According to National Geographic, people living in the United States throw away four-fifths of a ton of trash per person, per year. Yes, that’s 1,600 pounds of trash per year – per person.
The average life expectancy in the United States is 78.7 years. That means the average person in the U.S. will generate 125,920 pounds of trash in their lifetime – or nearly 63 tons of waste. All of that goes into our landfills.
Is that the legacy we want to leave for future generations? What if we stopped putting so much of that “trash” into the garbage, and started reusing it. What then?
More and more people are recognizing the value of investing in secondhand items. According to Marketing Week, one-third of consumers are buying more used items than they were just 12 months prior to their study.
According to the same research, the reasons for secondhand purchases vary. Saving money took the lead, especially in the 18-24 age range. For the older generation, the most common response was that they could purchase an item for themselves and support a charity at the same time.
When looking at the female demographic, that secondhand purchase is usually made when they spot a bargain, can support a favorite charity or have a drive for living a green lifestyle.
A Kiplinger article says that used items often cost 50 to 75 percent less than new, so that is a huge benefit – especially during a struggling economy. Want to shop secondhand to reduce your footprint and costs, but don’t know where to start?
Secondhand Purchases
Here are 30 items you can feel more confident buying secondhand. These are mostly items you won’t own long, won’t use much or will get banged up when you use them anyhow.
- Cars
- Furniture
- Designer Jeans
- Swing Sets
- Formal Wear
- Wedding Dresses
- Books
- College Textbooks
- Kids’ Bikes
- Music Instruments
- Tools
- Exercise Equipment
- Homes
- Office Furniture
- Jewelry
- Craft Supplies
- Sports Equipment
- Maternity Clothes
- Baby Clothes
- Gardening Supplies
- DVDs
- CDs
- Video Games
- Holiday Clothes
- Kids Toys
- Home Décor
- Recreational Toys
- Baby Gear
- Dishware
- Gently Used Clothing
On the other hand, you may be wondering what items are better to buy new. You’ll really want to look at safety, durability and longevity of the technology for these items.
Items to Buy New
These are 20 items you should buy new – but you can make the life of these items last a long time if you take care of them well.
- Cribs
- Car Seats
- Laptops
- Footwear
- Hats
- Cookware
- Blenders
- Camera Lenses
- Mattresses
- Bedding and Pillows
- Swimsuits
- Undergarments
- Wetsuits
- Vacuums
- Computer Software
- Bike Helmets
- Tires
- HDTVs
- DVD Players
- Makeup
Overall, the trend is moving toward greening up the earth. Purchasing as many items secondhand as possible is one way you can take a step forward in this movement.
What are your favorite things to purchase secondhand?