How to Find deals on Second Hand Items to Save Money
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- Buying items used has to rank right up at the top of our list for spending less and saving more. But, how do you find quality used items that look like you paid thousands more than you did?
One of the biggest roadblocks to living on a lean budget is the habit of constantly buying brand new items from a retail store. Although it’s possible to shop the clearance rack at places like Kohl’s and save 90% off the retail price, that method is inconsistent, at best. But, when you add OTHER ways to find used items to your lifestyle, then you’ve got the perfect winning combination.
But, where in the world do you look? We’ve got a list of the best places we’ve found used items.
//MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:
○ Buy Nothing Groups: buynothingproject.org/
○ Backmarket (for used phones and computer equipment): www.backmarket.com/
○ Offer Up: offerup.com/
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Pick up items off the curb
03:00 - Accept hand-me-downs from friends and family
04:25 - Join Buy Nothing groups
06:20 - Shop garage sales, especially neighborhood sales
07:05 - Shop for items at estate sales
09:18 - Visit on-line versions of classified ads
11:10 - Join your local neighborhood group on Facebook
11:28 - Offer Up is an app which matches sellers with buyers
12:07 - Check consignment shops for quality items at low prices
13:10 - How to bid and buy at auctions (without overspending)
14:20 - Shop eBay to save on used merchandise
15:00 - Look on Backmarket for used phones and computers
15:30 - Rummage sales at churches or community organizations allow you to shop a lot of items at one time
17:30 - Shop reputable local pawn shops to find used items at good prices
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Estate sales are probably the best bet to find quality items. Old people take good care of their stuff.
When I was moving out of my parents home . I furnished most of my apartment from yard sales estate sales and thrift stores
This past weekend in our town there was a huge area-wide yard sale. I had $13 cash in my pocket. For that, I bought: a nearly new coffee maker, 2 brand new cat beds ($23 each in a local store), an electric tabletop water heater, 3 pr shorts and a hair curling iron! Came home with some change, too!
It's a great feeling when you score something good on garbage night. I have saved so much money and never felt like I was missing out.
Hope & Larry are the cutest couple with so much helpful information!
They r total relationship goals
I think it pays to get to know the thrift store employees. I get great discounts well below the sticker price.
Larry and Hope- Your channel really amazes me how much information you research and share! I think you have the top channel that deal with personal finance and frugal living. I am impressed how you paid cash for your second home and you still own it! Your furniture and decor is 90% used! Very impressive. I love you two as you are such humble, godly people. You must work very hard on your content. Thank you so much. I need to go back and rewatch your videos. It inspires me to keep going with a debt free lifestyle.
I once had to go to a church meeting in a town 70 miles away. I slept Friday night & got up & out early Saturday morning. Oh my! It was extra trash pick up day, with bikes, furniture, and gardening tools all for the picking!
I always try online community groups first before buying something I need in a retail store. It’s a frugal game I play to see how much money I can save on the item 😊
I used to live in a college town, so I would go to the dorms at the end of the semester, particularly the end of school year, and pick up furniture and rugs. I also picked up the same in the neighborhoods that had a lot of college students.
I worked for a carpet cleaning company, so my boss would let me store the items in the warehouse and use his equipment for free to clean everything really well.
The week before the beginning of the next semester, I would use the shop’s 16’ flatbed trailer and put the items for sale out on the busy street our shop was on. I almost always sold everything.
I had one lady that went on and on about a rug that had a particular pattern on it. It was very dirty and I had cleaned it like new. She bought it and said, I had one JUST LIKE THIS ONE that I threw away when I went home for the summer and I loved it!
I found an $80 Holmes tall fan on the curb. It had a wobbly fan head, that was fixed by tightening a screw, which never came loose again in the 10+ years we have owned it. It is a really powerful fan, and we love it.
I live in Southwest Iowa.. sadly people in our rural area are dumping things in ditches! Horrible. I wish I had my old stove it would still be working I bet! Love the videos. I’ve heard college move out day from dorms.U can really find some bargains!
I literally take nothing to the dump. I take in my recycling, I sell my scrap metal. I donate my gently used items to thrift stores, I compost my kitchen waste and I burn waste paper in my outdoor boiler.
College moveout days! I’ve saved area rugs of surprising quality and condition. I bring the items I or my kids and friends don’t want to the thrifts. It’s a public service environmentally, shares with folks savvy enough to buy used, supports jobs in low-income areas, and of course the missions behind the thrifts. Hobby time!
