The 6 best things to buy secondhand

Have you seen the price of ANYTHING these days? It’s a real doozy just trying to make ends meet in this economy. For me, it feels wasteful to buy things new unless I absolutely need them, not only because I’m frugal but also because our planet is warming up faster than Bagel Bites in the microwave.

Luckily, there’s a lot that I can buy secondhand, from fall decor to kitchen appliances. Whether I’m scrolling through Facebook Marketplace or wandering around my favorite thrift store, I always find plenty of top-quality and gently loved everyday items without dropping the big bucks. Here are just a few everyday items that have gotten me through my ~underconsumption core~ journey.

Apparel basics

The idea of buying clothes new — save for underwear or socks — has become foreign to me. I’d have to be hard pressed to step foot into a Target or TJ Maxx to buy any kind of garment. Whether I’m on the hunt for workout gear or special occasion dresses, I can rely on thrift stores and flea markets to find something cute and well constructed. Pro tip: I recommend visiting a local thrift store as opposed to a major chain, which will likely put good donations online as opposed to on the floor. That, or you’ll be served exorbitant prices for anything even remotely brand name.

I do want to note that some folks may come across sizing issues when thrifting. I still would love to recommend platforms like Poshmark, Depop, and eBay, which are helpful for filtering out measurements and sizes. (I’m a casual Depop seller, and I have to say,..some of the clothes there are truly dirt cheap, to my chagrin.)

Home decor

I used to hit up Ross, HomeGoods, and TJ Maxx religiously to hunt down cute home decor, but I really don’t find myself doing this much anymore. These days, I’d rather hit up yard and estate sales for vintage beauties made out of higher quality materials. That said, you CAN find typical TJ Maxx housewares at the thrift for a good deal. Pay $5 for that kitschy framed cat print instead of $20.

You’ll be able to find everything from fine china to kitschy tchotchkes secondhand. As much as I love sentimental and nostalgic junk, I also spot minimalist and modern decor pieces at charity shops all the time. If you are partial to sentimental bits and bobs, I can’t recommend estate sales and flea markets enough for a grandmacore home makeover. For more contemporary vibes, yard sales will usually carry more up-to-date styles since they’re typically run by still living people who want to get rid of relatively newer stuff. 

Storage

It’s truly shocking how much storage bins go for at big-box stores these days. $20 for a faux wicker plastic basket?! I think not. $50 for a basic three compartment plastic pull drawer? I also think not! Plus, it kinda feels bad for the environment to buy new plastic stuff, ya know?

That’s why I’ve been getting in the habit of buying plastic tubs from thrift stores and estate sales. Some of this storage can be kind of gross, but most pieces are new-ish. If you do pick up something kind of worse for wear, all you need is a wet wipe or a little soap and water to clean up thrifted plastic tubs and bins. If you’d like, you can also find metal and wicker alternatives, as well as fancy wood and glass hutches and drawers. But for basic organizing, plastic tubs work beautifully for me, and they’re usually readily available at the thrift.

Non-upholstered furniture

I’m iffy about grabbing soft and plush furniture from the thrift store (lol bed bugs), but I’m all game for side tables and cabinets. One of my favorite pieces that I’ve ever thrifted was this vintage Italian chest-style wood drawer! Usually, you can find quality secondhand furniture for a really good deal—basically as much as you’d pay for particleboard junk at a big-box store.

Gardening planters

There once was a time when I’d hit up The Home Depot regularly for basic plastic planters. Now, I scout for gardening tool deals at charity shops, yard sales, and estate sales. I find that this approach forces me to be a bit creative with what I can turn into a cachepot, and the results can be pretty cute! I love using baskets and mugs, although I do typically pick up more traditional planters, like 50s Napcoware pots from Japan.

There are a few caveats I’d like to mention. First of all, it’s really best to buy planters in person. Pots are big and heavy, and they’re often made out of ceramic. Basically, you’d be paying more for shipping, and there’s a chance that your item might break in the mail if the packer isn’t careful.

Large planters are also somewhat hard to come by secondhand, especially anything bigger than 8 inches. For larger garden pots, I’ve had the best luck scouting estate sales and yard sales because most thrift stores don’t have the space or help to put huge pieces on the floor.

Jewelry

With the exception of the occasional weird handmade earring on Etsy or at craft fairs, I seldom buy jewelry new. Most of my jewelry comes from junk lots online (typically pieces I’m not comfortable selling), thrift stores, or my mother. I personally love a piece with some vintage charm, but you could definitely find your fair share of newer pieces by makers like Baublebar, J. Crew, and Alex and Ani at the thrift store. If you buy secondhand jewelry online, your options are virtually infinite—I personally love hunting down cameos on Whatnot and eBay.

This is all just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you can buy secondhand. Sure, it takes a bit of time to dig around for the good stuff. You also might not be able to get what you need all the time. But I do think that when it comes to non-essentials beyond food and shelter, being a secondhand shopper can make you a more conscientious shopper. And as a vintage reseller, I can tell you with confidence that you can buy a LOT of things secondhand online—the world can truly be your oyster with a simple eBay search!