According to Yahoo! Finance, certain things are a much better value when purchased used.
- DVDs and CDs You can save a ton of money buying used DVDs and CDs. We rarely buy new DVDs when we can buy previously viewed DVDs for half the price.
- Books: I buy used books all the time from Amazon.com and they are a fraction of the cost of new books.
- Video Games: Kids tire of games quickly. Most are available used on sites like ebay and Amazon a few months after they are released.
- Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: These items have usually been worn very little and can be located at yard sales, thrift stores, online and even in some dress shops. In high school, my friends and I traded formal dresses with each other. It saved a ton of money and didn't seem so wasteful to only use our prom dresses one time!
- Jewelry: Jewelry depreciates dramatically when sold used. Diamonds have a very low resale value. Visit estate sales and pawn shops to find unique pieces.
- Ikea Furniture: Why aggravate yourself putting furniture together? Check online sites like Craigslist and Freecycle and buy them already assembled, especially in summer when college students are changing apartments and getting rid of their old stuff.
- Games and Toys: Look for them at garage sales and on Craigslist. Organize a toy trade day with family, friends and neighbors.
- Maternity and Baby Clothes: We have saved tons of money by shopping at thrift stores or at yard sales. We often find name brand, designer clothes for as little as 25 cents! Let others know you need maternity or baby clothes and you might even get hand-me-downs for free.
- Musical Instruments: Wait to buy your budding virtuoso a new instrument once you've determined he/she is truly committed to playing it.
- Pets: Shelters provide pets at very little cost, if any. Pet stores and breeders charge hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars.
- Home Accent Pieces: Many only get better with age. Look for them at estate and garage sales.
- Craft Supplies: Hold a craft swap with others to trade supplies. If you have crafty items you've never used, consider donating them to a local school.
- Houses: You're typically able to get better and more features for your dollar when you purchase an older home rather than building new.
- Office Furniture: Good office furniture should stand the test of time. With so many businesses closing, you can easily find deals on used office furniture.
- Cars: Cars drop in value the minute you drive them off the lot. Buying used saves not only on the price of the car but also the cost of insurance.
- Hand Tools: Simple tools like hammers, hoes and wrenches, will keep for decades so long as they are well-made to begin with and are well-maintained. These are fairly easy to find at neighborhood yard or garage sales.
- Sports Equipment: Most people buy sports equipment planning to use it until it drops, but this rarely happens. So when sports equipment ends up on the resale market, it tends to still be in excellent condition.
- Consumer Electronics: Most folks like shiny new toys, but refurbished electronic goods are a much sweeter deal. Consumer electronics are returned to the manufacturer for different reasons, but generally, they'll be inspected for damaged parts, fixed, tested, then resold at a lower price. Just make sure you get a good warranty along with your purchase.
- Gardening Supplies: This is an easy way for you to save money, and all you need to do is be observant. Take a look outdoors and you'll likely find such gardening supplies as mulch, wood, and even stones for free or vastly reduced prices. Used garden equipment and tools are also common goods at yard sales.
- Timeshares: Buying timeshares isn't for everyone but try a resale. On average, you'll save 67 percent on the price for a comparable new timeshare. If you're new to timeshare ownership, give it a test run first by renting short term.
- Recreational Items: It's fairly easy to find high ticket recreational items like campers, boats, and jet skis being resold. Oftentimes, they're barely used at all. As long as they're in safe, working condition, they'll make for a better value when purchased used than new.
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