Things You Could Buy Used

Here is a list of things you could easily make do with as a hand-me-down or buy used/pre-owned/second or third hand or buy vintage or unsold old stock and save a pile without any noticeable downside.

1.Houses:Older houses might not have the newer bells and whistles  but you will also not be paying the premium builders charge for them.If you buy a generally sound house and renovate and/or redecorate it you are likely to get better value for your money.Older house might also be in better/more developed neighbourhoods and so have many more intangible advantages.Similarly it makes sense to by older commercial and industrial buildings.

2.Cars:By buying a car from the last months of the past year or a demo-model or a relatively new used car you will save a bundle.Cars depreciate fast so it makes sense to buy a slightly used one.However it doesn’t do to buy a car past its warranty if you are not much of a mechanic and can’t tinker with your own machine.The repair and maintenance costs will make you go broke.Similarly maintaining classics while they turn to vintage models is a way to make money from cars.But this calls great mechanical aptitude,patience,interest and space.Buying other used vehicles from bikes to trucks and boats also makes sense.And you can shop for steeper discounts,the more you know about tinkering with them.Luxury models often sell at steeper discounts simply because the people who buy such items new won’t be caught dead in a second hand vehicle.

3.Furniture and Bric-à-Brac: Today its hard to find good wooden furniture.Refurbished furniture made of wood or iron is a good way to find value.If you are handy with a sewing machine or can find cheap labour you can recycle fabric or use leftover bits of fabric to make cushions.Vintage stores and flea markets are great places to find knick-knacks for your rooms.And hey if you know your antiques,you can pick up real treasures once in a while.

4.Brand Name Jewellery: Big brands have a cachet value even in the second hand market.But the premiums here are a lot less.So the item is valued closer to the  salvage value of the piece.Vintage geegaws are excellent value if you know what you are doing.Precious metals are no less precious for being pre owned.And the only way to buy natural pearls and some corals today is to buy them second-hand.

5.Accessories:Bags,costume and semi precious jewellery,watches,writing instruments,flasks,lighters etc.-especially if you are just going to make use of them a few times, are best bought preused.They are often better made and unique compared to disposable mass made items.

6.Books:If you like reading and are something of a bibliophile,this a good way to find value.And if you know about rare books and first editions,you can make a bit out of your hobby.Look out for autographed books.I have been lucky to find a few books with famous former owners who  inscribed the fly page.Using old copies of text books and study materials ,especially those you choose to sparingly refer to is an easy way to save money.

7.DVDs and Video Games:An excellent way to save on your entertainment costs,especially if you choose to collect movies, music and games.

8.Sports and Fitness Equipment:A lot of people take up a sport or fitness idea only to give up in a few days.A good way to acquire top of the line sport and fitness equipment is to buy them from such people .The only exception is safety gear like helmets since you can’t be certain that they are still fit for use.

9.Hobby Equipment:Whether your hobby is collecting coins or fishing you can find good deals in flea markets and sometimes hobby stores and dealers if you make inquiries.

10.Tools:Saws,drills etc, can be bought second hand.Just make certain that the motors are in decent condition and the tool is still serviceable.Check the safety features and see that they are not damaged.

11.Gardening Equipment:Expensive structures like green houses can often be sourced cheap from unsuccessful gardeners.This applies to commercial farming too.

12.Consumer electronics:This is a nice way to acquire high end sound systems, big screens,simulator games etc.-basically the high end stuff that’s fun to have but likely to blow a big hole in your finances and/or not likely to see much use.

13.Musical Instruments:Especially if you are just beginning to learn to play it.

14.Office Furniture:Especially for the back end that no customer will ever see.Reducing costs reduces the risks of business.

15.Industrial Equipment:A good way to reduce start-up costs and the limit risks of a new business.

Can you think of anything else to add to the list? Do leave me a comment about it.