The Best Products To Buy Used (And Why Frugal Shoppers Swear By Them)

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Most frugal shoppers know that a vast world of things can be just as good, if not better, when bought secondhand or refurbished.

Some items are so wasteful to buy new that frugal shoppers will always try to buy them used first.

Here is a breakdown of the best secondhand products to buy and why.

Pets

Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but you don’t need to buy them new.

“Adopt, don’t shop” is the mantra of frugal people and of those who care about animal welfare. One thing to be aware of is that not all animal shelters are humane or deal with rescued animals. A good place to start in the U.S. is a county shelter that takes in abandoned animals.

Sports Equipment

Sports equipment, especially ski gear, is a great thing to buy secondhand.

New items usually cost a lot, and many people sell their barely-used equipment after using it for only a season or two.

Solid Wood Furniture

Well-made wooden furniture is known to stand the test of time, so it’s no wonder many shoppers buy it secondhand. No matter how old solid-wood furniture might be, it will always last longer than anything made of plastic bought brand-new.

Even if these pieces are broken, it’s usually easy enough to learn how to fix them, or very often it’s still more affordable to have a professional fix them than to buy new pieces.

Cars

Many people who buy used cars say they will never go back to buying new. Cars are widely considered a terrible investment, though a necessary one for traveling.

Through no fault of your own, a new car could be totaled after you’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on it.

For others, it’s not actually a choice; the price differences between new and used cars force them to buy used, but even if that weren’t the case, many say they’d still choose to buy used.

Textbooks

College textbooks may be the most temporarily necessary physical good, so it makes sense that buying them new is considered a waste. A particularly pay-it-forward approach involves buying used college textbooks, then selling them fairly to other students when finished with them.

One growing challenge, however, is that this is becoming more difficult as many classes now require subscription codes bundled with new textbooks for online homework.

Houses and Homes

An even larger ticket item than cars, older homes are widely considered better than newer ones. Homes built in the 1920s and 1930s are usually much more sturdy than newer construction.

There is a huge difference in the quality of homes built then versus those being constructed today.

Appliances

Many frugal buyers purchase secondhand major home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.

Older appliances tend to last longer, and it’s generally more cost-effective to pay to repair older models than to buy new ones.

Guitars

Countless musicians swear by buying guitars secondhand, with many wishing they had known earlier, since it would have saved them a lot.

As with other older items, even knowing a little bit about fixing guitars can save you a lot of money. You can also buy accessories like pedals secondhand as well.

Clothes

Thrifting clothes is a hobby for many people, so buying most clothing secondhand is a natural choice. The general consensus, however, is to draw the line at underwear and socks, but each person can make their own decisions.

Books

Much like thrift-store shopping for clothes, many people love to browse and buy books from used bookstores. A lot of people even prefer older books to newer ones.

One important caveat: while used books are great, sometimes buying new is worthwhile in order to support independent authors.

Tools

Buying secondhand tools, like screwdrivers or gardening tools, is a popular choice among those in the know.

Estate sales and garage sales are great places to find really good deals on sturdy, long-lasting tools.

Baby Products

Buying all baby products used makes more sense than buying new ones. Babies outgrow things so fast that buying clothes, toys, and carriers is basically not worth it to buy new. There are also many ways to get free baby items, making this one of the easiest ways to get used products.