Buy new, buy used, don't buy at all

[Dave Hartwick]

The first two articles are by somebody named Liz Pulliam Weston. She lists exceptions for some of them. For example, it might be OK to buy a used mattress if it mostly sat unused in a guest room. See the articles for exceptions.

Buy new: (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/weston-10-things-you-should-never-buy-used.aspx)
Laptops
Car seats
Plasma and high-definition TVs
DVD players
Vacuum cleaners
Digital cameras and video cameras
Shoes
Mattresses
Wet suits
Helmets

Buy used: (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/weston-10-things-you-shouldnt-buy-new.aspx)
Books
DVDs and CDs
Little kids' toys
Jewelry
Sports equipment
Timeshares
Vehicles
Software and console games
Office furniture
Hand tools

The next two articles are off a site called The Street. No exceptions were given, although I can think of some. I mean, there's boats and there's boats. I could probably justify buying a canoe.

5 expensive things not to buy: (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10494996/five-big-ticket-items-you-shouldnt-buy.html)
Timeshares
Boats
Recreational vehicles
Snowmobiles, jet skis and all-terrain vehicles
Vacation homes

5 everyday things you don't need: (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10488835/1/5-everyday-things-you-dont-need.html)
Bottled beverages
Extra food
Diet products
Vitamins
Expensive cosmetics and toiletries

I can think of other things, especially for the "don't buy" list. Anything on the lists that you disagree with?

[Procrustus]

My boat, although expensive, is used often and well and enjoyed immensely by my family. If you're not going to use a boat often, sure, "don't buy."

I'm not buying used jewelry for my wife, sorry. If I can't afford new, I'm okay not getting it.

Most of the "buy used" stuff would be fine if you have the time to find used stuff. I'm not that interested in spending the time, however, "getting to know the guy that runs the pawn shop."

[levdrakon]

I disagree about the vitamins. "Everyday things you don't need?" Doctors and other "experts" like to haughtily declare how you don't need vitamin supplements and then quickly mumble under their breath, "as long as you eat a healthy balanced diet."

Ha, ha! Who does that? I suppose people who live where it's 30 below right now are getting all the vitamin D they need from all that sunbathing they do, too. :dubious:

[Shmendrik]

I disagree about the vitamins. "Everyday things you don't need?" Doctors and other "experts" like to haughtily declare how you don't need vitamin supplements and then quickly mumble under their breath, "as long as you eat a healthy balanced diet."

Ha, ha! Who does that? I suppose people who live where it's 30 below right now are getting all the vitamin D they need from all that sunbathing they do, too. :dubious:

No, they're getting it from all the vitamin D fortified milk and other foods.

[suranyi]

I disagree about the vitamins. "Everyday things you don't need?" Doctors and other "experts" like to haughtily declare how you don't need vitamin supplements and then quickly mumble under their breath, "as long as you eat a healthy balanced diet."

Ha, ha! Who does that? I suppose people who live where it's 30 below right now are getting all the vitamin D they need from all that sunbathing they do, too. :dubious:

And of course pregnant women are specifically told by doctors to take prenatal vitamins regardless of their diet.

[needscoffee]

I bought one new vacuum cleaner decades ago, but ever since then, I just upgrade when it's time with a yard sale one. Usually people just get suckered into buying a Dyson whether they need it or not and junk the old perfectly good one. Or the belt broke and they didn't feel like buying a new one.

[Isamu]

Buy New: chewing gum, food

Buy Used: underwear

Don't Buy: her story

[astro]

If you are going to buy a boat there are currently some insane deals on used boats out there right now *if you want a boat*. "Don't buy a boat" period is kind of silly advice. There is no better time to buy a used boat than right now.

[BigT]

No, they're getting it from all the vitamin D fortified milk and other foods.

Current studies show that most people are Vitamin D deficient. They are even considering raising the recommended levels, as it seems a higher level confers greater health benefits.

[Double Foolscap]

Wouldn't bottled beverages depend on where you live? Or would water filters work in most areas?

[Keith Berry]

I would add coffee from convenience stores or coffee shops to the "don't buy" list. If you buy one large coffee a day, it only costs 1.50 to 2.00, but add that up over the course of a year and you realize that it's cheaper to brew your own at home and take it with you.

[Double Foolscap]

Oh, also store-bought lunches. I've saved a fair bit of money by getting up a bit earlier and making my own lunch. Especially when you consider that I would buy more than I needed before, as I was shopping while hungry.

[Ferret Herder]

Current studies show that most people are Vitamin D deficient. They are even considering raising the recommended levels, as it seems a higher level confers greater health benefits.
Plus the linked article pretty much just says "rather than buying craploads of supplements, get only the ones you need if you can't get them from food."

