Buy used in 2018

[newgirl]

This is probably too gentle to really be a "throw down the gauntlet" post, but I have been thinking today...

When one has a need for a durable good, most of the time it really can't be necessary to buy something brand new.  How much does that need to have "new" things drive the depletion of our resources, the filling of our garbage dumps, etc. To use an example that I would never actually DO, if I wanted a fur coat, why would I buy a brand new one, necessitating the new killing and torture of an animal, when I could instead go to a vintage store and buy one made from an animal killed decades ago?

I was thinking about this today because as I was unloading the dishwasher, I did a count on our forks and SOMEHOW over the last two years they have dwindled away and we are missing 5 of them. We're down to three forks. And this was a nice mid century modern flatware set that my partner used when he was a kid. My instinct was to look on Amazon for a whole new silverware set, and then I realized how wasteful that would be. Of money and natural resources. Instead I Googled for a while, was able to track down the manufacturer and pattern, and after some searching on Ebay I now have vintage replacement pieces for the original set coming to me at a fraction of the cost of new. Less $$ spent, I bought only what I needed, and nothing new was created.

I want to make more of an effort to extend this way of thinking to other (necessary) purchases. I could easily go all year only buying new clothes from Goodwill. Nothing new created. I think this will be my mantra in 2018. I know forum Mustachians are way more advanced than this but this would be a big change for me.

[Jenny Wren]

This is one of our goals for the year. I've found the best intentions can lead to failure to find used or overspending on used unless one has a plan. To make it easier, I made a google spreadsheet this week and opened it to the family to edit. Simply, they put their name then put the item in either the want or need category. There is then a spot to put in the new retail price from Amazon or similar (this way I can make sure something used is actually a good deal). Finally, they put the date the item is needed by (for needs) or the date they added the item to the spreadsheet (for wants). Parents have the ability to override a child's need into the want category (which also opens up the opportunity for a healthy want vs need conversation!)

This way I can look for used and only buy new when absolutely necessary. All the information is available from my PC, or my phone when I am out shopping, as it is for the kids and spouse as well.

For example, DS1 is an art major. He has a crappy portfolio right now, which works for a college freshman. A nicer portfolio at this point isn't a need, and new the one he will eventually need in a few years starts at about $75. He added it to the list as a "want" for now. In a couple of years it will move to the need category if we haven't found one used. At that point we will consider purchasing it new. I wouldn't have even thought to keep my eye out for one if we didn't have the spreadsheet, but I am the one most likely to come across one since I am the main frequenter of used retailers (thrifting, craigslist, garage sales, etc).

My hope is this will save us money, as well as saving resources and the feeling of new purchase regret.