Frugal American presents you: things you should buy used instead of brand new!
Retail therapy is great, and many people love it, including me. But that isn’t exactly a great way to save money; it is rather focused on spending. Being frugal isn’t always simple, especially when there are particular things you need in your home.
But there’s no need to be frustrated, especially when you have us here to guide you all the way. When it comes to purchases, there are some things you should buy used instead of new.
These items still work wonders; they look good, and they’ll get the job done, but they’ll be way more budget-friendly compared to new ones. You can find used things for roughly anything you might need to purchase; you just have to keep an eye open for sales and bargains.
With that being said, if you want to lower your bills but still get all the items that you want, this article is for you! Let’s talk about all the things you should buy used instead of brand new!
1. Hand tools
Hand tools are important, and they’re necessary in every household. However, they can be pretty expensive to get from a regular store (unless you don’t find a fantastic deal), so they’re part of the things you should buy used instead of new.
With a bit of browsing on Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist, or with some luck at garage sales, you can find great deals on used hand tools. Before giving the money and taking the tools home, you should inspect them to see if there are any defects and if they work properly, so you won’t regret your purchase afterward.
If you think that hand tools aren’t part of the things you should buy used instead of new, here‘s a good Amazon offer you don’t want to miss!
2. Espresso machines
If you love getting your coffee from local coffee shops, you know that these costs can easily add up, and it’s not nice. But you can turn into a great barista in the comfort of your own home and make the most delicious beverages by getting an espresso machine.
Don’t worry, you won’t break the bank with this purchase, because it’s one of the things you should buy used instead of brand new. Buying a new espresso machine that isn’t exactly the best one is still going to cost you a lot of money because it’s around $400 in the store.
However, if you consider my tips on things you should buy used instead of new and go on Craiglist or Facebook Marketplace, you might be lucky and find the perfect machine for less than half the retail price.
Just make sure that the item is working properly, and if it misses any pieces, you could do some research and see how much you should pay for it. Even if you have to do some repairs, it’s still going to be way more affordable than a new one, and it will last you a very long time.
3. Furniture
Can you tell me which ones are the things you should buy used instead of new? Well, let me tell you that furniture is one of them. If you want to have a home with personality, you should allow your furniture to be the star of the show.
Go on a shopping spree and look for the perfect furniture pieces at local yard sales, antique shops, and flea markets. Just make sure that they’re clean, sturdy, and comfy, and if you don’t like the colors or the upholstery, there’s nothing a little DIY project can’t do.
With the help of these things you should buy used, not only will you save money, but you’ll also personalize your home exactly as you wish, making it look like it’s coming straight from a magazine.
4. Yard tools and equipment
New yard tools and equipment aren’t that affordable, but there’s good news about that. Plenty of homeowners think that maintaining their lawn is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, and when they notice that it is not as simple as they thought, they decide to sell all of their tools and call a landscaping crew instead.
But if you’re good at using this complicated equipment, then look for garage and yard sales or browse the platforms we’ve already mentioned in this article, because you might be lucky and find amazing deals.
Keep reading, because there are many other things you should buy used instead of new!
5. Designer items
If you love fashion and designer items, you already know that these are some of the things you should buy used instead of new. Or maybe not used, but instead of going into their showrooms and spending thousands and thousands of dollars on particular accessories and clothing items, you could visit outlets and thrift stores for one-of-a-kind pieces.
You’ll save money, you’ll get the things that spark joy in your wardrobe, and you might also discover vintage and collection pieces. Thrift stores are amazing for many things, so don’t avoid them!
6. Tech gadgets
Who said that you have to pay a lot of money to get the tech gadgets that you want? We continue with this list of things you should buy used instead of new, and I’m going to teach you some of my best tips for that.
If you’re looking for the perfect TV, I recommend you get an open-box one when you go to Target or Best Buy. This will surely get you a discount on a television that was returned by a client or just used as a store model.
However, before you make the transaction, make sure that you get a full warranty on this product, just as you would on a brand-new model. If you go to Best Buy, you could save up to 25% if you purchase the floor model item.
I told you that tech gadgets are some of the things you should buy used instead of new, and I have a couple of extra tips for you. For some of the best secondhand items, don’t forget to browse Amazon Warehouse. You’ll find lots of open-box products, such as laptops and tablets, that have been returned by clients, repaired, used, or harmed in storage.
The retailer organizes these products by condition under “Buying Options,” so you get clear information if the products are in excellent shape or not.
7. Bikes
We’re almost done with this list of things you should buy used instead of new, but we can’t finish this article until we don’t talk about bikes. These vehicles are great for people who want to explore the neighborhood or who want to be more active, but they can be pretty expensive when you get them in stores.
Why waste a ton of money when you could go to flea markets, garage sales, and online, on different platforms, to get the perfect bike for you, but for way less money? Even if it needs a couple of repairs here and there, you could totally take care of them, make the bike work for you, and still save money.
What do you think about these items you should buy used instead of new? Do you agree with any of these? If you have any other suggestions or thoughts, feel free to share them with us in the comments!
Until next time, if you want to read something else from Frugal Americans, I recommend you check this article out: 5 Ways to Save $1000 With ZERO Effort!