[Lynn Bodoni]

I categorize books. There are some authors that I will in new hardback, more that I buy in new paperback. Most authors, though, I'll usually buy only used. I see it as voting with my dollars. Some authors give me so much reading enjoyment that I want to encourage them to write more, and I want to send a message to their publishers.

[Finagle]

I disagree with the CDs and books. Unless you assume that authors and artists are doing it for the sheer love of art and don't mind starving in filthy garrets.

Buying used cars seems to depend on the car. The old rule of thumb was that a car lost several thousand dollars in value just being driven off the lot. But I've been looking at used Subaru Outbacks and they hold their value. Three year old cars are going for $20K. Might as well buy a new one (except the new ones are ugly as naked mole rats).

Vitamins. Yeah, that's a money saver. A bottle of Centrum costs $14.00 and lasts a year (OK, I forget to take them regularly.) Same thing with hand tools. Geez, I can get pretty much any tool I want for $10-20 at Home Depot -- maybe stretch and buy a nice block plane for $50.00, and they will last for pretty much the rest of my life. An assortment of every kind of screwdriver you'll ever need costs $15.00. Why should I haunt garages sales looking for someone else's abused crap?



Boats. Hard to argue with that. Suckers are expensive and time consuming, even if you just own a small one. But that's what a hobby is, isn't it? Something to spend your time and money on?

Don't buy at all? I'd say "swimming pool", at least in the Northeast. You get to use it for three months of the year and it's a nightmare to maintain.

[Lacunae Matata]

Pets and supplies: Buy used (or "buy" used, if you will.) Our next dog is on his way - the rescue lady will bring him to us in about 2 weeks. Sure, a Great Pyrenees is a big luxury, but he's already bred and born, and was being neglected in his previous home, due to a change in family circumstances ("mom" adopted him, divorced a couple of years later, couldn't afford housing that would allow him. "Dad" is either working too much or too apathetic to spend time with him. He's gonna come live with us and get spoiled rotten, because our big old "puppy" - 8-yr.-old German shepherd - is retiring and needs a pet of his own to keep him entertained. I've always wanted a Pyrenees, but never felt comfortable bringing a brand new one into my home, because I live in a very warm climate. But if this one is already living in Florida, I know I can provide a better home than he has.

Craigslist and Freecycle have already provided me with free/low cost supplies: crates, dog beds, etc. Obviously, his vet care and food and preventative medicine will be at retail, but why pay full cost for stuff that people have available free or at massively reduced price?

And I definitely agree with the advice to buy vehicles used: Most modern vehicles have a much longer "shelf life" than their older counterparts. My minivan is now pushing 300,000 miles, and has very minor mechanical problems only (needs shocks, and a $28 fuel sensor. I paid $2500 for it 2 years ago, got all maintenance records with it, and have driven lots and lots of miles with sports teams, slumber parties, puppy dogs, washing machines, groceries, and so forth.) And to never buy a timeshare. (Still trying to sort out all of the legal crap with trying to unload Mom's timeshare...)

[Waxwinged]

Going to disagree with vacation homes.

If you live in a tiny apartment in a city, hellyeah it's nice to get away into the country and garden on the weekends. Even if it's only on a couple of acres with a little shed for housing.

See: Dacha. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacha

[Renee]

You don't need extra food? Like, a stocked pantry? Or some other form of extra food? Because there is a whole lot more food in the house than I can eat in a week, but I can make just about any type of meal I want any time. That one just seems strange to me.

[Al Bundy]

My ideal situation is to buy something used and also broken. I love to repair things and can often do so very cheaply. I have a $30 treadmill from a garage sale that originally cost $1750. It was an easy fix to the drive wheel. One of my best cars was a Chevy with what seemed like a bad transmission that was easily repaired. They key is looking for something that has potential and diagnosing the problems to avoid losers. If nothing else is available, I'm willing to shop the best deal on something new.

[pullin]

Why do they recommend only new wetsuits? That one has me stumped.

Divers: Am I missing some reason that you would need to stick to new suits only?

We use wetsuits around here for handling the chill during spring waterskiing instead of for diving.

[Grapefruit]

Why do they recommend only new wetsuits? That one has me stumped.

Divers: Am I missing some reason that you would need to stick to new suits only?

We use wetsuits around here for handling the chill during spring waterskiing instead of for diving.

Wetsuits have to be form-fitting to keep the person warm. If you buy something that has a large air pocket due to some fatty stretching it out, it's very counter productive.

[Lynn Bodoni]

I disagree with the CDs and books. Unless you assume that authors and artists are doing it for the sheer love of art and don't mind starving in filthy garrets. As I said, I consider it voting with my dollars. If I think that an author or artist gives me good value for my money, then I will buy new. In the case of authors, I'll even buy new hardback books from the ones I consider the best. However, I think that authors like Steven King and John Grisham just don't give me enough reading enjoyment to justify the money I'd spend on buying them in new books. In fact, I won't even buy their books at used prices, unless they're on the clearance section, where I'll pay one to two dollars for them. I WOULD buy King's Eyes of the Dragon in a new hardback, because that is a really great book, IMO, and it shows that King can really write when he doesn't just phone it in.

