Nine Things You Should Buy Secondhand

There’s no getting away from the fact that living costs have gone up rapidly. So there’s never been a better time to be frugal than now, especially when you’re shopping for new items. Not only is being secondhand cheaper, but it’s better for the environment as items are getting more life out of them. For a lot of items buying new can be overrated as they lose value so quickly, or newer versions come out soon after. If you’re wondering what you should buy secondhand then I’ll run through some of the options.

Cars and vehicles

A brand new vehicle is one of the quickest things to lose value. Even driving off the forecourt will reduce the value by a few thousand pounds which is crazy. If you want a car in great condition you can buy a new pre-owned model. Look out for one which is maybe 6-12 months old. You’ll get a car that’s still under warranty, you don’t have to MOT yet, but you’ll save a lot of money versus buying it new.

If you are looking to buy a vehicle check all of the paperwork. You’ll also want to make sure it’s good with its service history if it’s needed a service. Before you buy secondhand vehicles make sure you take it out for a test drive for at least 15-20 minutes to see how the car runs for more than a quick round the corner journey.

Buy secondhand exercise equipment

There are lots of people out there who buy exercise equipment with the best of intentions but just don’t use them. Then they end up with these bulky pieces of equipment taking up space, so decide to sell them on. You can grab some great bargains on secondhand exercise equipment. Just make sure to research the items and brand beforehand, check if any warranty is transferable, and test out any items beforehand.

Furniture

If you have used Facebook Marketplace at all you’ll have seen the mass of people who pass on and sell furniture. If you’re moving property or have just bought a place you may not be able to afford all new furniture. Buying secondhand can be a great way to get the items you need without bankrupting yourself. You can grab some really good deals on Facebook Marketplace or in charity shops. You may also find some furniture items can be given a lick of paint or a quick DIY to give them a new lease of life.

Buy secondhand books

I absolutely love buying books, but it can get quite expensive, especially if you read a lot. Secondhand books are a great way of having and owning the physical product without shelling out lots of money. This is especially true when it comes to textbooks and academic books. As long as the item is in good condition there’s no reason not to. Plus you can consider selling or trading them afterward. You can look to buy secondhand books in charity shops or through sites like World of Books.

Items that you may only need for a short period of time

There may be some items such as power tools that you only need for a particular project. For this, it’s worth looking to buy secondhand if hiring them isn’t an option. You’ll always find people selling items on when they either upgrade or no longer need them. This may be true for kids’ items that may only be used for a short period of time, or fancy dress items.

Buy secondhand clothing

Sites like Depop and Vinted have gained so much popularity in the past few years with people selling clothing items they no longer wear. Thrifting your clothing can save you so much money versus buying brand new. And you may be able to get better quality or branded items that you wouldn’t be able to afford new.

Secondhand clothing doesn’t always have to be used, a lot of people will sell new clothes on resale sites or pass them along to charity shops. I know I’ve had quite a few items in my wardrobe before that I’ve wanted to wear but it never happened and the items still have tags on them.

As someone who spends a lot of money on clothes, it’s something I want to be more conscious of going forward.

Other items to buy secondhand

• Smartphones – with new upgrades coming up all the time you can get a great deal buying secondhand. Remember to sell your old phones when you get a new one
• Other tech gadgets- like above you can save loads of money on items like laptops, TVs, and tablets
• Bikes- lookout for good deals on bikes that just need a bit of work done to them like a new chain or seat. Some people would rather buy a new bike than fix up an old one so will throw them out or sell them for cheap

Pin It