Christmas is approaching soon and many people will be spending money on toys as gifts for their children. One of the most expensive times of the year is Christmas because of the number of gifts that people buy for those on their gift giving list. We are now facing a pandemic and a looming recession. If you want to save money on Christmas gifts for your children but still keep the holiday spirit, why not consider buying second hand toys instead?
Choosing gently used toys or games are a great way to reduce the carbon footprint. For those who have younger children, they won’t be able to tell the difference between new and old toys.
Where To Shop For Used Toys
You can start shopping from stores like Goodwill, thrift shops or garage sales in your neighborhood. Since most of us are practicing social distancing and are unable to visit any stores, you can shop for second hand toys online from websites like eBay, Craigslist or Facebook marketplace.
Benefits of Buying Used Toys
The benefits of buying second hand toys are many.
- Save cost – Buying second hand toys costs much less than new ones. Sometimes they can be half the price or less than a new one.
- Buying used toys do not add toxins and pollutants to the environment and they do not require new resources from the planet or energy to produce
- Recycling toys also helps the environment by keeping plastic and fabric out of landfills.
- Buying used items usually means shopping locally and this reduces the emission of greenhouse gases
Safety Check For Used Toys
As you would with new toys, remember to check the used toys to make sure that they are not broken, do not contain unsafe materials or could pose a safety hazard. Here are some tips on what to look out for:-
- Avoid toys that contain lead or lead-based paint. Check to see if the paint is flaking off.
- Make sure the toy is BPA-free.
- Check toys with small parts thoroughly and make sure that those parts are not loose and are not choking hazard.
- Make sure the toy would not shatter or break easily.
- Remember to check if the material on the toys or stuffed toys is flame-resistant.
- Avoid toys that has sharp edges.
- If you have chosen a toy that is battery operated, check to see if it is working. Remember to also check for battery leakage.
Don’t forget to give the toy a wipe down and sanitize it before wrapping it as a gift.
Once you have finalized your purchase and you are unable to collect the toys from the online seller, you may have to get the items delivered to you. In order to save time and stress searching for the shipping company with the best rate, you can just go to Shiply, an online shipping marketplace platform that can help to connect you with its network of shipping companies. All you have to do is fill out a form with the necessary information and personalized quotes will be sent to your mailbox within minutes. You may compare quotes from multiple shipping companies and choose the one that offers the best rates. So hurry and start your Christmas shopping early.
