buying used things

[crosses]

What things do you think you should always buy used? I can't remember the last time I bought a new book. I get most of my dishes, tableware and cookware used (but in good condition). Although I don't buy music or videos very often, the ones I do get are used (usually picked up at garage sales). I just can't imagine purchasing these things brand new. I'm sure there are many other things that should be bought used instead of new. What things do you think should be bought this way?

[DivaJen]

Clothes, especially for 4.5 year old DD. We buy some stuff new, but I'm not opposed to buying from garage sales and thrift stores, or taking hand-me-downs, too.

I buy some books new, some used. Depends on the book and how quickly I want it. I do like searching amazon and half.com for good deals! For that matter, we make pretty good use of our libray.

I'm trying to think of what else....

[acezz4e_tish]

the dollar tree is full of all this stuff. thats my first stop. they got gr8 wine glasses and charms too. you gotta get a look at that store.

[acezz4e_tish]

i seen comments about napkins elsewhere here too and got silk ones at the dollar tree, 2 in a pack.

[shelbylovesmelby]

books, young childrens clothing especially, any clothing to your liking, decor (I found a shelf @ a rummage for $5 that had an orig tag on the back of $40 by the crafter), basically anything that is in good shape & a price you are willing to pay.

[jodi]

I agree with all of the above - especially clothes. And especially for kids. I cannot believe the prices that people pay for outfits that get worn only a few times before they are outgrown. I get all my books out from the library, but if there is one I want (like a cookbook), I always check out the used books first. DH started getting his textbooks on half.com (and selling his old ones) and is saving a ton over the bookstore prices. I have gotten lots of good kid's books and toys from the thrift stores, garage sales, and E-Bay (when I want something specific).
I have a new one to add: cars! DH bought his first new car last year and every month when I pay the bill, I wish we had bought a used one. They lost value so fast...we could have bought a reliable car for the amount of our down payment alone...sigh. Never again. I have never owned a new car and really have no desire to.

[Snoopy2645]

I believe cars should always be bought used. Alot of other things I buy used also clothes for the kids & stuff but I can usually find clearances out of season at fancy stores & pay less for kids clothes than I would a garage sale.

[baselle]

I'm learning that most sporting goods should be bought used. The previous owner either used them or didn't, so the equipment is usually either in good condition (dusty) or bad condition (easily avoidable).

[acezz4e_tish]

i have a whole library for the kids, prolly cost me 20 dollars in all. approximentally, 150 books. i keep it updated too by ordering the 95 cents specials at school. that way when others order stuff, my kids get something too, and it costs me 1.90 per kid. each grade has different pages too. another fun and creative idea. if you have a recording stereo, you could read the books and record it. then have it for road trips. you could prolly fit one or two on each side of a 90 min tape, and then they have a reading adventure in the car. have them pick thier fave books, while they are at school one day, take a tamborine or something and make it just like the ones premade, but you can even make them more personal. Green eggs and ham by dr suess, from the library of.... i like throwing in there, by the way have i told you i love you yet today? its loads of fun.

[mountainmist]

I used to purchase almost anything used or secondhand, but not anymore.

First off, I am very careful about any chenille sweaters, because I've frequently seen that type of garage sale sweater virtually self-destruct the first time I wash it - and I do not appreciate cleaning all that chenille LINT from the dryer, and then having to immediately clean out my washer, too --- run it through at least once entirely EMPTY with several cups of bleach.

I have NO idea why anyone would put deteriorating falling apart clothing into their garage sale - but I sure do not appreciate paying a buck or two for a sweater that looks fine, only to realize hours later, after wasting bleach & hot water and spending time & energy carefully cleaning out the dryer that there are people who knowingly put such DUD merchandise in their sales and actually feel fine about accepting money for this worn out crap that should have gone to the landfill, not even to a thriftshop.

So I never buy anything made out of soft chenille yarns.

Five years ago I went to several estate sales, all in a row, that obviously were the estates of deceased clinical hoarders.

It was horrifying.

The prices were great - but who wants to purchase any "New"With Tags underwear that the hoarder bought back in the 1960s - I mean come on, now!

I was really appalled, not only that the homes had enough STUFF for ten families of a dozen children each, but that the people running the sales actually were trying to sell old health care items - half bottles of shampoo, hand cream, unfinished open boxes of kleenex.

HOW DISGUSTING.

Who wants to buy anything like that from the home of an obviously CLINICAL HOARDER who never cleaned their house, because there was virtually no room anywhere to clean anything.

Anyway, I still buy lots of items secondhand, but with the exception of books, cds and dvds, I won't buy anything that I cannot clean as soon as I get it home.

It MUST be able to go into the washer/dryer OR be able to be fully submerged in either bleach water or amonia water.

I'm NOT kidding.

At one of those estate sales, I was examining some towels in the bathroom, when I saw something that the SELLERS of the deceased person's goods hadn't noticed when they cleaned the bathroom --- and I suddenly realized, hey wait a second .... many of these estate sales have alot of very unsanitary items from people who had malingering illnesses and couldn't properly clean anything in their environments for YEARS before dying.

So, I am really particular about what I buy, what I bring into my home for my own family, as I do not think it is wise to EVER get any opened personal toiletries, and it they aren't opened I won't buy them either, as I have no idea how old they are, and where all they've been possibly ageing through the years.

