8 Things You Should Always Buy Used To Save Money

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 else I would have kept our four rapidly growing kids clothed on our one-income budget!

And even though I’m in a much different situation now, I still love thrift stores and secondhand shops. Shopping at these places is a great way to save money and cut down on waste, no matter your financial situation!

This post is an ode to buying used. Check out 8 things you should consider buying used below, along with explanations as to how they can save you money.

8 Things You Should Buy Used To Save Money

1. Baby Clothes

As parents, we want the very best for our kids, right down to 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 resell shops like Kid to Kid. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding great deals on used baby clothes in like-new condition!

2. Cars

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a reliable car in good condition, but that doesn’t mean you have to limit your search to new cars! A car that is slightly used (like last year’s model, or one that has a few thousand miles on it) may be thousands of dollars cheaper than its brand-new counterpart.

To learn more, check out 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 them used can be a great way to save money. There’s no reason to pay more for new ones when a used hammer, wrench, or screwdriver works just as well! (However, motorized and powered tools do wear out over time, so you’re probably better off buying those new.)

4. Furniture

You’d be surprised at how many nice pieces of barely-used furniture I’ve snagged at our local thrift store over the years! It can take time and effort to find the right piece of used furniture, but it could easily save you hundreds of dollars over buying it new!

And even if something isn’t exactly your style, there are plenty of options for customizing the look of your furniture. Try painting old laminate furniture, or cover a dated-looking sofa with an attractive slipcover!

5. Gift Cards

Buying pre-owned gift cards at a discount (even if it’s a small one) is an easy way to save money on purchases you were already planning on making. For instance, say you planned to go get a few new things at Old Navy.

On a site like Raise, you could buy a pre-owned $25 Old Navy gift card for around $20 to use on that shopping trip, saving you $5 instantly!

6. Books

It isn’t just college students who can save money by buying their books used! Used bookstores are a great place to get the most bang for your buck on new-to-you reading material.

You can also find used books on Amazon and eBay. And when you’re done reading them, you can always resell them 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 you or the kids, you can save a small fortune by buying used sports equipment instead of the new stuff.

8. Jewelry

Cars aren’t the only items that rapidly depreciate — jewelry does too! You can find great used jewelry pieces at pawn shops, auctions, and on eBay. Take any used piece to a jeweler for a thorough cleaning and it’s sure to look good as new! :-)

Great Places To Shop Secondhand