recession and recycling gift tip: turn your parents' trash into treasure, swap clothes, and more!

if you're still combing the shops for holiday gifts, take a tip from my lovely gal pal, angel, and make a quick beeline for a much overlooked treasure trove -- your parents attic, basement, or garage.  most likely your fab folks have a box of unwanted goods that just may prove to be a cornucopia of craveable keepsakes for your friends.

for example, angel excavated two exquisite cookbooks from 1963:  "better homes & gardens: lunches and brunches" and "better homes and gardens: best buffets."  and, yes...i was the lucky recipient!  

published in the age of tv dinners and screaming technicolor, these cookbooks are jam packed with delicious photography and recipes that are simply to die for.  shredded sharp processed cheese and condensed cream of celery soup, anyone?

in addition to the fab cookbooks, angel found vintage playboys for her bachelor pals and mod mags from the 60s for her photog femmes.  and the best thing was -- it was all fo' free and miss angel's mum was more than happy to clear up space in her storage!

so, in a recession slathered economy, why not relieve a little clutter from your parents' long forgotten archives, or agree to exchange books with your friends from your personal at-home libraries, or have a clothes swap?  these are all gifting activities that my friends and i have practiced year after year, and the recycling tradition shows no signs of stopping.

it's fun, it's frugal, and it's fashionable.  and, remember...one person's trash just may be another person's whorange. 

Comments

[Marsha Stewart]

I'm having flashbacks right now of my Mum wearing her pink pleated dress, pearls, apron, high heels and wooden spoon in hand, reading her Betty Crocker Bible. So nostalgic - loved the post !!

[Suzy]

This is genius. Thank you! My Dad has a huge vintage Playboy collection that I'm sure my Mom wouldn't mind me clearing out. Ha!

[Paul Anater]

Great post! I have a couple of those Betty Crocker cookbooks and I'm forever amazed at how unappetizing old-school food photography appears to modern eyes. They are a cultural time traveling machine and so far beyond cool I can barely stand it,

[Sal]

My stomach is churning just looking at these images. Food isn't meant to be so ... bright. Is it?

[Mr. Peacock]

I love the vintage jello molds and that one looks extra fancy too!

[Angel Anderson]

Hooray! I love that you're sharing this great "shopping" strategy! I can't wait to see this idea spread...

[Elizabeth]

I collect vintage cookbooks and have the entire Better Homes and Gardens Creative Cooking Series :-D