New or Used
Lynn at Wisebread recently wrote this list of “21 Things You Should Buy Used” that appeared at Yahoo Finance.
A great list, but I didn’t agree on all the items-I thought I would see what you think.
I Agree-Great used items!
- Books-used books are cool-I drop by our local bookstore to swap paperbacks-especially when I am taking vacation time. When digital readers drop in price further-used bookstores may go the way of newspapers…
- Exercise Equipment-I call treadmills clothes racks at my office-as that is what 90% of my patients do with them… So buy used until you are sure you will stick with it.
- Cars, Trucks, and Cycles- Buying used is almost always the way to go-Depreciation, Depreciation, Depreciation.
- Office furniture-I have an eclectic mixture of office furniture-the new is almost always expensive, but poorly made.
- Ikea Furniture-back in the dark ages, we called college furniture, cinder blocks, and 1×12′s, a transistor radio, and a bean bag chair.
- Musical Instruments-Until you have mastered an instrument, no reason to buy new. Even violin, guitar and piano experts buy used their entire career. Stradivarius baby!!
- Video Games-Kids are fickle-they may only play for a day.
- Home Accents-In South Georgia, we call these knick-knacks-or usually just junk! “Antique-like!” Yard sales, and Goodwill stores rule! But the less the better, according to clutter experts.
- Recreational toys-boats, RV’s, and other motorized toys. Just make sure you get a qualified mechanic to check ‘em out first. I once bought a used sailboat. The engine quit in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico on my way home-thank goodness it had a sail! My fault for not having it checked out better. Just needed a flushed fuel tank.
- Gardening-yard-household Supplies-a good friend has a pressure washer I borrow once a year. He likes the fact that the engine gets turned over more than just once a year. I always leave it filled with gas and oil. Well, almost always….
Things I personally would think twice about buying used:
- House-I have bought new and used. Since I am not much good at fixing up-I have really enjoyed my new home-(now 20 years old). Many new homes are going at a great discount right now, and construction prices are lower than in many years. You need to think this one through carefully-for your needs.
- Jewelry-If I had a reliable source for used jewelry-maybe. But how do you know you aren’t buying fakes. Buyer beware-get it appraised before purchase.
- Timeshares-I wouldn’t even buy a used or after-market time share. A friend, (a millionaire nurse by the way) bought several a few years ago. He thought he was an expert, sophisticated purchaser. It wasn’t the price that got him, it was the yearly maintenance fees and nickle and dime charges over and over…
- Electronics-if you have techno-skills maybe. If not save your money, and make a good purchase on a new one. Plan your spending and purchase, of course.
- DVDs and CDs-only if they are pristine condition. I have had no luck with used discs.
- Hand tools-these are usually so inexpensive-just buy ‘em. You will spend more on gas looking for good ones at the yard sale, and remember your time has value. And can you really just walk past that Elvis rug, while looking for that special hammer!!
A caution about borrowing.
I borrowed a large extension ladder from the same friend who loans me the pressure washer. He came by one day and asked to BORROW his ladder back.
I looked in the back yard where I thought I left it. It wasn’t there… I had a moment of panic, thinking it had been stolen, and of course, told him I would repay him.
That’s when he broke into a grin, and told me he picked it up the day before….FRIENDS!!!! I might have called him a name.
Reader Questions/Comments:
What do you like to buy new, and what used?
Do you think buying used always saves money?
Do you know what cinder blocks and 1×12′s are for-have you ever heard of a cinder block?
