A friend from another country was talking to me, and she said something that started me thinking. She said “When Americans want something, they go buy it new. They don’t even think about it, they just do it.”
I know many people who do this, and I’ve been guilty of this practice myself before. Though I was raised frugally and taught to handle money wisely, I have not always been so careful.
One thing I know. There is NO SHAME in purchasing things secondhand. It doesn’t mean you’re poor. Husbands, your wife isn’t holding a flashing sign that reads “This man cannot provide nice things for his wife/family!” I know people from all walks of life who choose to buy secondhand. Trust me, not only is it okay–it’s FUN and totally ON TREND right now!
I LOVE mixing used items with other good buys I find new! You can do both, you just have to be willing to try.
(Pictured–secondhand end table; Milk crate(and all Decocrated items))
Here are several reasons used items are better.
One, it’s more eco friendly to buy used. By reusing products, you’re reducing waste and there is less trash sent to landfills. You’re helping save our Earth from a WALL-E kind of world.
Two, it’s smarter financially. If you look around, you can cut your living costs down a lot by going used. Even if you don’t care about being a penny pincher, think of it this way: by saving money in certain areas of your life, you’ll have more to spend on other things. Unless you’re wining and dining with the Bill Gates’ of the world, odds are you can find a way to use some extra cash.
1. Baby clothes. Okay okay, we are weak when it comes to those adorable little outfits in the stores. I’m not saying you can’t get some cute new things for your baby. But what would you say if I told you I could find prettier AND better quality pieces from secondhand stores? Just the other day, I found multiple items for my baby, each ranging from $.99-$1.99 apiece! Brands like Janie and Jack, Baby Gap, Carter’s etc. are often some of my best treasures at these places! I get asked “how do you dress your kids so cute?” It makes me laugh, because most of their things are either given to them or bought used!
(Pictured above–Jameson’s pants and top were around $3 TOTAL from my favorite thrift store.)
Here where we currently live, we don’t have Once Upon A Child. But if you have one close by, you’re crazy not to shop there for your kiddos clothing! Not only are their clothes affordable, they often have sales.
(Pictured: Arowyn’s dress and leggings are from a thrift store.)
2. Baby carriers. While we are on the topic of babies, let’s talk baby carriers and wraps. I’ve tried several types, and right now my top two are my Solly baby wrap and my Ergo. I was gifted my Solly, but had to buy my Ergo. Guess how much they average in store? The Original is $120!
Baby carriers abound on Facebook marketplace. Even if you live in a small town and the listings for your area are limited, marketplace now has a shipping option where a lot of sellers are willing to ship to you for a small fee.
They can be found at used children’s stores too, like Once Upon A Child.
I found my carrier in excellent condition on Facebook for only $15! That means I saved $105, and the total savings might be more if I decide to resell it once I’m done using.
3. Furniture. I’m not saying you can’t buy brand new furniture. We have done both new and used. I’m just giving you options if you’re on a lower budget. Once again, sometimes you can get a better brand/quality piece, used, as opposed to purchasing brand new from a lesser quality store.
(Pictured here–This leather chaise lounge I found at a regular yard sale. I paid $60! Green throw, Decocrated; Pillow covers, made by me)
Things like tables, couches, shelves, end tables, headboards, bed frames, cribs, and more can be found on Craigslist and FB Marketplace. I found my big dining table on Craigslist for $100(including six chairs). I refinished the top and painted the legs and chairs and voila! New to me and unique!
(Our well-loved, ie. colored on by kids, Craigslist table)
(Shelf: $30 on FB, Tote: Apolis Bag, Basket: $4 from thrift store, Various items on shelf, Decocrated Subscription Box)
4. Maternity clothes. Many mommas sell their maternity clothing on fb as a lot for super cheap. And often the items are barely used. When you’re only going to be wearing maternity clothing for less than nine months, why pay full price at an expensive store if you don’t have to?
I do suggest investing in a few quality pieces like nice leggings etc. even if you have to get these new. But lots of the maternity clothing you find others selling online is cute and different from the small selection available in stores. Talk about a welcome break from that one pair of black leggings you’ve had on repeat.
5. Rugs. I love finding good prices for rugs on Amazon. But want to know a SECRET? You can get things USED on Amazon!!!!! I purchased a large rug on Amazon for a discounted price just because it had been returned and was thus labeled used. You can search Amazon warehouse for good deals on things labeled “used” or “small imperfection.”
(Pictured–the used rug I bought for a fraction of the regular price on Amazon. I sold this later–on fb marketplace lol–because I wanted something more neutral and got almost all my money back, over a year later!)
You can also find rugs on Facebook marketplace, just make sure it’s from a pet free, smoke free, and shoe free(takes shoes off at the door)home. You can also ask to look at the rug prior to buying. A lady bought one of my rugs and I was more than fine with her coming and checking it out before actually buying.
6. Home decor. Don’t tell me you don’t have enough money to make your house look good. Until you’ve searched your local thrift stores for all the picture frames, candle holders, shelves and baskets, do NOT complain about how you can’t afford to decorate.
(pictured: pitcher bought from used store and painted white)
(Pictured: used chair, recovered by me; Pillow, Beddy’s Beds)
(Pictured: basket, used from friend)
(Pictured: rolling cart from thrift store, painted, sanded down and stained; various candlesticks, from different used stores, painted; Sign, Decocrated)
Get your bum off your fabulous used couch and start looking for fun unique things at the goodwill! I have numerous candlesticks that I just spray painted gold. I can’t even tell you how many coats of paint my picture frames have, because I’ve done them all differently from time to time to match whatever decor I had at the time.
If you have a hard time knowing where to start with decor, go find pictures on Pinterest of what you’d like to create. Pick out the key things that make up the picture, and see what you can find at the thrift store and online to recreate that.
That’s all I have for now. I want to clarify by saying this. I do not think it’s horrible to get some things new. I’m simply saying THINK before you buy. Be more MINDFUL. Shop around, whether it’s Facebook yard sales, used stores or regular stores. Buy SMART, buy USED!
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Love, Mary
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Disclaimer: I work with various companies from time to time and so some of these things are gifted from them. ALL opinions are my own.😘
Ms Mary Everyday Life 