purchases for loved ones. I feel far less guilt-ridden and way more eco-adjacent.

Not only can I source something so special and impossible to find elsewhere, but I stretch my budget further than I could ever imagine. Barely-worn or vintage, homewares or clothing, the pieces in my basket are not ‘new’ per se, but they are indeed original and, I’d argue, guaranteed to exceed the expectations of my receivers. 

The girl math of it all

As I watch my bank balance growing, I set up an additional account, appropriately called ‘Gifts’. This is the girl math in action. Whether you deride the concept or adore it, these little tricks of the mind have power. 

I watch money move in and money move out that never really seems my own, while the mega tubs in my spare room diminish and the heartfelt presents for loved ones rise. My Christmas dread almost disappears and I take comfort in the knowledge I can still enjoy the end-of-year catch-ups without the niggling financial guilt. It’s saving without scrimping. 

With reduced stress and tears, circular gifting has this year been a win for my wardrobe (she’s now much tidier and more joyful), a win for my wallet and a win for my loved ones, too. If that’s not leaning into the festive spirit, I don’t know what is.

To start your own circular gift-giving, head to eBay.  

eBay is not endorsed by or affiliated with any of the brands referenced in this article.