The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIn these times, what would you buy used to reuse for yourself?
When I went to yard sales, aside from looking for antiques and collectibles, I'd pick up anything I could use in the house. I got an almost new set of Visions cookware, and I use them almost daily. I usually couldn't find clothes my size, but if I saw something that would fit, and I liked, I'd get it. Rarely got footwear. Anyway, if I were going to sales (I'm not) there are probaby things I wouldn't buy used, such as clothes, and everyday dishes.
I don't mind not going. If I miss the excitement of discovery, all I have to do is rummage around in my basement, or the rental I have. Yesterday, I discovered a box of Fiestaware I hadn't seen before Just curious if others have changed their yard sale habits?
Ocelot II
(115,281 posts)Recently I've scavenged a few useful small furniture items from among stuff the neighbors have set out for trash collection, as well as two rather bad paintings with good, usable frames.
PJMcK
(21,922 posts)MontanaMama
(23,242 posts)I always kept my eye out for vintage Pyrex particularly pieces that were red or orange
but in excellent shape. All my good glass bakeware
Fire King etc is vintage and purchased second hand. I dont go to sales anymore mostly because Im downsizing. I miss the exhilaration of hunting for that perfect thing!
Your OP headline got my attention
this is my lunch bag that I take to work:
Marthe48
(16,697 posts)I'm trying to downsize. I'm not doing too good on that.
I'm still using the Pyrex set my best friend got me for a wedding gift 50 years ago. almost every day
2naSalit
(86,074 posts)Though I do, on occasion, go to one or two of the thrift stores in town if I need something. I still wear a mask everywhere and that's all there is to it.
I have to sort through the stuff I shoved into storage back in June when I was in a rush to move, now that it's not too hot to go there and hang around for any length of time. Probably empty out half the stuff in there, some of which was not repacked in the boxes I took them from that still had remains in them, so they are in additional boxes. That is stuff like my pottery, I never have all of it on display at once, not enough room. The good part is that 80% of the floor space in the storage is taken up by a Toyota 4Runner so it's not a monumental task.
So I am on hiatus from yard sale shopping for the time being. I should probably have one of my own but it's just too much work.
Like the lunch bag!
Harker
(13,880 posts)Well, and food, of course.
I think it is perennially the least desired item to buy used.
I liked when sales had fresh bakery to buy, and usually got some of that.
Harker
(13,880 posts)I'm no Jerry Lewis, though... I'll completely wear out socks and undies. I still darn salvageable socks, too.
Marthe48
(16,697 posts)but I don't wear them often enough to poke holes into them I hang on to all of my clothes. I have a tee short that is over 20 years old that I still wear.
Wicked Blue
(5,767 posts)which I bought at yard sales years ago for $10-$20. It's worth a lot more now, but I won't part with it.
My husband calls me the Queen of Garage Sales.
Marthe48
(16,697 posts)We picked up a lot of Golden Oak over the years. Right now, my kids would like to have some of the pieces, not sure if they will really take and use them.
Bayard
(21,808 posts)Does that count?
Marthe48
(16,697 posts)Scrivener7
(50,774 posts)not clothing, but most other things can be disinfected before you bring them into your house.
It's good for the environment to reuse things.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)and don't really want to just buy more things to add to the house. We almost always buy new and use items until they are worn out or no longer meet our needs.
I do buy second hand items for my hobby Table Top Miniatures Wargaming and have come across some great deals, but even that has been less and less of late as I am just about full in the storage cabinets and don't need anything more other than the odd figure or two to complete a set of one style or the other.
Diamond_Dog
(31,672 posts)If the item looks hardly worn. I often find clothes at yard sales with store tags still on.
I bought my youngest son a really nice Van Heusen dress shirt at a yard sale. Still folded up with all the straight pins and in the original store packaging. He is a hard size to fit (very slender) and this shirt is one he wears every week.
A lot of people around here sell baby and childrens clothes and toys at yard sales, which I am not in the market for.
I like to look for craft supplies and maybe a kitchen thing.
That said, Im not going to as many sales as I used to because we need to downsize.
marble falls
(56,371 posts)mopinko
(69,812 posts)but there are so many bed bugs in chi, i dont touch anything w fabric.
Midnight Writer
(21,552 posts)I actually find it interesting to find notes left by a previous reader.
NNadir
(33,368 posts)...for a scratching post.
(Actually in her defense she seems disinterested is the recently acquired set.)
While we were at it, we picked up a dining room set in excellent condition because it was way under priced.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)A florist in my neighborhood. I would find lots of perfectly good fresh flowers to bring home. I was often able to have a vase in every room, including the bathroom, full of beautiful bouquets.