Many of the neighbors curbsiding are giving to others - not dumping. Our little neighborhood has lovely things that just need a little work … I picked up an Adirondack style plastic chair (you know the ones) now costing $28. it needs a scrub and can be spray painted if need be. I also met the donor and we will be friendlier now that we’re acquainted. Don’t assume people are dumping … around here the often add a sign saying ‚free‘ so folks won’t be reluctant.
Oh yes. Ye ole pawn shop.. Found some of my own items for sale at one (air tools stolen from my locked garage the year before). I had photos & they were marked, so with a copy of ye ole police report, I got the items back. No charge.
You two are absolutely adorable. I just watched your selling video. It was the best. Your authenticity jumps off the page! Thank you for sharing your experience.
With buy nothing; you meet new friends and get a lovely community. That IS wonderful too. I also have done my house at 90 percent with thrift shops and buy nothing.
Hi Hope and Larry, I'm so happy you mentioned and advocated for the beauty and helpfulness of buy nothing groups, thank you! I'm on my local one a lot trying to gift items I need to declutter and people really seem to want, need and enjoy items gifted to them in these communities. It keeps items out of landfills, as a way to recycle/reuse and sometimes helps people who could not otherwise be able to afford to purchase items secondhand at thrift stores like GoodWill, Salvation Army or Savers.Thus week my mission to is to regift hundred upon hundreds of nice clothing items loved ones have given me in the hopes that they will be appreciated and used and can save others (esp those in need) from having to purchase. Buy nothing groups are an act of love and bless so many folks everyday. Really appreciate you advocating for them on your channel since they help people, pocketbooks and planet earth!
Heirlooms are my favorite secondhand items ❤ grandfather clock and coat rack my grandpa made, a toy chest my husband's grandpa made, my China cabinet, my bedroom set, kitchen table & chairs, and my Steinway piano, all heirlooms and we take excellent care of them all! We also spent $100 and an afternoon building my son a 3 piece swingset for his birthday last year, an expense that would have run us into the thousands and I hope it lasts long enough for grandkids waaaay in the future to play!
If you live in a college town, check the curbs in April and May. Graduating seniors often dump a lot rather than take it to their new lives.
A friend of ours worked at a local university. Every year he and his wife had a garage sale comprised of all the items her husband had found discarded at the end of the semesters. They cleaned the items up and made good money. A lot of the students were from wealthy families or from overseas and just threw items out rather than sell or give them away.
One place we found wonderful items to furnish our home was a Humane society store. We felt really good about it as we were not only getting high quality items for a reasonable price but were saving animals.
I often like moving sales. Historically, I have found a lot of still serviceable but used looking gardening stuff at moving sales. Sometimes tools are good priced but especially hardware, great items people save in thier garages, unused home diy items like lighting, etc.., and things which are dusty. Sometimes you come across folks who have a collection of an assortment of hobby, crafting, hunting and fishing, or similar items. We often go at the early part of the sale with a number of small bills and buy some stuff, then go back towards the end.
For moving, downsizing, and decluttering sales weve found hitting up older neighborhoods where folks have lived 10 to 50 years. For a while there, we were hitting yard sales for baby and toddler stuff and for thise we went to nicer, newer neighborhoods where young professional families lived; sometimes you can come across nice work attire in those neighborhoods too. Picking the neighborhoods to go a little between what you're looking for and the neighborhood demographics seemed to work for us pretty well.
In our current throw away society, nearly everything can be found used (cheap or free). On my last trip down state, I drove through the "better off" area. I saw curb side, an oak bed frame, dining set, several bookshelves, list goes on.. Too bad I drove my car instead of my van..
I love garage sales!
Sometimes, all a piece of furniture needs is a new coat of paint or a missing wheel. I have done a few fun projects where I bought $5 furniture or free furniture & upcycled them for funsies. Its a nice pass time, too.
My parents bought many things used growing up. I learned to sew starting at about age 10 on my mom’s sewing machine. In 9th I took sewing in school and decided I wanted my own machine and found an older Singer machine for $25 in the newspaper classifieds. Many years later when pregnant with my only child I found the new baby furniture at Baby’s RUs to be quite junky. I searched Craigslist for quite awhile and found Pali furniture pieces for a fraction of retail. Used them for several years, took care of them, and then sold them on FBM for the same price!
Our subdivision garage sale is next Saturday. We have food trucks and we always get a huge turnout. Everyone loves a bargain. I found a nice rocking chair for my kids years ago and resold it later. We put out stuff for free at the end if we don’t want to lug it back and it makes someone else happy. Usually the older items are made better and last longer.
