Never buying new again, is it possible? Your thoughts on spending your money?
January 23, 2010 3:22 PM Subscribe
Never buying new again, is it possible? Your thoughts on spending your money?
What are some things that can be bought second-hand? What are some things that should never be bought second-hand (Is there such thing?)
I'll start off with some examples, there is IKEA furniture, it is widely available and one can easily get it at less than half the price of new. There is also computer parts, plenty of great deals to be had, and why let a perfectly good computer some one else doesn't need go to waste. What other examples are there? (Try not to list the same example twice, take a quick look down the page before you post).
What are some of your principles when buying items with your money? Do you always go for the latest and greatest? Buy second-hand? Do looks matter/does everything has to match? Is there a set upgrade cycle you have planned ahead? Does the environment come into mind? How do you feel about wasting money? etc
What are some things that can be bought second-hand? What are some things that should never be bought second-hand (Is there such thing?)
I'll start off with some examples, there is IKEA furniture, it is widely available and one can easily get it at less than half the price of new. There is also computer parts, plenty of great deals to be had, and why let a perfectly good computer some one else doesn't need go to waste. What other examples are there? (Try not to list the same example twice, take a quick look down the page before you post).
What are some of your principles when buying items with your money? Do you always go for the latest and greatest? Buy second-hand? Do looks matter/does everything has to match? Is there a set upgrade cycle you have planned ahead? Does the environment come into mind? How do you feel about wasting money? etc
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is very broad as you've presented. Without a much clearer, focused problem-in-need-of-solving this is chatfilter. -- cortex
This seems a little broad and chat-filtery.
But there are some things I'd never buy second-hand, namely underwear bottoms (ew!). In the past, I bought shoes second-hand, but I've found that breaking in a decent pair of shoes yourself leads to a better fit. It also depends on region and your needs: I wouldn't buy a second hand bed in Brooklyn, because of the bed bug problem there. If you genuinely need a top-of-the-line computer for work purposes, it's probably not a good idea to try to scrape by with a hand-me-down.
At the same time, second hand books and movies are usually a great idea. I still have a VCR, which means that I can buy a good eight movies for the rental price of one at a thrift store.
I'd object to your example of IKEA furniture, though generally I'm fine with buying furniture new. Particle board furniture has a pretty limited lifespan to start with. For the same price, you can often by nicely-constructed thrift store pieces which will actually last a good decade or two, if not longer.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 3:37 PM on January 23, 2010
But there are some things I'd never buy second-hand, namely underwear bottoms (ew!). In the past, I bought shoes second-hand, but I've found that breaking in a decent pair of shoes yourself leads to a better fit. It also depends on region and your needs: I wouldn't buy a second hand bed in Brooklyn, because of the bed bug problem there. If you genuinely need a top-of-the-line computer for work purposes, it's probably not a good idea to try to scrape by with a hand-me-down.
At the same time, second hand books and movies are usually a great idea. I still have a VCR, which means that I can buy a good eight movies for the rental price of one at a thrift store.
I'd object to your example of IKEA furniture, though generally I'm fine with buying furniture new. Particle board furniture has a pretty limited lifespan to start with. For the same price, you can often by nicely-constructed thrift store pieces which will actually last a good decade or two, if not longer.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 3:37 PM on January 23, 2010
I think mattresses are something people usually don't want to get used, both because of bedbugs and general ickiness.
posted by aubilenon at 3:41 PM on January 23, 2010
posted by aubilenon at 3:41 PM on January 23, 2010
Never buy cast iron pots new, even old ones in poor shape can be redeemed.
Cars... used always, carefully...
Clothes.. My wife hasn't bought clothes (other than undies) at a store in years (and, she could afford to do so if she wanted).
tools, hardware, even lumber sometimes...all used...
dogs... always rescue dogs, cats too! Never breeders!
Electronics....
And... don't just look at "buying" used, look at getting it "free" (freecycle?)
posted by HuronBob at 3:44 PM on January 23, 2010
Cars... used always, carefully...
Clothes.. My wife hasn't bought clothes (other than undies) at a store in years (and, she could afford to do so if she wanted).
tools, hardware, even lumber sometimes...all used...
dogs... always rescue dogs, cats too! Never breeders!
Electronics....
And... don't just look at "buying" used, look at getting it "free" (freecycle?)
posted by HuronBob at 3:44 PM on January 23, 2010
Furniture is a good thing to get used; you can kick the tires easily enough in-store. Watch out for hide-a-beds and bedbugs though.
Most electronics can be bought secondhand if either a) you can test it in-store, b) they have a decent return policy or c) it's cheap enough not to matter if it's a lemon.
I'd never buy baby furniture, toddler toys or accessories second-hand; most places check for recalls but you can never be too sure with wee ones.
My principles are to reduce first, then reuse. The reducing means being content to not have HDTV, to have 6-year-old PCs for the kids, and to not waste money on smaller gadgets (no iPhone - no phone at all currently, and a 4-year-old MP3 player with better sound than any iPod I've heard.) Everything gets recycled once we're done with it (if it survives the kids.) What can't be given to friends goes to Goodwill; what they won't take goes on our local FreeCycle group. There's _always_ someone to take whatever is left.
I seem to be different even from my environmentally conscious friends in that I'll reuse (almost) anything. It's surprising to me that they will invest large amounts of money in a green washer, fridge or car and yet not be willing to just make what they have last longer before shipping it to the landfill. My guess is it's because I don't follow any trends, so I have less qualms about being seen using second-hand things.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 3:44 PM on January 23, 2010
Most electronics can be bought secondhand if either a) you can test it in-store, b) they have a decent return policy or c) it's cheap enough not to matter if it's a lemon.
