How to Dress Up Any Holiday Gift by Visiting Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries

Ever notice how giving a single gift feels kind of … little? Lonely, like it’s waiting for a friend to join it? Or, even worse, discovering the gift bag costs more than the present itself?

This holiday season, plus up your holiday gift giving with an outing to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. Our 15 retail locations throughout Massachusetts are stocked with assorted new and gently used items ready to finish your seasonal shopping.

Instead of struggling to find several gifts for one person, or buying expensive wrapping paper, get your thrift on and head to a Goodwill store.

Here are a few ideas we came up with in a single, thrifty, afternoon.

1. Dress up homemade goods in warm wicker.

We all become sentimental at the holidays – breaking out family recipes to bake treats, making scratch candy, even crafting beautiful handmade items. Envision natural wax candles presented on a slender wooden tray. Or enfolding your goodies in wicker baskets — everything looks nicer wrapped in natural fibers. We paid about $3 per basket to add a warm, organic feel to all of our handcrafted gifts.

2. Replace unnecessary wrapping paper with reusable packaging.

We believe packaging can be beautiful and This carved stone box from India — perfect for jewelry or other small gift — adds a touch of elegance for only $1.99. While a large, colorful cardboard container conceals bulky sweaters or a warm pajama set and offers thrifty friends a gift box ready for next year. Little extras such as a Christmas ball and light-up holiday lantern “plus-up” any gift without adding the extra waste of ribbons and bows.

3. Find niche gifts for just a little cash.

This David Bowie Condé Nast Special Collector’s Edition journal jumped out at us as one of those customized gifts that can be so difficult to find at regular retail. Tucked inside a dazzling sequined Christmas cap, it becomes an immediate conversation piece. Flowers and plants are another standard holiday go-to — but how to present them without feeling like a scene out of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”? This gorgeous forest-green vase for only $1.99 creates memories long after the holidays pass.

4. Construct perfectly inspired serving sets.

Hot chocolate and warm teas, holiday dishes, and fresh treats presented in decorative containers are as pretty as a winter day. Can you imagine offering guests salted caramel toddies with a Bella Casa by Ganz teapot, festive stoneware cups, and a vibrant red serving bowl? We designed this à-la-carte serving set by blending a trip to the home goods section with an eye out for holiday colors. Total cost? $15.

5. Plus-up a party with an old-school board game.

An easy leave-behind, games and puzzles add energy and instant camaraderie without breaking the bank. The group game Hedbanz caught our eye. Ready to stay inside and drink some eggnog? Catan’s supply-driven economy of exploration and trade may finish the night later than expected. Throughout Goodwill’s game section, browsers find a wide assortment of board and card games, toys, and sports equipment that, for only a few dollars, promise hours of entertainment for family and friends. With Goodwill, no one is left out of the holidays.

6. Dress up for the date.

Here our model is wearing found Isaac Mizrahi purple suede boots with a sleek zipper-up sleeveless shirt dress. Paired with a flouncy skirt, long-sleeve shirt and a cozy cap, the look goes from afternoon to evening without missing a step.

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries

Our mission to help individuals with barriers to self-sufficiency to achieve independence and dignity through work. Not charity, but a chance. Goodwill’s mission services focus on helping people secure employment, which is critical for economic self-sufficiency.