40% of holiday budgets shift to secondhand gifting: ThredUp

Online resale platform ThredUp has released its 2025 Holiday Report revealing that secondhand shopping is set to play a major role in this year’s gift-giving season. 

Conducted by GlobalData and surveying 2,000 consumers, the study finds that consumers plan to allocate nearly 40% of their total holiday budgets to secondhand gifts, up from the 30% they typically spend on resale in their everyday shopping.

“While the macroeconomic picture remains unclear, consumers aren’t stopping their holiday traditions—they’re just getting more strategic on how they participate. They’re seeking the most value, and that path is increasingly through resale,” said James Reinhart, CEO and cofounder of ThredUp. 

“This holiday season proves consumers are incredibly financially savvy. Close to half of all shoppers are turning old items into cash they can use for holiday gifts. This circular strategy is becoming a major part of how they fund their holiday spending.”

According to the report, over half of shoppers (52%) say they are more likely to focus on getting more items for less money this year, and 51% plan to start shopping earlier to maximize value. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of all consumers are open to giving secondhand gifts, with Millennials leading the charge at 80%. The top motivations for choosing resale include saving money and finding one-of-a-kind items.

Shoppers are also funding their gifting by selling from their own closets. Nearly 47% of respondents say they plan to or are considering selling pre-loved apparel, electronics, or luxury goods to help pay for gifts, a trend most common among Millennials (70%) and Gen Z (57%). 

The most popular categories for secondhand gifting this year include accessories such as handbags, jewelry, and scarves (40%), women’s apparel like coats and knits (36%), and vintage pieces across apparel, accessories, and home (31%).

“Secondhand gifting isn’t just about saving money; it’s emotional. It allows you to find something truly unique or nostalgic that carries a story, which often means more to someone than a brand-new item,” added Kristen Brophy, senior vice president of marketing at ThredUp. “Consumers are finding that the best gift doesn’t have to be new, it just has to be special.”