secondhand challenge

[jaine]

Would anyone like to join me on a "buying secondhand" challenge?
The idea would be to only buy secondhand or used items for a month - everything used except for consumable items like food and shampoo. It's less expensive than buying new and it's good for the environment too! Ebay, craigslist, thrift stores, consignment shops, freecycle.com, swap boards, and yard sales are great places to find used things.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Cool. I'll try it. May 30 to June 30? Of course, graduation is over for us; I don't have any invitations to weddings or other "gifty" celebrations. I can't think of any household goods I need. Garden would probably need something, but often I improvise on garden things anyway. May 30 to June 30?

[jaine]

May 30 - June 30 sounds good to me!

I also don't need much other than food this month, but I have a list of things that I'm keeping an eye out for because they would be useful, but I don't need it enough to justify a trip to Target. Clay flower pots, a cast-iron skillet, candle holders, and more kitchen towels so I can wean myself off paper towels.

I actually just found a roasting rack for $1 at the thrift store yesterday, after keeping an eye out for one for about a month, and that was so useful! No more mushy underside when I roast a chicken.

[cicy33]

oops I already do this!! all the time. even shampoo. and last month found the air freshners you hang and they spray at a yard sale for $3 each! major savings! I also got garnier shampoo there for $1. I know some people that use coupons and sales to get these items free or almost free and then they put them in their yard sale. I hate paying full price. course on food, always from the store. just to be safe.

[jaine]

oops I already do this!! all the time. even shampoo. and last month found the air freshners you hang and they spray at a yard sale for $3 each! major savings! I also got garnier shampoo there for $1. I know some people that use coupons and sales to get these items free or almost free and then they put them in their yard sale. I hate paying full price. course on food, always from the store. just to be safe.

Very nice! I usually buy used too - except when I have an urge to have something on short notice and then it's tempting to buy new.

I'm doing good so far; I was cleaning out the fridge and had an urge to make compost out of all the vegetable scraps so I *almost* went on amazon and bought a food processor and a compost bin. Instead I'm looking on craigslist for the food processor and reusing a plastic bin that I have on hand.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

How are you doing, Jaine? All I've bought has been food, six bags of composted manure, 10 pairs of vinyl gloves ($2 total), and a roll of packaging tape.

Am always conflicted about buying manure, as I do have a friend who has horses, but I don't have a truck and she lives far away anyhow. Went one year to the police stables to get manure with my friend and her van, but they do not let it age there, so it still has to be composted.

I need a bottle of white glue, something I don't think I've ever seen second-hand.

[jaine]

I am doing great on this challenge! I should keep it up! So far this month I've spent less than half of what I usually spend in my "food/gas/other" category. "Other" includes pretty much everything random like fun, clothes, household supplies, etc.

I bought a used food processor so I could make cat food and compost. At the thrift store I found a cute and very comfortable used shirt, and some cute Banana Republic strappy heels! Other than that - and food - I really haven't bought anything this month.

The best part of this challenge is that it deters me from buying stuff unless I really, REALLY want it. The inconvenience of tracking down a used item is a good deterrent for me ... it filters out all of the unnecessary purchases!

I did buy one new thing so far this month ... a $3 sanding block so I could give myself a pedicure.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

DH and I bought him three summer button-down shirts secondhand yesterday-- $2.66 per shirt. We'd looked three or four weeks ago and didn't find what he wanted. I also bought some more gladiolus bulbs via internet. BTW, three cheers to Pinecone Seeds for their zero packaging. The bulbs came loose inside the chipboard priority mailing envelope, arriving on Monday after a Friday order.

[jaine]

That sounds like a great find Joan!

I had at "dud" used purchase yesterday. I saw a good-looking teapot at the thrift store for $4 so I got it. Turns out that the teapot is impossible to pour... I think I ended up with more tea on the table than in my cup! In hindsight that's is probably why it ended up at the thrift store to begin with. I'll probably donate it back to the thrift store and get another one, but test it out in the bathroom first.

Meanwhile, I'm contemplating buying this new teapot which I know I would love. My roommate had it a few years ago and it was perfect.