Blog

Sales & Events

Language

Search

Blog

Last minute gift ideas on a budget from Goodwill

POSTED December 22, 2025 IN: Holidays

Text reads "last minute thrifted gift ideas". There is a collage of holiday gifts in the center, including a gift basket, scarf, candle, gold earrings, a purse, and a leather jacket.

Running out of time doesn’t mean you’ll have to settle for bad gifts. Thrift stores are one of the best places to find thoughtful, one-of-a-kind presents—and fast! With everything you could wish for in one place and no shipping delays, secondhand shopping turns last-minute gifting into the obvious answer.

Here are our Top 3 last-minute gift ideas that you can thrift on a budget at your local Goodwill:

Build-Your-Own Gift Baskets

Cutout images of gift baskets, books, mugs and cups, scarves, candles, slippers, a stuffed animal, and a water bottle.

Create special gift moments by combining complementary items. Coffee mugs and books, candles and blankets, or warm jackets and outdoor gear. Simply bundle them together in a basket (which you can also thrift!), add additional accessories, use the thrifted blankets or other fabric to cushion.

Statement Pieces

Cutout images off a leather jacket, vintage bags, watches, earrings, a belt, loafers, a mirror, a green analog clock, and a vintage lamp.

Sometimes it only takes one thrift trip to come across a rare find! Look for those vintage watches, real leather jackets, 2000s bags, or elegant home décor for a fraction of the retail (or resale) price, and gift the exclusive piece to someone special you know would appreciate it.

Home Upgrades

Cutout images of a flat screen TV, sofa chair, floor lamp, coffee table, Keurig machine, Kitchen Aid, tea kettle, house plant, cooking pot, and cast iron skillet.

Think practical items, but better. Goodwill stores are a great place to find high-quality, marked-down home items; Kitchen Aids, Keurig’s, TVs, furniture, and more. Think of what the people on your list have been wanting to upgrade in their home and go hunt for it!

This Holiday season, consider doing that last-minute shopping secondhand to easily and affordably gift to the people in your life. Choosing to thrift your gifts from Goodwill means helping the environment by diverting items from the landfill and contributing to our mission of providing tuition-free job training and education for community members. That’s the gift that keeps on giving!