Using Violation: Saving money starts with buying used
Posted By: Matt in Frugality on 11/08/2016 at 09:54:04
As much as auction sites and second hand shops have changed the way we buy, you can't argue that the word "used" carries with it quite the stigma for some consumers.
They don't view it as it should be: a way to save money by still having the things you want and clamor for but at a reduce cost.
Instead, "used" often refers, for some, to a product or service of a lesser quality, when in actuality nothing could be further from the truth.
In reality, those who have learned to save money have also become accustomed to buying used or at least giving that option first thought before they turn to brand new as a result.
The easiest way to save through buying used is with your vehicle. Used cars have such a marked down price that you'd be foolish to go brand new. A $40,000 brand new vehicle even after only a year or two might be half as much as that original sticker price. Used cars also come with competent warranties and any good, honest car salesmen knows that he or she make their commission more so on used than new, anyway.
The only selling point of a new car is that it's, well, new, and advertising and marketing make it hard for you to pass up that shiny, albeit over priced, new car smell and all the bells and whistles that go with it, even though used is nearly as good.
Technology also is a much needed spot where we need to think used versus new. Take a tablet or cell phone for example; when the newer version comes out, last year's model (or even one from a few years ago) drops drastically in price. So it might not run your favorite casino game or you can't update to the latest software, in the case of the tablet for instance, but you can still stream videos, send emails and surf online.
Think about what your needs truly are when it comes to gadgets of that ilk and determine if you really need the absolute newest version. And just because a new model comes out doesn't mean you have to have it.
Finally, if you're still buying clothes brand new, you might want to consider just how much you can save with a few hand me downs or something you'd find in a consignment shop. Granted, they're not off the rack per say but someone with a keen fashion sense on a budget could easily pull off the look they want, minus the heft price tag.
Buying used isn't what it once was. The term no longer means devoid of quality, rather the appearance of a product that is perfectly fine, even if the packaging has already been peeled back.
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