Mom Saves Hundreds by Thrifting All of 5-Year-Old Son’s Christmas Gifts (Exclusive)

For Natalie Miller, gift-giving has never been about shiny packaging or last-minute shopping. The 39-year-old mother has been thrifting gifts for her son, Artie, since before he was even born.

“If I came across something special, I would get it and store it away for later,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively. “To be totally honest, I had a whole collection of thrifted kid clothes I’d been gathering since I was 16. I know, I know… but my adult self has no regrets.”

Over the past three years, Miller has committed to sourcing all of her 5-year-old’s Christmas gifts secondhand, and while finding the perfect items isn’t always easy, she takes pride in knowing her choices support a smaller environmental footprint. 

“When I think about how many new toys are being mass produced each year, it bums me out,” Miller admits. “There is so much out there, in nearly new condition. It just doesn’t make sense to buy everything new.”

While it takes time and commitment to track down items her son will love, Miller finds the “challenge” rewarding. By thrifting high-quality toys built to last longer than many newer designs, she has saved hundreds each Christmas.

“Last year my total was $154, and I got around 15 gifts and stocking stuffers,” she reveals. “I imagine if I purchased the same or comparable gifts new, it would be over $800.”

Overall, Miller says she tries to keep spending under $200 – saving most of Artie’s toy purchases for birthdays and holidays like Christmas and Easter. 

Surprisingly, Miller has found many items “new in the box,” but she’s just as happy to clean things up or make small repairs to give them a new life.

“Last year, I got him a Bruder Crane Truck, but it was partially broken with a small piece missing. I attached a note from Santa explaining it had fallen off his sleigh, and he was looking for a kid who would love it despite its flaws,” she recalls. “It added a little extra Christmas magic and a nice sentiment.”

Since this year, Artie has become dinosaur-obsessed, Miller has made it her mission to track down the best figurines, which, in her opinion, are produced by German toy company, Schleich.

“I’ve been slowly collecting them from thrift stores these last few months, and he is going to flip out!” she says. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While Miller occasionally shops on online marketplaces like Facebook and eBay, she usually finds everything she needs at thrift stores, estate sales and resale shops.

This year’s “unicorn item” was an $8 vintage Fisher-Price tape recorder, perfect for Artie to record his dinosaur roars and play around with his voice.

“I checked Marketplace daily and didn’t think I would find it, only to find it at the thrift store down the street from my house,” Miller reveals. “Definitely most excited about that!”

Apart from her son, the proud aunt has also spent the past two years thrifting her nieces’ Christmas gifts – carefully curating ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgic items she knows her sister will appreciate.

“We are definitely a thrift-loving family, so it’s always been the norm to get some thrifted gifts each holiday,” Miller explains. “I like to thrift for my friends too, but I always check to see how they feel about it first. I’ll often do a combo of thrifted, handmade, or items from small businesses.”

This holiday season is even more special for Miller, as she’s expecting her second child and has already started thrifting thoughtful gifts for the baby – aiming to create a cherished tradition for her children.

“As Americans, we are fed the narrative that we should want the newest shiniest thing, especially kids,” Miller tells PEOPLE. “I want to teach [Artie] to slow down and shop mindfully and with intention.”

“My hope is that he sees the beauty in things that stand the test of time, and can tell when something is well made,” she adds. “Not only because the items are more unique and higher quality, but as a consumer, it’s a more sustainable way to shop.”