What would you not buy new?

[fidgiegirl]

I am trying to remember if we had a thread like this recently, but didn't find it . . . if I'm wrong, let me know!

I was hauling our suitcases up to the attic and thinking, ah, this is something I would very very very likely NOT buy new. They get beat up, wrecked, ripped in air travel . . . .

I had the word "never" in the thread title, but that's too absolute. Of course there always may be a situation where I'd change my mind. What if I started traveling for a job and needed the exact perfect suitcase to preserve my sanity? But most likely 99% of the time, I'd just try to get a used one.

Same with our next vehicles, I hope.

Wish I could say it with clothes, but I buy new ones with regularity. Not over the top, but I do buy new clothing, and sometimes used, too.

What about you?

[CeciliaW]

My work can be pretty messy and hard on clothes so it makes no sense for me to buy a new shirt at the store when I can get one for $1.99 at the local thrift store, wear it till I ruin it, move it to the rag bag, and then finally out!

For the last 25 years all of our cars have been second or third hand, but I am blessed with a partner who is handy. I Want a Kia Soul but I can wait another 5-10 years. >8)

[studentofecology]

I would never buy a car new. I would never buy a new house either, though I might build one. I've never once bought a new pair of pants, or a t-shirt. I do buy shoes, socks and underwear new.

[rosarugosa]

I think I can probably say that I will never buy luggage new or used, although I did once (about 20 years ago) buy a garment bag at the SA for about $3.00 that I recently re-donated. Luggage seems to come our way free of charge. Maybe The Universe thinks we should take more vacations!
We don't have much in the way of thrift store resources in our immediate vicinity, so most of what we buy, we do buy new.
In recent years, I've learned to check with Mom before I buy anything because she often has one of whatever it is I need that she isn't using. Win-win, because it helps her declutter too, and if she needs it back, I'm only a mile away :)

ETA: Welcome back, Student of Ecology!

[SteveinMN]

I'll buy almost anything used -- except socks, underwear, and toiletries. I'm also a bit leery of, say, used toasters at the thrift store -- I want to know the history and not that someone dropped it off because it kept tripping the circuit breaker or such. And, in the age of bedbugs, I'm more careful about buying upholstered furniture -- again, I want the history if I can get it. Otherwise, there's almost nothing I have to buy new.

[IshbelRobertson]

The only thing I don't buy new is antiques or paintings!
I'm not good with the 'previously owned' idea...

[catherine]

We never buy new lawn mowers. We have mowed (mown?) our lawn for 35 years and we have paid less than $200 total to do it. Our first lawn mower was $50; our second $75, and I'm not sure what the third one was, but we've only had 3 lawn mowers, all used.

I'll never buy a new car again--even though I've finally gotten with the program and have a car replacement fund. I figure, I'll just stash the money until I need it and then buy a used car according to how much is in my cash fund for it. I just finished paying off our cars--and for four years I was saddled with $950 a month in car payments. Never again.

I have never bought new furniture. The only "new" furniture I have is a leather sectional which my MIL bought me for our 20th anniversary. My furniture is either family castoffs or flea market finds, or stuff I bought at a really great consignment shop here in the Princeton area (Princeton folks cast off great stuff). I have to say, I like my house, and I wouldn't have done it differently. It has a lot of character.

[Fawn]

I will buy new: underwear, pantyhose, shoes, food, utilites (some), paint and pants-that-fit.

Anything else is subject to second hand options first.

[redfox]

What I get new... Unders, sox, toothbrush, shampoo, food. Everything else that is available second hand is an option, though I too have eschewed used furniture due to potential bedbug threat. Plus I have more than enough everything...

[JaneV2.0]

I will probably never buy a new car. Mine had 30,000 miles on it when I bought it a few years back, and now it has 35,000. I'll probably still be driving it when I'm 90. I might buy a new house, but the odds are against it. I'd never pay regular retail price for the clothes I pay a few dollars for at the thrifts, though i would buy them at deep discount at TJ Maxx or elsewhere.

And Steve, I love the six dollar toaster I got at Value Village. It's a two-slice retro style Oster that looked like it had never been used. I'm guessing it was a gift with not enough bells and whistles to keep.

[maribeth]

I bought DD a used swingset on Craigslist. It was in great shape. Even after paying an installer to take it apart, deliver it, and set it up in our yard, it was less than half the price of a new set and we will likely be able to resell it again.

My other buy-used recommendation is bread machines. I paid $15 for one that was nearly $300 new. And a few years later, just like the person who bought it for $300, I realized I didn't use it all that much and gave it away. (My friend got an even better deal than I did!)