Also, I never buy any pillows or any stuffed toys unless I am absolutely certain that they can survive a very hot water wash and hot dryer, and that they are actually worth using all that electricity for.

Seriously. Go look at some photos of dust mites.

[mountainmist]

I used to purchase almost anything used or secondhand, but not anymore.

First off, I am very careful about any chenille sweaters, because I've frequently seen that type of garage sale sweater virtually self-destruct the first time I wash it - and I do not appreciate cleaning all that chenille LINT from the dryer, and then having to immediately clean out my washer, too --- run it through at least once entirely EMPTY with several cups of bleach.

I have NO idea why anyone would put deteriorating falling apart clothing into their garage sale - but I sure do not appreciate paying a buck or two for a sweater that looks fine, only to realize hours later, after wasting bleach & hot water and spending time & energy carefully cleaning out the dryer that there are people who knowingly put such DUD merchandise in their sales and actually feel fine about accepting money for this worn out crap that should have gone to the landfill, not even to a thriftshop.

So I never buy anything made out of soft chenille yarns.

Five years ago I went to several estate sales, all in a row, that obviously were the estates of deceased clinical hoarders.

It was horrifying.

The prices were great - but who wants to purchase any "New"With Tags underwear that the hoarder bought back in the 1960s - I mean come on, now!

I was really appalled, not only that the homes had enough STUFF for ten families of a dozen children each, but that the people running the sales actually were trying to sell old health care items - half bottles of shampoo, hand cream, unfinished open boxes of kleenex.

HOW DISGUSTING.

Who wants to buy anything like that from the home of an obviously CLINICAL HOARDER who never cleaned their house, because there was virtually no room anywhere to clean anything.

Anyway, I still buy lots of items secondhand, but with the exception of books, cds and dvds, I won't buy anything that I cannot clean as soon as I get it home.

It MUST be able to go into the washer/dryer OR be able to be fully submerged in either bleach water or amonia water.

I'm NOT kidding.

At one of those estate sales, I was examining some towels in the bathroom, when I saw something that the SELLERS of the deceased person's goods hadn't noticed when they cleaned the bathroom --- and I suddenly realized, hey wait a second .... many of these estate sales have alot of very unsanitary items from people who had malingering illnesses and couldn't properly clean anything in their environments for YEARS before dying.

So, I am really particular about what I buy, what I bring into my home for my own family, as I do not think it is wise to EVER get any opened personal toiletries, and it they aren't opened I won't buy them either, as I have no idea how old they are, and where all they've been possibly ageing through the years.

Also, I never buy any pillows or any stuffed toys unless I am absolutely certain that they can survive a very hot water wash and hot dryer, and that they are actually worth using all that electricity for.

Seriously. Go look at some photos of dust mites.

[Ima saver]

I rarely buy anything used. I don't like buying stuff, just to buy it! If I had kids, I sure would buy kids clothing!

[cschin4]

The people that I know who like to frequent yard sales, ebay, etc. spend waaay too much money on junk they don't need, in my opinion. I would rather buy a few new things that I will use up and use heavily than alot of used things that get minimal use.

[budgetmom]

One thing that we rarely buy new is electronics. I am not out to impress anybody with my gadgets with all the bells and whistles on them. My husband and I both have computers and we just got done putting one together for my son and we didn't spend a dime on any of them. As a matter of fact, we just upgraded the size of our monitors today. We know way too many people that have to have the latest and greatest equipment and are willing to just throw out all their old stuff when they get it. We've gotten stereo and sound equipment, dvd/vcrs and televisions for free or for very cheap that way too. Our alarm clocks are even used (although you can get one of those for pretty cheap).

[kealina]

definately clothes, shoes, backpacks/purses, books, cd's, dvd's and certain electronics...we bought a cheap tv for $5 once because ours was fritzing... it's lasted 5 months so far and is doing ok too...
also kitchen and home decor stuff if it's in good shape... oh yeah, and sometimes we will buy furniture depending on what it is and how nice it looks...
used cars should be bought if you know enough about cars to help you avoid major problems in the immediate future... or at least for some people it is better for them to buy a certified used car...

[naturallyadiva]

Well I do not mind buying used things but there are somethings that Im opposed to buying used like underwear/bra's stuff like that I can pass on.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Originally Posted by naturallyadiva

Well I do not mind buying used things but there are somethings that Im opposed to buying used like underwear/bra's stuff like that I can pass on.

I so agree! I saw a lady in a fancy house last year selling her victorias secret corsetts ect..... UM No Thanks!

There was a lady I think on Dr. Phil last year or something who even bought used deoderant & would cut off the used portion & they were not hard up for $ to say the least. I wish I had gotten to see more than just the preview of it & what others had written in various forums.

[naturallyadiva]

Eww thats so nasty, sometimes there is a thing called being too frugal! LOL

[tinapbeana]

my rule is pretty simple: if i bought it new and couldn't return it to any store slightly used, chances are i don't buy the same article used. ergo, food, personal care, toiletries, diapers *chortle*, undergamets, and swimsuits are off my list.

[nanamom]

I buy alot of stuff used, In fact almost every nonconsumable we own was used by someone else first. I guess my answer would be whatever you are comfortable getting used.