I love thrifting! There really is no telling what you’ll find, and the upcycling possibilities are endless. I’ve never had the patience for it, but I’ve had coworkers who had some pretty successful side hustles in the past thrifting and reselling designer clothing. In honor of Second Hand September, today I’m sharing my four favorite thrifted finds from 2025. I’ve picked up some awesome stuff at charity shops this year as well, but… this year isn’t over so I’ll share those later…
Here are my four favorite thrifted finds of 2025.
Ninja Coffee Maker
We had considered buying a new single cup coffee maker for our little camper. I remember standing in the coffee maker aisle at Walmart and while my husband considered the options. I love my Ninja air fryer/toaster oven combo. It gets so much use and keeps working. It really made me a believer in the brand.
So when a shiny new Ninja coffee maker caught my eye I asked why not buy a full sized coffee maker for home and put our old single cup brew machine in the camper? A quick look at the price tag of over $100 compared to our budget (we really didn’t have the budget for a small machine either at that time) had us leaving the aisle empty handed.
Imagine my surprise when I spotted that same model Ninja coffee maker on a shelf at Goodwill some weeks later with a $12.99 price tag? And a week to return it if it didn’t work? It literally looked like it had sat unused in someone’s garage or storage unit until they finally donated it. A quick Google search on how to clean it, and we were in business! The old single cup brewer now lives in the camper.
Summer Camp Wardrobe
2025 marked the first time we sent a kid to away camp. Our then twelve year old attended two camps, and both had themed days. This required a few specific clothing purchases. One camp was actually a local mission project helping make area neighbors’ homes more accessible and/or repairing storm damage.
She already owned some clothing that she could’ve worn, but there were several pieces I didn’t want getting ruined. Being summer, we were also short on pants that fit. We needed some sun protection and safety gear. Then there were the theme days; it was fun going to thrift stores to look for clothes for the theme days. Both camps had a Disney day and I was not about to pay retail for clothing items with licensed characters.
We were able to get a good start on theme days as well as purchase several long sleeved sun protection shirts from local second hand and charity thrift stores. The storage trunk and a few other items were new, but we saved so much thrifting the clothes. A little over $100 had her prepped for two different camps. What she didn’t ruin at camp, she was still able to wear into the fall.
Lunch Bag
Most days I take my lunch (and sometimes breakfast) to work. For a while there were kitchen renovations going on in the fellowship hall (I’m a church secretary), and I decided to get an insulated lunch bag to bring with me every day. With new lunch bags costing at least $20 and every option I liked coming with a freezer pack and/or food containers I didn’t need, I started looking at thrift stores.
It took a bit of patience, but I was eventually able to find a lunch bag I really liked for about $6. As a bonus, it’s made of recycled plastic bottles! It holds a flat ice pack as well as containers for breakfast, lunch, and a snack. These days, I really appreciate that it fits in the bottom compartment of the stroller, making it one less thing I have in my hands while loading and unloading the baby and everything she needs for the day.
I also think it’s pretty cute, and appreciate that it isn’t a super trendy or bright color or pattern that I will get tired of looking at quickly.
Books!
I treat thrift store bookshelves like a public library. Typically I don’t buy a book unless I know I’m going to want to keep it forever OR I have a B&N gift card and it’s a new book I don’t want to wait for at the library. But if it’s $2.99 or less and I’m curious, I don’t mind spending the money.
A lot of the time I will read it and pass it on without worrying about getting it back. I also keep an eye out for YA books since our church gives each child a few books along with their new backpack, shoes, and other supplies at our annual Back to School Bonanza and I know there aren’t a lot of book donations for this age group.
If I don’t want to reread or pass the book on to a friend, I simply donate it back. Here are just a few books I’ve thrifted.
what are some of your favorite thrifted finds?
Not sure why you should shop second hand to begin with? Check out 4 Reasons Why Second Hand Shopping is a Great First Choice and tips on how to Buy Clothes Second Hand and Dress Your Kids On A Dime.
And hop on over to Instagram and share some of your favorite second finds.
If you’re not already a Frugal Friend, be sure to sign up; you’ll get notified of new posts as well as receive the new and improved MONTHLY newsletter with your free monthly meal plan and exclusive recipes not found on the Recipe Page.