"It Is Stupid Expensive Brand New": Frugal People Are Revealing The Everyday Items That They Only Buy Second Hand
"I have gotten incredibly good deals on them from people who were moving or downsizing. They have typically not been used much so I have never had serious issues with them."
Being alive is so expensive these days, but buying things you need second hand is one way to cut your costs. Plus, it's often a much more sustainable option, and certain older items are more likely to be made to last.
So, when u/nullibiquitousnoodleasked the people of r/Frugal which items they never buy new and only get used, I immediately started taking notes. Here's what they had to say:
1."Exercise equipment. I have gotten screaming deals on elliptical machines and treadmills from people who were moving or downsizing. They have typically not been used much so I have never had serious issues with them. I never bought them unless I was able to see it in person and test them. I’ve never had issues. Most people buy them with good intentions but never use them. I use them a lot, so it works out for me."
2."Almost all baby stuff (except car seats). It’s barely used second hand since the kid grows so quickly."
3."Home decor! Less frugal, more stylish people than myself like to update frequently and often sell home decor items (mirrors, rugs, art, lamps, accent chairs) in great condition. I’ve gotten a steal on some items this way on Facebook Marketplace. And if you have an eye for it, you can still be very stylish this way."
5."Wooden furniture, better quality and a fraction of the cost. When I moved, we got a big dining room table with the leaf and six chairs. Was heavy as shit but barely had blemishes. 200 bucks, and will outlive me. Also, my dresser was my husband's grandfather's before his and now mine. Still in excellent condition."
6."Phones! I aim to spend only $200-300 for a slightly older flagship phone. Been doing this for years. I love that I don't stress out about treating them like fragile china or stressing out about seeing scratches, etc. I always go for A condition or open box, which means 90% of my phones still look like they were brand new."
7."Fragrances on Marketplace, lol. Best find was a 3/4 bottle of Chanel Eau de Parfum for $30."
8."Vases. Instead of buying a vase at the store or buying a pre-made flower arrangement, you can save yourself money and buy a vase at a thrift store for much less. Buy them flowers, then pick up a vase at a thrift store and make your own flower arrangement."
9."Whenever I’m shopping for something on Amazon, I always check for Amazon Warehouse options first. Very rarely have I ever had a problem with a Warehouse purchase, and if I do, I can always return it and get another one."
10."Leather jackets/fur coats! Best option for the environment. No new animals being killed for it, and it’s not plastic. Usually great quality, too."
11."DSLR camera. Seriously, most enthusiasts use it for one year and then are willing to sell for whatever price someone can offer. You can get some great cameras for less than 25% of the original price."
12."I started shaving with double edge safety razors and only buy vintage Gillettes. I have one from 1961, and just bought another from ‘57. They last for generations. This is way cheaper than using modern cartridge razors, and creates far less landfill waste."
13."Gardening supplies like pots and tools are great to find used. Tools in general usually last forever and are cheaper used while still perfect quality."
14."I only buy refurbished Apple products, never new ones. Not sure if that’s wise, but you save hundreds, and I’ve never had a problem at all with a refurbished device."
15."Yard plants. Much hardier to buy proven splits/trims from local folks than to take a chance on whatever crap Lowe's shipped in from other climates."
16."Dishes and kitchen stuff. Not sure if it’s the same in other areas, but the Goodwills near me always have a ton of glassware and kitchen supplies like serving dishes and some pans. Most of my cups are from Goodwill."
17."Pretty much any book. They're always so much cheaper for barely any drop in quality. It's a no-brainer for me."
19."Cast iron skillet. I wanted one from a grandmother’s estate that has seen a lot of use (meaning it’s a great pan), and I found one. Took it home, reconditioned it, and it is a splendid pan."
20."'Minor' electronics. Stuff like e-readers, game consoles. Stuff like that is always overpriced new, but people severely undersell those a year or two after they’ve grown bored of them."
21."Handbags. I like a nicer quality bag and buy them infrequently, so spending $80 on a $400 gently used bag makes sense. Cheap purses just fall apart, and aren't much cheaper new than something nice bought secondhand."
22."Children's toys. Kids get bored of them so fast that secondhand stores are always overloaded with perfectly fine toys. Better to get secondhand for any and all kids' birthdays than it is to waste money and pollute the Earth with more plastic."
23."Dresses for special occasions! If you want to wear something splashy once or twice, buy it secondhand and resell or donate it when you are done."
25."Bikes. I would always check the secondhand market first to see if what you are looking for is out there. I'm not going to judge anyone for buying new, because a good investment in a bike can mean you have it for a long time. But there are lots of good quality bikes out there that just need a few updated parts and some elbow grease. (I'm a huge fan of bike restoration videos). I was able to snag a $50 Norco Kokanee bike on Facebook Marketplace last year. I put in about $100 worth of parts (new tires and tubes, new handle grips, new seat, new pedals). But it was worth the investment."
26."Kitchen appliances. Older ones tend to be better quality anyways, and if they are at the thrift store, then they still work and will work for a hundred more years."
27.And finally, "Yard equipment like lawnmowers or snowblowers. Every summer, someone is cleaning out their garage and puts up snowblowers for dirt cheap that are a few years old. Same when winter rolls around, people are getting rid of their old lawnmowers that they don’t want anymore."
