Buying New is Going to Cost You!
If I knew then what I know now.
My mom is a bargain shopper, so quite naturally I became one, but that was not always the case. As a child, my performance in the thrift stores was award-worthy. It was soooo below me, I would complain about the smell and to me the thrift store was "the itchy store". It made my skin itch, I couldn't breathe. Call it an exaggeration, but little ole me was suffering.
Fast forward many years later. That little girl grew older and wiser. I learned that thrift stores are often filled with hidden treasures. It no longer makes me itch and the smell isn't as bad as I made it. Maybe I'm just too excited by all the potential deals and savings that I just don't notice anymore.😆Not only can you find gently used items, you often can find brand new items but without the brand new price tags. JACKPOT!
For me, the rebirth of the thrift store took place when I discovered I could find board games for the low. Being that I hosted a lot of game nights and purchased a lot of games full-price (games are expensive) I was so grateful to find games priced much lower and still in mint condition! Since then, you can catch me checking out thrift stores all around town for a variety of things.
The point is that you never know what you'll find when you open yourself up to the possibilities. As a child had I not been so closed-minded, I could have left those stores with all types of treats. As an adult, I'm all about saving when I can. I believe in quality for less.
"One man junk is another man's treasure!"
Think about when you move into a new place. You likely have many expenses leading up to the move, for the move, and even after. No one says everything in your new place has to be brand new. I love new, but new often comes at a price. Why not purchase what you need for a reasonable price and if you choose to upgrade later, do it a little at a time? Remember The Game of Life? In that game, players often began with a starter home and later down the line invested in a bigger more expensive home. The same applies to your belongings. Take baby steps.
Other options include Craiglist, Buy, Sell and Trade groups, estate sales, eBay and other consumer-to-consumer opportunities. Sometimes you can even get things for free. I've received items for free from people trying to get rid of stuff, people who were moving, businesses that were closing, etc.. I've also given things away by simply posting to Craigslist/Facebook Group as free requiring pickup. This is not uncommon when people are moving. They're either selling for cheap or just want to get the stuff out.
Always do your homework, but be open to trying places that you may not have tried before. You may be able to get some really great items at unbeatable prices.