I'd never buy baby furniture, toddler toys or accessories second-hand; most places check for recalls but you can never be too sure with wee ones.
My principles are to reduce first, then reuse. The reducing means being content to not have HDTV, to have 6-year-old PCs for the kids, and to not waste money on smaller gadgets (no iPhone - no phone at all currently, and a 4-year-old MP3 player with better sound than any iPod I've heard.) Everything gets recycled once we're done with it (if it survives the kids.) What can't be given to friends goes to Goodwill; what they won't take goes on our local FreeCycle group. There's _always_ someone to take whatever is left.
I seem to be different even from my environmentally conscious friends in that I'll reuse (almost) anything. It's surprising to me that they will invest large amounts of money in a green washer, fridge or car and yet not be willing to just make what they have last longer before shipping it to the landfill. My guess is it's because I don't follow any trends, so I have less qualms about being seen using second-hand things.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 3:44 PM on January 23, 2010
It's unrealistic to assume a reality that everything used is worthwhile as an investment simply out of a newly established principal. Forget about Ikea for a moment and consider not: "what works best right now"; but meditate on: "what will last the long-term". If you consider this when you go shopping for a couch may pose an interesting conundrum. A former partner of mine, who was also committed to the buy used ego, bought an amazing purple velvet sofa set only to discover it was so infested with fleas she had to remove and trash the set and all the other cloth furnishings in her apartment. She now lives in Hong Kong. Take from that what you wish.
If you are considering this from a lifestyle of health and sustainability perspective, you might say instead of buy used to self-disenfranchise yourself from outlets whose models of sustainability are not proven. Remember, most products that come onto the market are not new - they are simply marketed another way. Renamed, re-branded, re-developed, re-packaged. Saying no to Ikea might be a good start, but would you let that stop you from getting something off Craigslist? I would recommend a willing personal ban that is encompassing for something you consider a daily value item. For starters, don't spend so much time online and use your time better to develop your options for living with better, longer lasting objects, processes and people.
posted by parmanparman at 3:46 PM on January 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you are considering this from a lifestyle of health and sustainability perspective, you might say instead of buy used to self-disenfranchise yourself from outlets whose models of sustainability are not proven. Remember, most products that come onto the market are not new - they are simply marketed another way. Renamed, re-branded, re-developed, re-packaged. Saying no to Ikea might be a good start, but would you let that stop you from getting something off Craigslist? I would recommend a willing personal ban that is encompassing for something you consider a daily value item. For starters, don't spend so much time online and use your time better to develop your options for living with better, longer lasting objects, processes and people.
posted by parmanparman at 3:46 PM on January 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd object to your example of IKEA furniture, though generally I'm fine with buying furniture new. Particle board furniture has a pretty limited lifespan to start with.
Some IKEA furniture is solid wood and decently constructed. All generalizations are bad.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:57 PM on January 23, 2010
Some IKEA furniture is solid wood and decently constructed. All generalizations are bad.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:57 PM on January 23, 2010
You're not supposed to buy car seats for babies/kids used, because you want the latest safety technology, plus you can't be sure the seat wasn't already in an accident. So I'd guess one shouldn't buy used helmets either.
posted by xo at 4:00 PM on January 23, 2010
posted by xo at 4:00 PM on January 23, 2010
In general, I think many more things can be purchased used than most people presume. When I say "used" I'm also including antiques and vintage items (esp. furniture) I may desire for their old qualities, as well as for their general usefulness. Buying used things for me is partly a matter of saving money (avoiding retail where paying retail can be avoided--as it so often can) and partly an ecological drive to avoid buying so much new stuff packed in styrofoam.
Things I have purchased used (thrift stores, also craigslist, ebay) and have been very satisfied with:
*Pots and Pans
*Cutlery, kitchen utensils, electric popcorn popper
*Dishes, coffee mugs, cups, bowls [probably 90% of the items in my kitchen are secondhand]
*Blankets
*pillowcases
*dishtowels, home fabrics
*Lamps
*Casual and workout clothing, pajamas, sweaters, jeans, hoodies, belts, casual jackets, dress shirts for my husband, quality designer/vintage garments for me...
*Books, cookbooks
*art, rugs, decor items, reusable art frames..
*Office/desk items, file cabinetry, a working fireproof safe, clocks
*Closet organization fixtures
*Quality luggage
*Designer wallets, belts, other quality leather goods..
*Flowerpots, gardening tools, many other outdoor/sports items.
What types of goods WON'T I buy used? Underwear. Hair items/personal care products. Anything edible. But basically, I have no qualms about buying and re-using anything that I can clean with soap or toss in the wash.
posted by applemeat at 4:02 PM on January 23, 2010
Things I have purchased used (thrift stores, also craigslist, ebay) and have been very satisfied with:
*Pots and Pans
*Cutlery, kitchen utensils, electric popcorn popper
*Dishes, coffee mugs, cups, bowls [probably 90% of the items in my kitchen are secondhand]
*Blankets
*pillowcases
*dishtowels, home fabrics
*Lamps
*Casual and workout clothing, pajamas, sweaters, jeans, hoodies, belts, casual jackets, dress shirts for my husband, quality designer/vintage garments for me...
*Books, cookbooks
*art, rugs, decor items, reusable art frames..
*Office/desk items, file cabinetry, a working fireproof safe, clocks
*Closet organization fixtures
*Quality luggage
*Designer wallets, belts, other quality leather goods..
*Flowerpots, gardening tools, many other outdoor/sports items.
What types of goods WON'T I buy used? Underwear. Hair items/personal care products. Anything edible. But basically, I have no qualms about buying and re-using anything that I can clean with soap or toss in the wash.
posted by applemeat at 4:02 PM on January 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Panties.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:33 PM on January 23, 2010 [1 favorite]