Subdivision sales are such fun!
For decades, we had couches that were given to us or thrift stores. After +45 years I finally broke down and got a new couch and love seat to go with some lovely tables my hubby crafted. We had downsized to a new home after retirement and it seemed like a good time to splurged.
Hi we also eat plant based would like to see what you do to eat healthy and frugally
I am a savvy shopper and known for it too! I love vintage items. I constantly shop GoodWill and second hand shops or flea markets too. I score big time on a name brand pair of pants from Cold Water Creek for $9.00 ! Super cute and they actually fit! Yay me.... I literally saved myself $50 bucks ordering them new. !!!! It's hit or miss, but for me its the thrill of the hunt for the best bargain!!!
Love that mug, Larry!!!!! :)
Thanks for sharing your sanctuary! Your home is inviting and interesting. Sending you blessings!
I noticed the green glider on your front porch. I have a glider that came from my grandfather after my dad gave it to me. We used to glide on it when we were kids at grandpa’s house. It means a lot to me.
So many great tips Hope & Larry. There are so many different places to find what your looking for without paying full price. I get a real thrill of finding something I've been looking for and purchasing the item and then go look and see how much it originally cost. It really blows my mind how much one can save. I just bought a slightly used Bissell upright cordless/corded vacuum cleaner, which also turns into a hand held vacuum. Original cost was almost $600. I paid $45 for it. I was thrilled to say the least. Can I just say, Happy Dance!
Looking forward to Thursdays video on how to buy & sell on markerplace.
Our last 2 gas grills were put on the curb ….I don’t know why people throw out perfectly good gas grills. One we changed out the racks the other just needed a good scrubbing that we still have❤
Thank you for the information.
Our apartment is furnished from hand me down or thrift shop find, free giveaway.
We dont have curbside/yard sale culture in the u.k. I think its such a good idea. The annoying thing about ebay is most furniture is collection only,so if you dont have a vehicle and the furniture is in some remote island off Scotland,or an obscure Welsh village its not even worth a bid. There are some beautiful items going for a song...if you have a van to collect them.
There are online auction sites too.
My mom furnished her house with estate finds and I got so free items p,us some goodwill finds!
Forgot to mention clothes swap parties with entry fee. Also antique/ flea markets. Also vintage clothes sales some buy items by weight.
I look in FB Marketplace for things we need in areas I will be going to on vacation, day trips, etc. I contact the person offering the item, negotiate, let them know I'll only be available for a short period of time, and if we reach an agreement meet them at a safe, public place such as a grocery store or gas station. I do this is areas I am familiar with. Has always gone well. Debbie
In uk you can get items furniture from facebook/charity/freegal etc. Auctions are accepted, but most people look down their nose on it. You do see people put things outside the house for free. Also police have auctions that sell stuff thats been stolen that havent been reclaimed.but car boots charity etc are big here
Full of good ideas . I think i never buy a new meuble.
I try & buy as much second hand as I can & I'm planning on only getting mostly used/second hand items when I move house. Here in the UK garage/yard sales don't seem to be a thing which is a shame as I like the sound of them, but as well as Marketplace we have Freecycle and an app that I use a lot called Olio, where you can give/get free items/food, borrow/request items & now sell items too. I've both given household items & received quite a lot (especially food) over the last year and get a real sense of satisfaction not only from getting something for free, but helping someone else by donating things I no longer need/want and either can't or don't want to sell.
I flipped some bamboo chairs for 80 bucks that I found on the curb
Here they are. No garage sale or corner stuff to nemm with😢😢 Netherlands
Do you have a video where to buy appliances like dishwasher for cheap?
Tonight and next Thursday we're doing a video on how to get discounts on pretty much everything. In next week's video we'll give an example from a viewer of how she bought a new lawn mower very creatively and saved a bundle.
Hi Hope I can’t find the link for the used electronics!
Oops! Sorry. I just added it to the description. www.backmarket.com/
@@UndertheMedian thank you!
I bought a microwave from a former rental agency for 20.00. works just fine. But i won't buy much used furniture due to bed bugs or other pests. Yuck!!
97 percent of items I have at home are seconds hand
I have been accidentally sent a brand new ladies dressing gown with its price tag on $102
Don't need it, Don't buy it. Better way to save
I've gotten a-MAZ-ings on my local Buy Nothing. I've also been pleasantly surprised on how many people will happily take my unwanted items on Buy Nothing.
Refinishing antique furniture is your best bet.