What to Buy Used and What to Buy New

 [Image Credit: Junk Science]

Yahoo syndicate Wisebread released two articles that pertain to hardcore thrifters in particular. 20 Things You Should Never Buy Used and 21 Things You Should Never Buy New. This is what the writers at Wisebread think, but what's your input? Where do you draw the line when it comes to buying used items? Below are some of the things listed by Wisebread.

Things to Buy Used

DVDs, CDs, & Video Games-Check the backs to make sure they're not scratched. If there's only slight scratching and it's cheap, try it anyway. As Wisebread points out there are ways to remove scratches.

Books- Used book stores and online sellers offer books for much lower prices than retail. Don't forget the library! (No price is better than free)

Special Occasion, Holiday, Maternity, and Baby Clothing- If you're only going to wear it once or twice, why buy it new? Yard Sales have baby/maternity in abundance.

Jewelry- Jewelry has too low of a resale value to buy it new. But this also means you can reap huge savings by checking out estate sales and pawn shops for good deals and unique jewelry treasure.

Games and Toys: I loved my thrift store toys as a kid and yours should, too! (I still have some of them...)

Home Accent: Hunting at yard sales, thrift stores, and antique stores is way funner than searching the retail aisles for bland, ubiquitous home decor.

Craft Supplies: I run into craft supplies at thrift stores constantly, just keep looking. You might want to invest in good fabric scissors and hard-to-find unique supplies but the rest is easily found thrifting.

Office Furniture: It's easy to  find lots of great office furniture deals. Good office furniture is built to last and there's a lot of it out there for the taking!

Hand Tools & Garden Supplies:  These are fairly easy to find at neighborhood yard or garage sales. If you're lucky enough to have nice neighbors with tools, borrow from them for a certain project them return them.

Things You Should NEVER Buy Used

Cribs and Children’s furniture: That's what they say, but I can't think of anyone in my circle of family and friends that bought a new crib. They usually thrift for them or inherit them. Cribs are so expensive new. Wisebread says used kid's and baby's furniture is a safety hazard.

Car seats: Safety first, says Wisebread. I can see eye-to-eye on them with this one...

Bicycle helmets: Again, a used helmet is a safety hazard.

Tires: You don't save much and the safety risks outweigh the savings.

Laptops: I know plenty of people who buy used laptops with no issues or complaints, but sometimes they do take lots of abuse.

DVD players: I don't agree here. I've never had problems with my used DVD player and nor has some of my friends with hand-me-down or used ones.

Digital and video cameras: I think you can buy used ones that will work fine, but I can see the wisdom in a virgin camera. My DSLR has taken some damage, it's inevitable when you always carry them around...

Camera lenses: Some say even the tiniest damage to the lens can effect picture quality. I think used ones can work fine, especially if you replace lenses often anyway. 

Mattresses and bedding: Wisebread says used ones are full of mold, mites, bacteria and bodily fluids but I sleep on my hand-me-down queen size mattress just fine...

Shoes: I've bought new and barely-worn shoes second hand that lasted for years (some still had the tags on them). Wisebread says they're gross but I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Hats: I've personally never bought used hats but Wisebread says it's extremely icky. I say just toss them in the washing machine with the rest of the thrifted clothes and they'll be fine.

[My desk area, full of used fun. Two "new" things are two paintings by local artists]

Where do you draw the line with second hand items? I'm personally surprised they didn't list dinnerware, pots, and pans as things to buy used- they're so much cheaper than retail second-hand and you can find them in abundance.  

This post is linked to: Welcome Wednesday / Works for Me Wednesdays / Creative Therapy Session / Show and Tell / Penny Pinching Party / We Did it Wednesdays / Make it Yours Day / Whatever Goes Wednesday / Room to Inspire/ Women Who do it All / Hoo's Got Talent / We Can Do it Cheaper / Transformation Thursdays