More Things You Should Never Buy New
Columnist – Gayle Lynn Falkenthal
Thrift This!
Many people would like to save money buying resale and thrift items, but they’re not quite sure whether they’re getting a great deal. Or they don’t really go beyond simple items like clothing, glassware, and small items.
I recently ran across an article published in U.S. News & World Report titled, “21 Things You Should Never Buy New.”
It’s a great list and for the most part, I agree. But for the Thrifty Nifty Bargain Babe, it didn’t go far enough. I’m going to add nine more items and get that list up to Thirty Things! Here we go:
1. Jeans – The quest for a pair that fits can go on for weeks. When you do find a great fit, the price tag can be eye-popping. Some sort of magic happens with resale jeans. Many of them are barely broken in, yet it seems to make them fit better than any pair from a store. You can experiment with brands you might not try at full retail price. Best of all, you can afford multiple pairs for a fraction of what one new pair costs. For the squeamish, jeans wash up nicely with no special care needed.
2. Office Supplies – Swap meets and garage sales frequently offer partially used cases of paper, envelopes, file folders, pens, tape, CD and DVD cases, you name it. I haven’t bought envelopes, blank DVDs or loose leaf binders in a store for years.
3. Certain Auto and Motorcycle Parts – There’s no reason to pay big bucks for things like hubcaps, windows, mirrors, and other cosmetic parts. eBay Motors and Craigslist can be a gold mine. It can sometimes be tricky to find a mechanic to install buyer-supplied parts, but once you cross that hurdle you can save a lot of money, even with shipping. A friend bought a new rear windshield for his car on eBay. Retail cost with installation: $400. His cost (including shipping): $155.
4. Children’s Bicycles – Lots of parents want their child to learn to ride on a shiny new bike, a bike they’ll bump and bang and take plenty of spills on while learning. My siblings and I learned to ride on the same secondhand red Schwinn. Each in turn rode the Schwinn until the next sibling was ready, and then we got a new bike on the next birthday.
5. Holiday Decorations – It’s amazing how much of this stuff you’ll find in thrift stores, especially if you keep a sharp eye all year round. Much of it is new, or appears that way. Ornaments, display items, dishes, you name it.
6. Coffee Mugs – My favorite mug is a striped Starbucks coffee mug I bought for a dollar at a swap meet. I love it. Run those babies through a dishwasher good and hot and they’re truly identical to new. It’s often possible to find a whole matching set.
7. Picture Frames – I find an endless supply of gorgeous frames in thrift stores. I rarely pay more than $5 for mine, even the bigger ones. They make fabulous low-cost gifts when you use one to frame a beautiful photo that has special meaning for the recipient. Do check carefully for nicks or scratches, or damage to the glass (which can easily be replaced).
8. Novelty Hobby Items – We all know someone who just had to have that telescope, or metal detector, or similar item. It gets used for three months and then the novelty has worn off. When you find items like these, they’re often barely used and the price is a fraction of the retail. Then you can afford to indulge yourself.
9. Glassware and Ceramics – Everyone offloads bowls, glassware, candy dishes, serving bowls, plates and such. There are shelves of these items at thrift and resale shops for pennies on the dollar. I recently found a ten-piece set of etched glass dessert plates with matching cups and saucers. Brand new in the boxes, less than 20% of the original price. I’m looking at a cute Crate and Barrel serving bowl that holds items on my desk. It probably cost $20 new. I bought it for one dollar.
Visit my eBay store “TNBB” for some fun items I’ve picked out just for you. My finds are your finds!
Visit my eBay store “TNBB” for some fun items I’ve picked out just for you. My finds are your finds!
Email: info@falconvalleygroup.com
Category: Kids & Family
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