[JaneV2.0]

A friend of mine found a bread machine, in its box, by the side of the road--apparently a giveaway. Or maybe it was in a dumpster; sometimes I can't keep the gleaned treasures straight...

[cindycindy]

I always buy "pre-owned" cars. I've picked up some clothing at thrift stores, but with clearance sales and coupons, I mostly buy clothing new. If I were in the market for furniture, I would look at yard sales, etc. as newer furniture seems to be so inferior in quality.

[fidgiegirl]

Bread machines are pretty easy to find - that reminds me I would like to find one :)

Maribeth , score in the swing set. I can totally see that it would be a savings, especially I'd it's one of the big wooden ones.

[Mrs-M]

Originally posted by Cindycindy.
I always buy "pre-owned" cars.This is what we want to do Re: our next vehicle purchase. Something dealership returned, and one owner driven.

Adding vehicles to my list. Hmmm... what else- what else... Trying to think...

[Tussiemussies]

I used to buy clothing -- not shoes or bathing suits from consignment BUT after watching these hoarding shows I realized I have no idea of where these clothes are coming from. Some of the conditions of these homes were deplorable. I buy end of season clothing and got a lot of Eddie Bauer sweaters on clearance for $20.00. That is reasonable for me . :))

[goldensmom]

One thing I will definitely never buy new again is a vehicle. I used to buy new vehicles but cannot possibly afford it now and with instant depreciation consider it unwise. I will consider buying most anything used except underwear, toiletries, personal items.

[Tussiemussies]

I did buy a new Honda Crx and now it is 21 years and going strong. When the time comes I will buy new again. Don't think it will be for quite awhile...

[mtnlaurel]

I used to buy clothing -- not shoes or bathing suits from consignment BUT after watching these hoarding shows I realized I have no idea of where these clothes are coming from. Some of the conditions of these homes were deplorable. I buy end of season clothing and got a lot of Eddie Bauer sweaters on clearance for $20.00. That is reasonable for me . :))
Hoarders has left an impression on me too re: thrift store items!
And there's nothing I love more than scouring a thrift store, if I have the time.

I'm ok to buy consignment items and ok with paying what I consider a service fee since the items they accept have already had to make the cut to be carried by them. I have 3 kid consignment stores that I hit up at end of season sales and buy a size or 2 up (some of the clothes don't even look like they were ever put on). But you've got to be in the know on consignment pricing & I usually won't buy without markdowns -- sometimes I can't believe the gall of some consignment shop pricing.

I too would never buy a new car again and let the first owner take the largest depreciation hit.
I did car payments once and that pretty much cured me of that.

I have recently entered into the world of eBay purchases (danger, danger) - but there are some very specific things I've needed and rather than waste the gas driving to find them I stick to a very defined price range and purchase if cost/shipping falls within that range.

Things I buy used - most of the kids clothes/shoes/sports equip, toys, books, my clothes/shoes, housewares, bikes, furniture, tools, yard equipment, cars, camping equipment, appliances (got some great appliances once that a contractor had ordered in the wrong color)--appliances are a gamble b/c there are no guarantees or recourse if you get a lemon

Things I wouldn't buy used - undies, cushy-upholstery items/pillows (I might buy cushy things from craigslist or yard sale, so I could give the source a look over), mattress

I haven't been to a ton of estate sales, but one I went to left a strange impression on me.... they were selling EVERYTHING... the half used bottle of PeptoBismol in the med. cabinet, etc --- It really made me feel the meaning of 'Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust'.

I have to be vigilant with keeping crap out of my life though and closely monitor myself that I am not wasting time & energy on 'things' vs. 'experiences' --- but I do, on occasion, find pleasure in 'the experience of browsing things' :) --- I get ideas about how to use what I already have or spurred on to get rid of stuff.
I think another reason I like doing used is that I may have been a horse trader in a former life, DH constantly busts me for 'working an angle' on just about everything :) -- I love working a deal both professionally or personally.

[HumboldtGurl]

I'd never, ever buy a brand new vehicle.

DH and I did buy a brand new RV trailer five years ago but that was back when we didn't know any better. I pretty sure I wouldn't do that again.

[Gregg]

I've bought new vehicles in the past for DW to haul the kids around in. Always wanted to be positive of what I was getting for them. Now that kids are older we look for something that is a year or two old, usually a leased vehicle that was turned in. You can get some great deals when you're not in a hurry. My pick-up is a '97 that I bought in '99 with 12,000 miles on it. Its up to about 150,000 and still chugging along. The passenger seat is molded to my dog's hind quarters so how could I trade it? Other than that we're more clearance sale shoppers than thrift store shoppers. Nothing against it, just that our local thrift store isn't very nice.