Also, buying used books and music allows me to try out an author. I bought John Scalzi's Old Man's War in used paperback. Then I went to a new book store and bought it in new, as well as several other of his books. I did this because I think that Scalzi deserves any royalties I can throw his way...and because I want his publisher to feel confident that any new books he happens to write will sell.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

5 everyday things you don't need: (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10488835/1/5-everyday-things-you-dont-need.html)
Bottled beverages


:dubious: Bottled beverages? Bottled water I can agree with, but beverages? Wouldn't that cut out everything except water from the tap and milk cartons?

[Dave Hartwick]

Extra food means food you end up throwing away. I used to have a problem with that. I'd buy extra because it was on special and check it every day as it grew mold in the fridge. I eat more than I need to, too, and have the spare tire to prove it.

Wet suits degrade over time, according to the link.

I get by OK without bottled beverages most days. I mostly drink tap water and coffee.

The only difference I noticed when I took vitamins was the color of my urine.

IMO new books are a waste of money except for reference books and the occasional gift. Used books are usually a waste too. I read them once and then they clutter up the house. I'm lucky to live near a decent public library, though, they aren't all that common. "Voting with my dollars?"... I dunno, I don't even vote for politicians. My puny dollars seem insignificant compared with the mighty power of the millions of teens buying future landfill staples such as Harry Potter and Twilight.

The lists are geared toward average people and are subject to conditions. If you can get a lot of use out of a boat or vacation home, it might be a good deal. Or maybe you're wealthy. I don't see me rounding up the kids and wife and doing the same thing every weekend or even every other weekend. Most of the time they have stuff on and would get sick of going. Better to rent, for me anyway.

With hobbies mileage is going to vary a lot. Comic books or figurines have zero practical value and for most people are not going to be worth money. For a collector, different story.

I expected someone to disagree with laptops as buy new.

Things I'd put on the don't buy list are things that are bad for you like weed and tobacco. I wasted a lot on those two.

I consider beer to be a don't buy and fancy booze even more so. Regular beer is quite expensive here in Australia compared to wine. Even in the States, though, vodka was much cheaper by the drink and depending on the mixer. People who drink stuff like India Pale Ale or single malt scotch aren't sensible with money IMO. Some say that expensive booze gives you less of a hangover but the answer to problem hangovers is probably "drink less" not "spend more money".

[Lynn Bodoni]

There's coffee and tea and flavored powder drinks (Koolaid and the like). They are astonishingly simple to make, for the most part. And really, we don't NEED anything more than water, once we outgrow the nursing stage. When I had to make some serious budget cuts, I cut out all sodas as a first step. Yeah, we missed them, but it's not like we needed them. And now that we can afford to buy the sodas again, we have gotten out of the habit. In fact, we had to throw away five cans out of a six pack because it had expired. So now we just keep a couple of Sprites in the fridge in case of low blood sugar occurrences.

[Rigamarole]

Add to the list to buy new:

Toilet paper
Toothbrushes
Suppositories


I've been burned before.

[muldoonthief]

Why do they recommend only new wetsuits? That one has me stumped.

Divers: Am I missing some reason that you would need to stick to new suits only?

We use wetsuits around here for handling the chill during spring waterskiing instead of for diving.

There are two kinds of scuba divers - those who admit they pee in their wetsuit, and liars.

[levdrakon]

There are two kinds of scuba divers - those who admit they pee in their wetsuit, and liars.We were told to pee in our wetsuits. When you think about all the other stuff you're swimming in, a little pee is no biggie. :)

If you don't dive frequently, I don't see the problem renting a wetsuit. It's hopefully newer and better maintained than the wetsuit you bought new and let sit in your closet for 6 years.

[Surly Chick]

I buy almost all my jewelry used. You can't tell the difference and I can afford much nicer stuff than I could new.

[black rabbit]

Buying used cars seems to depend on the car. The old rule of thumb was that a car lost several thousand dollars in value just being driven off the lot. But I've been looking at used Subaru Outbacks and they hold their value. Three year old cars are going for $20K. Might as well buy a new one (except the new ones are ugly as naked mole rats).


Heh. I'm on the winning side of this equation right now - I managed to wangle a HELL of a deal when I bought my '09 2.5i, right before the new body style rolled out, and am now about $4k ahead on the balance of my loan, per Edmunds. The notion of a car as a savings instrument is a little mind blowing to me.

[Annie-Xmas]

Does this woman ever buy clothes?

I buy used shoes. I love to have someone else break them in for me. Especially high boots, which retail for over $100 and I get at the thrift store for $15 ($7.50 at half-price times).