When I think back to my days as a young mother, I realize how much I relied on our local thrift store. As a stay-at-home mom, I don’t know how I would have clothed our four rapidly growing children on our one-income budget!
And even though I’m in a very different situation now, I still love thrift stores and secondhand shops. Shopping at these places is a great way save money And reduce waste, no matter your financial situation!
This post is an ode to buying used. Check out the 8 items below that you should consider buying, along with explanations of how they can save you money.
8 Things You Should Buy to Save Money
1. Baby Clothes
As parents, we want the very best for our children, just like the clothes we dress them in! But babies grow so fast that you won’t get much mileage out of brand new baby clothes.
Look for gently used baby clothes at local thrift stores, garage sales, and resale shops like Kid to Kid. You should have no trouble finding great deals on used baby clothes in like-new condition!
2. Car
There’s nothing wrong with getting a reliable car in good condition, but that doesn’t mean you have to limit your search to new cars! A slightly used car (like last year’s model, or one with a few thousand miles on it) can be thousands of dollars cheaper than its brand new counterpart.
To know more, check This Money Crashers article About the pros and cons of buying a slightly used car.
3. Hand tools
Whether you’re replacing one of your hand tools or you’re starting your first collection, buying used can be a great way to save money. There’s no reason to pay more for a new one when a used hammer, wrench or screwdriver works! (However, motorized and powered tools wear out over time, so you’re probably better off buying them new.)
4. Furniture
You’d be surprised how many great pieces of barely used furniture I’ve snagged at our local thrift store over the years! Finding the right piece of used furniture can take time and effort, but it can easily save you hundreds of dollars over buying new!
And even if something isn’t quite your style, there are plenty of options to customize the look of your furniture. Try painting old laminate furniture or covering a dated-looking sofa with one Attractive slipcover!
5. Gift cards
Pre-Owned Purchase gift cards A discount (even if it’s a small one) is an easy way to save money on purchases you’re already planning to make. For example, say you plan to go to Old Navy to get some new items.
On a site like IncreaseYou can buy a pre-owned $25 Old Navy gift card for about $20 to use on that shopping trip, saving you $5 right away!
6. Books
It’s not just college students who can save money by buying their used books! Used bookstores are the place to get the most bang for your buck on new reading material.
You can also find used books on Amazon and Ebay. And when you’re done reading it, you can always resell it to make some money back to buy another used book!
7. Sports equipment
Leave the premium prices of top-of-the-line sports equipment to the pros! Whether it’s for yourself or the kids, you can save a fortune by buying used sports equipment instead of new stuff.
8. Jewellery
Cars aren’t the only things that depreciate quickly — jewelry does, too! You can find pawn shops, auctions and on eBay. Take any used piece to a jeweler for a thorough cleaning and it’s guaranteed to look as good as new! 🙂
Best places to shop secondhand
What do you buy to save money?
